2009 WAC Football Preview
by aGent37 on Aug 26, 2009 6:00 AM PDT
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Guest post by Kevan at One Bronco Nation Under God
For my 2009 SB Nation WAC preview, I sought the opinion of my fellow WAC bloggers (Pistol Whipping the WAC & Warriors Will Throw), which seemed like a good idea until I remembered that hardly anyone cares enough to blog about the WAC. And then I spent 15 minutes reevaluating the direction of my life.
The good news: My life has meaning. Even better news: The WAC could have its best season yet - both from a competitive standpoint and from an only-firing-one-coach-at-the-end-of-the-year standpoint. The WAC ... it's faaaaantastic!
My call to arms for fellow WAC bloggers did not completely fall on deaf ears. The wordsmiths at Pistol Whipping the WAC (Nevada) and Warriors Will Throw (Hawaii) gave me their two cents, and when I combined that with the nickel I borrowed from Peter Bean a few months back, I had enough to come up with a WAC preview. It's not much. But then again, I don't think you're expecting much.
Predicted order of finish:
Clear-cut favorite: Boise State
Quality teams: Nevada, Fresno State, Louisiana Tech
It could really go either way: Hawaii, Utah State, San Jose State
Epic fail: Idaho, New Mexico State
The scenario in which teams other than Boise State win the Western Athletic Conference.
Nevada (PWtW): After finally making it through a year without the usual "whoopsy" (see New Mexico St last year), Nevada heads into Boise undefeated in WAC play. After two years of not being able to tie it up on the final play of the game, the Wolf Pack finally gets the monkey off it's back the eve after Thanksgiving by breaking the Bronco's home game WAC winning streak and claiming the WAC outright championship.
Hawaii (Warriors Will Throw): For Hawaii to win the WAC, the defense has to gel pretty quickly. With senior linebacker Brashton Satele lost for the season due to a shoulder injury, defensive end John Fonoti is the only regular starter back from the 2008 defense. There are other returning players with significant game experience, but overall, this will be a very green unit. The good news is that linebacker Blaze Soares and defensive tackle Rocky Savaiigaea, both seniors who sat out 2008 with injuries, are back, healthy (knock on wood), and ready to go. They'll play a huge part in how well the defense does. UH's first WAC game is at Louisiana Tech and comes at the end of a 3-game road trip. It will be one of the toughest and most important games of the season for the Warriors.
Louisiana Tech: The Bulldogs get the Broncos at home, which could make a world of difference. LaTech has the running game to control the tempo against every single conference opponent they face. If the defense can withstand a Nevada offensive onslaught, if Ross Jenkins channels his inner Tim Rattay, and if the Broncos experience some serious jetlag, a conference title isn't out of the question.
Fresno State: The Bulldogs get the Broncos in September, which is usual pre-pratfall for FSU. If they can get past Boise State in the conference opener, their next toughest conference stretch will be late November with a visit to Nevada followed by a date with LaTech. Oh, and the Bulldogs will need to find a starting quarterback sometime. I almost forgot to mention that.
If your team were a reality TV show, which reality TV show would it be? Why?
Nevada (PWtW): Scare Tactics. Because when you're last in the nation in pass defense, it's pretty damn scary to go start the season off with Golden Tate and Michael Floyd. Either that, or Hell's Kitchen. If you are trying to be QB for Chris Ault, it's a lot like trying to be Head Chef for Gordon Ramsay.
Hawaii (Warriors Will Throw): For the first half of 2008, UH was Lost (it's a reality show, trust me). For the last half it was Survivor. This year it'll be The Gong Show because UH will be gonging so many of their opponents. (ed's note: I assume "gonging" means "allowing 35 ppg")
Idaho: Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? After seeing the Vandals' 70-0 loss to Arizona, their cheerleading midriff scandal, and the coaching style of Robb Akey, I'd have to say, "No."
Which WAC city is the worst to visit? Why?
PWtW: Moscow, Idaho. Why would there be a team, or even a school there?
Warriors Will Throw: Boise -- I'm always diving head first into the field because I think it's swimming pool.
OBNUG: Las Cruces. Weird stuff happens there. http://www.obnug.com/2008/11/boise-state-got-out-of-las-cruces-just-in-time/
How many bowl teams will the WAC have this year?
General consensus is that there will be four WAC teams going bowling, and everyone who doesn't own a Colt Brennan 4 Heisman t-shirt thinks those four teams will be Boise State, Nevada, Fresno State, and Louisiana Tech.
Who is the player of the year in the WAC?
