UPDATED: 2:00 p.m.

If the Idaho Vandals challenge for the conference title like they expect to, it will be a surprise to both the WAC coaches and reporters that cover the conference. UI was picked sixth in the media and coaches' preason polls, released this morning. Hawaii is No. 1 in both polls, followed by Fresno State and Nevada. Lousiana Tech and Utah State are fourth and fifth.

Hawaii quarterback Bryant Moniz was named preseason offensive player of the year, and Utah State's Bobby Wagner garnered the same award on the defensive side.

See the full polls and more here. We've got a rundown of Robb Akey's comments on scheduling, the Vandals' potential on defense, and a few jabs at Boise State and BYU.

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Before I get to Akey's comments, here are a few key dates to keep in mind:

• The Vandals open fall camp Aug. 4 with a 3:30 p.m. practice. Daily practices will follow Aug. 5-7 at 2:30 p.m, and the first full-pad session will be Aug. 8 at 9 a.m.
• The first scrimmage of fall camp is Aug. 10 at 2:30 p.m.
• The latest Kibbie Dome renovation will be unveiled on Aug. 19 at 4:30 p.m. The biggest changes: light panels were put it on the east wall, a club seat section was placed where the old pressbox was located, and a new pressbox was build on the other side.

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You can listen to Akey's full address to the media in Las Vegas today here. But I wanted to highlight a few things: 

Scheduling. Normally Akey likes to schedule only one BCS opponent per season, but that's the not the case this season. The Vandals play at Texas A&M -- which will be in the top tier of the Big 12 this year -- as well as at Virginia and BYU this season.

"I’ve made it clear: I’d like to play one BCS game, one that you’re supposedly better than … and I’d like to see the others be against comparable opponents," Akey said. "Well, this year we’ve got two BCS games. It wasn’t by my choosing; it’s the schedule we’re going to play."

He then took the occasion to take small jabs at BYU ... and Boise State.

"BYU, they’re a Mountain West team. I look at the Mountain West and WAC as the same. ...I probably shouldn’t say that. Wait till we come out of Provo. ... I think that’s kind of rough deal, playing BYU. I’m not overly excited about that. They’re like those guys (in Boise). They don’t want to come to our place. They just want us to come to their place."

The WAC is losing three more schools after this year and will have just seven football-playing members starting next season. That makes scheduling even trickier, and Akey knows that. But he still had strong words about going back to Idaho's old scheduling mentality.

"I don’t want to be the fund-raiser for the University of Idaho. I don’t want our football players to do that, and I don’t think anybody wants that to be the case. The problem that we’re going to have to deal with is making sure we do have games."

Defense. Akey had good things to say about quarterback Brian Reader, a slew of running backs and key guys at other positions. But he seems especially excited about the potential of the defense and defensive line in particular.

"The reason I expect this defense to be better is the front. I really do believe in the front we are greatly improved."

As usual, he mentioned returning interior stalwart Michael Cosgrove. But this season the Vandals finally have the bodies -- big bodies -- to have a strong defensive line, Akey said. Promising underclassmen Karel Kearney and Ryan Edwards and two junior college transfers -- Aaron Lazaro and Dontae Scott -- are all at or around 300 pounds.

"We’re going to be able to put some size around (Cosgrove) that can run, that can change directions," Akey said.

The fifth-year coach also touched on defensive end Benson Mayowa's development. "I think he has the chance to be one of the best pass rushers in our conference. He’s got great burst. He’s added probably 40 pounds to his body."

Future of the WAC. Akey was asked about the WAC without Fresno State, Nevada and Hawaii. He's looking forward to having a better chance at a WAC title, right?

Not exactly.

"I wanted to do that before those guys left. I don’t want to be the WAC champion because those guys are gone. I don’t look at it that way."

In between his comments, he took another shot at Boise State. "I don't look at it because Boise State has gone off to the SEC, right? Isn’t that where they are going? That’s where they picture themselves. … And the other guys are leaving, now it’s OK for us to have success."

"I think it puts a responsibility on us to get in a driver’s seat. But every team in the conference is going to work … to keep that from happening."



 

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