Idaho, new kids on the block getting beat up
The new kids are getting kicked around the block.
WAC newcomers Idaho, Utah State and New Mexico State are laboring in the bottom half of the conference standings. The three are a combined 2-9 in conference, 3-17 overall.
Idaho’s lone win was against Utah State. The Aggies’ lone win was over last-place San Jose State. New Mexico State, still searching for its first win in 2005, entertains the Vandals on Saturday night. Idaho is a four-point underdog.
“Well, it’s our homecoming game and we need to win one,” NMSU coach Hal Mumme said. “Idaho’s a little like us. They’ve been struggling so it ought to be a pretty good ballgame.”
The three newcomers are relying on underclassmen. Including special teams, Idaho has 28 freshmen and sophomores on the depth chart. Eighteen Utah State freshmen have played.
“We’ve started several true freshmen on offense and some true freshmen play on the defensive line; a couple of them have even started for us,” Mumme said. “We’re just a young team.”
First-year San Jose State coach Dick Tomey is in his second tour of the WAC. He was at Hawaii from 1977-86.
“I think it’s a better league, there are a lot of good teams and I think the bottom of the league is better,” Tomey said. “There are a lot of challenges defensively.”
Fresno State, Boise State, Nevada and Hawaii rank in the top 45 nationally in scoring. Conversely, San Jose State (107) and NMSU (113) rank near the bottom in total defense.
“Football has changed throughout the nation,” Tomey said. “People throw the ball better and catch the ball better. Throwers and catchers go to all kinds of camps for personal development. With people spread out all over the field, it’s a much different game than it was 15 or 20 years ago.”
Long-time rivals
Nevada and Boise State, both unbeaten in the WAC, hook up Saturday for the 32nd time. Since 1971, they’ve played every season except 2000, 1995, 1992 and 1978. BSU has ruled the last five meetings with its slimmest margin of victory 35 points.
“I don’t think anybody has anybody’s number,” Broncos coach Dan Hawkins said. “Every week you’re trying to get in the phonebook and find somebody’s number.”
Bulldogs barking
Fresno State, a 40-10 winner over Idaho on Saturday, moved up two spots to No. 22 in the Associated Press poll and joined the USA Today and Harris Poll rankings at No. 24. However, the Bulldogs didn’t crack the top 25 in the BCS standings.
Next up for the Bulldogs is a trip to Hawaii. Fresno State is 0-4 under coach Pat Hill in Honolulu. ABC will televise the game.
“We haven’t changed much how we (make the trip),” Hill said. “I don’t think that has much to do with winning or losing. We just have to go over there and perform.”
Utah State coach Brent Guy was asked to compare WAC heavyweights Fresno State and Boise State. The Aggies were thumped by both clubs.
“We had much less success stopping the run against Fresno than we did against Boise State,” Guy said. “But Boise did some things in the passing game. The Fresno game got so far out of hand that I don’t know if Fresno had to throw the ball. The biggest thing is Fresno has more team speed.”
Notes
Utah State steps out of WAC play to face unbeaten Alabama in Tuscaloosa… . San Jose State has lost 10 straight conference games… . New Mexico State, coming off a bye week, welcomes back two players who’ve missed the last two games. Defensive lineman Jarod Naylor (family reasons) and linebacker Jimmy Cottrell (ankle), one of the top tacklers in the nation, should be ready for Idaho… . Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan and San Jose State receivers coach Brent Brennan are cousins. Colt threw for 457 yards – his fourth 400-yard game of the season – in Hawaii’s win over the Spartans on Saturday.