The player of the year is a two-QB race between Nevada's Colin Kaepernick and Boise State's Kellen Moore. The two passers are both excellent in their own right: Kaepernick running his leggy self up and down the field and Moore picking teams apart from the pocket. A third, darkhorse candidate would be LaTech RB Daniel Porter. He could steal this award if the Bulldogs have a big year.
What are the most-hyped WAC v. BCS games?
Both most-hyped games happen on opening week when Oregon visits Boise and Nevada travels to Notre Dame. Ironically enough, the least-hyped conference game takes place on opening week when Idaho and New Mexico State lean up against each other.
What new head coach will have the most successful season?
Utah State's Gary Anderson is expected to make a big difference for the Aggies over the next few years. Will the turnaround happen over night? Ha! And no. But if Anderson is able to improve on ex-coach Brent Guy's tenure of depression, everyone across the WAC will consider it a raging success.
Don't sleep on the WAC this season. It kicks. And rolls. And sleeping on the WAC in 2009 might cause you to miss some of the best non-BCS football this side of those three good teams that the Mountain West has. Boise State is the favorite. Nevada is the clear-cut No. 2. LaTech and Fresno State are huggable. San Jose State and Hawaii have tens of people talking. Utah State has separated itself from the WAC dregs. And I am choosing not to mention the final two WAC teams since they do not serve to further my point.
Watch the WAC this season. Watch as it puts another team on the cusp of a BCS berth, threaten a Heisman candidate, and spoil some non-conference schedules of teams who thought they were playing a pushover. It may just be the best non-BCS conference around in 2009. And if you don't believe me, go ask five other WAC bloggers.
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They don't know what they're talking about!
I would rec it twice if I could!
Proverbial ... ... ... Indeed!
by OBNUG Intern on Aug 26, 2009 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Here's another one!
Ironically enough, the least-hyped conference game takes place on opening week when Idaho and New Mexico State lean up against each other.
I’m LIZZING!
Proverbial ... ... ... Indeed!
That Las Cruces post makes me lol every time I read it.
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
Folks...it seems impossible but if Bosie Runs the table...
since they are starting high enough in the rankings..they could be in the Top 2 BCS wise come Jan 1
Think about it…One of Tex or Okla will have a loss…the other teams from the SEC will have a loss, USC won’t go undefeated this year….Penn State will probably go undefeated and Boise will end up 3rd or 4th to a 1 loss Tex, USC, or Okla
But, everyone besides Florida loses a couple games!!!…
Besides..say Boise goes 12-0…where do you think they will be ranked preseason next year?!?!? Top 10 easy…and their team will likley be better next year. Wooo Hooo.
Note: I am no so much a Boise fan, just anti-BCS conferences.
http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/
wac preview
Your in New York , soo you think no ones cares about the WESTern athletic conferance….its ok , no one has to care about the WAC, we’ll just continue to put teams(plural), into the BCS…..No other conf, (the crappy conf usa, Mac , sunbelt) has put ANY teams into the BCS…those conferences are the ones no one cares about , or shouldnt care about… Being on the east coast I understand how the distance could make you ignore the facts of WAC footballs greatness….RUTGERS lost to fresno…hawaii has beat fresno the last three years…by the way gonging means embarrasing opponents…haha peace bra go warriors
I think you mean you're in new york...
Anyway, the WAC is not better than CUSA and the MAC just because they have Boise St HAHA…Hawaii and Fresno fit right in with S. Miss, Houston, Tulsa, ECU, Central Michigan, Bowling Green, Toledo ect…
The teams that are non-bcs that are ususally good and every once in a while have a 9-10 win season…
I hate BCS schools honestly…but don’t let Boises success and Colts Warriors GARBAGE schedual blow your head up about what the WAC is and isn’t…an average conference that can’t compete with the MWC let alone the Big East (the worst fo the BCS conferences)
http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/
by CapitolLions on Aug 27, 2009 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions
HAHA
EVERYONE USES THE SCHEDULE THING TO DOWN PLAY HAWAIIS SUCCESS, LOL, WINS ARE WINS BRA…ANYWAY FRESNO,HAWAII, AND BOISE ST ARE WAY MORE COMPETITIVE THAN ALL OTHER NON AQS EXCEPT THE MWC…WAC MAKES MORE MONEY EVERY YEAR, THAN OTHERS EXCEPT MWC, AND HAS BETTER RECORD AGAISNT BCS OPPENENTS THAN THE OTHERS, HAWAII WILL RISE AGAIN WITH OUT BRENNAN, AND GO TO A BCS , TRUST THE WAC TEAMS ARE A HARDER SCHEDULE THAN HAHA,OLEDO , HOUSTAN, HAHA, CENTRAL MICHIGAN, HAHA, TULSA, HAHA, ECU IS THE TOUGHEST ONE. HAWAII HAS 9-10 WIN SEASONS MOST OF THE PAST TEN YEARS AND WILL AGAIN THIS YEAR..LET ANY OTHER CONF TEAM GO UNDEFEATED AND GET TO A BCS AND THEN TALK SMACK ABOUT HAWAII AND WAC
Dude...who else in the WAC is worth a shi*...really..
