There’s A Wolf Pack Mentality In League
Entering his third year at Utah State, coach John L. Smith likely will have his best team.
Will anyone notice?
The Aggies, and the rest of the Big West Conference football teams, are tucked in the shadows of heavy favorite Nevada.
“It’s a one-horse race, isn’t it?” Smith told a gathering Thursday at the conference’s Media Day. “Everybody’s trying to catch Nevada.”
Even the media and coaches agree on this one. The Wolf Pack received five of six first-place votes from the coaches. The abstention was Nevada coach Jeff Tisdel because coaches cannot vote for their own teams.
There’s little question whom he would have chosen if he had the freedom. “I’m not the type of individual to try to sugarcoat things,” he said. “I expect us to be a very fine football team.”
Only one media member out of 33 didn’t select Nevada first. Idaho was picked fourth in both polls, behind No. 2 Utah State and No. 3 North Texas. Boise State was fifth and New Mexico State sixth.
The schedule slants Nevada’s way. Primary contenders Utah State, Idaho and North Texas visit Reno.
Confident coach
Nevada’s Tisdel on:
Quarterback John Dutton. “He epitomizes a young Roman Gabriel.”
Linebacker DeShone Myles. “The best football player I’ve ever coached.”
Defensive tackle James Cannida. “The best defensive lineman in the conference.”
Smith speaks
USU’s Smith was typically blunt in assessing his team and other issues.
He was the lone dissenter among the coaches, saying the league from top to bottom would be down.
The Aggies’ challenging non-conference schedule includes Utah, Colorado State and Brigham Young. “We have to go undefeated in league just to have a winning season,” Smith said, only half-joking.
Smith hopes the six-team Big West gets bigger. “It’s tough to schedule six non-league games,” he said.
Nutts about education
New Boise State coach Houston Nutt is an energetic, hands-on coach. Since his arrival, BSU’s team GPA has gone from 1.99 to 2.6.
“They probably weren’t used to somebody knocking on their door at 10:30, 11 at night. ‘What are you doing here, coach?’ ‘I’m here to see you. I want to know what you’re doing. I want to know the friends who are with you, what time your morning class is?”’ Nutt said.
His Broncos, however, are expected to struggle on the field.
Notes
Idaho expanded its recruiting base to land German native Patrick Venzke, a 6-foot-2, 290-pound offensive lineman. The 22-year old was an exchange student in Southern Idaho who caught assistant coach Rick Courtright’s eye… . Former Idaho Vandal Justin Spiva is trying to earn the punting job at Utah State. He played at Walla Walla last year… . Renovations will hike BSU’s Bronco Stadium seating capacity from 22,400 to 30,000… . The Big West achieved financing for the Boise-based Sports Humanitarian Bowl on Dec. 29. A $2 million letter of credit was to be sent to the NCAA this week.
, DataTimes