Boise is a top 20 program…Hawaii and Fresno are borderline top 50, Nevada is good this year…but not top 50, La Tech same…
the WAC is an average conference…
This is how it is….SEC, BIG 12, BIG 10, PAC 10, ACC, BIG EAST, MWC…then WAC, CUSA, MAC…then the Sunbelt
and the difference between the non-boise WAC and the CUSE and MAC varies year to year…..bra
http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/
by CapitolLions on Aug 27, 2009 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions
If you think ECU is better over the past 20 years than Houston and Todelo
that proves that you don’t know anything about College Football..bra
http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/
by CapitolLions on Aug 27, 2009 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions
And, I can't leave you alone.....
Wins are Wins…HAHA…sure, thats why we have the BCS and the polls…because wins arent always wins…
WOW..what a dumb statement…bra
http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/
by CapitolLions on Aug 27, 2009 12:39 PM PDT up reply actions
BY THE WAY
IF HAWAII DOESNT GO UNDEFEATED BUT GETS TO A REGULAR BOWL THIS YEAR , WHICH THEY WILL, THEY WILL PLAY A CONF. USA TEAM IN THIER BOWL, AND WHEN HAWAII WINS I WONT HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING MORE.
See note below..
No way Hawaii beats Houston or S.Miss this year bro…
http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/
by CapitolLions on Aug 27, 2009 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions
I AGREE
I AGREE WITH YOUR CONF LINE UP , FOR NOW IM CONFIDENT HAWAII AND FRESNO WILL STEPP UP THEIR ALREADY OVER ACHIEVECING PLAY .. YES THEY HAWAII HAS HAD SOME AVG SEASONS, 7-7 LOSING TO THE BIG EAST CHAMPS BY 3 PTS …BUT THAT WAS A COMPLETE REBIULD SEASON COACH AND ALL , THEY WILL RISE TO A DOUBLE DIGIT WIN SEASON EVERY YEAR AND BEAT BETTER TEAMS YEAR AFTER YEAR AND EVETUALLY THE WAC WILL HAVE MORE RESPECT..BOTTOM LINE IF HAWAII OR BOISE OR ANY WAC GETS TO THE BCS AGAIN THEY HAVE TO WIN YOU CANT ARGUE WITH A BCS WIN AND IM POSSITIVE HAWAII WILL GET BACK TO A BCS BOWL
Tough Call on a 10 win seasn this year man..espcially with the WAC where it is...Nevada and La Tech look much better
Boise wont lose more than 1 game in conferance….let me take a looka t Hawaii’s schedual…and I will be objective.
Sat, Sep 5 Central Arkansas 12:59 am — Win…easy enough
Sat, Sep 12 at Washington State 7:00 pm — Win..Cougs are good yet
Sat, Sep 19 at UNLV 11:00 pm — At UNLV…ill give them a narrow win
Wed, Sep 30 at Louisiana Tech 8:00 pm — Loss….if it was in Hawaii it would be a good game
Sat, Oct 10 Fresno State 11:05 pm — Loss
Sat, Oct 17 at Idaho 5:00 pm — Win…no problem
Sat, Oct 24 (14) Boise State 11:05 pm — Loss…even in Hawaii
Sat, Oct 31 at Nevada 4:05 pm — Loss…Nevada might be undefeated at this point
Sat, Nov 7 Utah State 10:05 pm — Win…Easy
Sat, Nov 14 New Mexico State 10:05 pm — Win…Embarassment for NMSU
Sat, Nov 21 at San Jose State 8:00 pm — very sneaky game..and at SJSU…man, Ill give you a win…but the spartans are better too
Sat, Nov 28 Navy 10:30 pm — Win…ONLY BECAUSE ITS IN HAWAII…Navy’d Defense is as good as it has been in 10 years…and the option is always tough
Sat, Dec 5 Wisconsin TBA — Loss…Hawaii can dream big…but the badgers aren’t on a down year…
So…8-4 and probably 4th in the WAC due to losing to Nevada and Fresno…so you will get the Hawaii Bowl or Poinsetta Bowl..and if you get the Poinestta…you will probabaly rematch a 7-5 Navy team
http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/
by CapitolLions on Aug 27, 2009 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Even if you beat La Tech and go 9-3 which is very possible...
still likley to get the Hawaii bowl and play #2 in CUSA…and that is almost guaranteed to be Houston/S.Miss or ECU
And if its Houston or S. Miss, Hawaii is gonna get killed…if its ECU..you got a decent chance.
http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/
by CapitolLions on Aug 27, 2009 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions
haha
ur dreaming…dont you understand that hawaii has beat fresno and nevada both three years in a row….i dont think La tech has EVER beaten Hawaii…and Hawaii is going to be better than last year and they beat both nevada and fresno, and la tech last year and the two years before that…any conf usa team will get smashed by this years hawaii mark my words, and ill give you props if im wrong. GO WARRIORS I cant believe people keep putting hawaii behind teams they beat year after year…
You gottta be kiddin me.
You’re livin in last year too much bro. Last year was just that, LAST YEAR! No way Hawaii beats Fresno or Nevada THIS year. Your team has a non existant defense. Fresno is a sleeper in the WAC. If we beat Boise in week 3, we could win the WAC. Trust this, the team is really fast and athletic this year.
The only team with a legit chance baring devine intervetion of beating Boise is Nevada..
Sorry Fresno Fan
http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/
by CapitolLions on Aug 28, 2009 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions
get em back for the 4 OT thriller
mostly I’m pissed off I have to look at that field for more than 5 minutes this yr
man, looking at this again...if you beat Boise, you still gotta beat Nevada or you might split..
You beat Boise, Nevada beats you, Boise Beats Nevada…its the circle of life!
I agree that Fresno is probably underated, its just unfortunate that the WAC happens to have have 3-5 good to decent teams this year..vs its normal 2-3 good to decent situation
http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/
by CapitolLions on Aug 30, 2009 5:51 AM PDT up reply actions
also
ecu has been better lately i dont care about 20 yrs ago…and i think the bcs is crap Utah was a better team than alabama because they BEAT them…their schedule doesnt matter when it comes down to playing each other in my book…so wins ARE wins to me..bra
Utah was very good, but they beat Alabama because...
A they are good enough…not better than Alabama..B) A. Smith was out..all american LT..C) Alabama didn’t give a shit about that game…Utah was pumped
And Kreedos is right… and so am I…the 8-4 I gave you is a gift…live up to it!
http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/
Another WAC blog
http://nondelusionalcfblog.blogspot.com/
It’s mostly going to be WAC related, if you are looking for another WAC type of blog to follow. I will gladly link to this blog on my blog.
by nondelusionalcfblog on Aug 28, 2009 6:38 PM PDT reply actions
URT OUT OF YOUR MIND,
HAWAII HAS A LEGIT CHANCE THIS YEAR THE NEW DEFENSE IS GOING TO BE GOOD, BUT ENOUGH TALKING YOU WILL SEE WHEN HAWAII STARTS WINNNING THEIR GAMES…HAWAII CAN DEFINITLY BEAT BOISE AT HOME THIS YEAR.
KREEDOS
HAWAI WAS WORST LAST YEAR THAN THEY WILL BE THIS YEAR. FRESNOS GOING DOWN, NEVADA IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE TOUGHEST WAC GAMES IN RENO FOR HAWAII
I'll take a Nevada loss...
…For a Boise win. And Hawaaii, they’re always a tough game, but I just dont see it in the cards this year. Last year our defense was pretty much decimated. Our DC (Rest in Peace Dan Brown) was deathly ill and with all due respect wasnt all together.
Our team is fired up this year. I’m a little dissappointed Carr didnt get the start, but we just have too many weapons. We’ll see the outcome on the field.
Neither of you guys are beating Boise lol...
Sorry. Nevada might have a chance.
http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/
UNREAL
After watching Fresno WALLOP UC Davis 51-0 and seeing Nevada get SHELLACKED by Notre Dame and Hawaii barely squeaking by whoever they played, I’m confident enough to say that the WAC will come down to Fresno and Boise. I’m still reserving some judgement until I see the results from the Wisconsin game, after all, we did play against UC DAVIS. But I havent seen a Bulldogs but whoppin like that since 04/05. This team is very legit.
Tune in and watch us get revenge against the Badgers on ESPN 12pm Eastern time. You wont be disappointed…!
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