WAC teams dive right into season
Some Western Athletic Conference football teams dive into the season Saturday against powerhouse opponents on the road (see Hawaii at Alabama, Louisiana Tech at Nebraska and Idaho at Michigan State).
Meanwhile, two WAC teams will be busy beginning to determine a conference champion Friday. Fresno State and Hawaii, who were picked second and third, respectively, in the WAC preseason coaches’ polls, collide at Bulldog Stadium at 5 p.m. on ESPN.
“I’ve never done it before,” Fresno State coach Pat Hill said of opening with a conference game. “Hey, it’s great. It’s going to be a great game for our fans, our conference. It’s a national TV game. It’s a great opportunity.”
Nevada shared the WAC title last season, knocking off Fresno State in late November.
“The team that loses has to fight its way back up,” Wolf Pack coach Chris Ault said. “The team that wins sits in front.”
Two years ago, Nevada faced Louisiana Tech in another ESPN-driven season-opener.
Siblings share sideline
Utah State wide receiver Kevin Robinson also returns punts, where he’s under the watchful eye of older brother John Rushing, a first-year Aggies assistant who works with cornerbacks and helps the punt-return unit.
“It is kind of unusual having those family relationships, even in staff meetings sometimes when you’re critiquing or talking about guys to be the brother of who you’re talking about, but John has been really professional about it,” head coach Brent Guy said. “It’s never been a factor for Kevin.”
Rushing, who played at Washington State, previously assisted at Boise State and Montana State. Robinson ranked third in the WAC in punt returns last season.
Softer schedule
New Mexico State has softened its schedule, replacing Arizona State with NCAA Division I-AA Southeastern Louisiana for Thursday’s opener. The Aggies anticipate playing one so-called “money game” every other season.
“We just need to learn how to win,” coach Hal Mumme said.
Next season the Aggies will play Auburn, which takes the place of Oregon State. Auburn will pay $750,000-$800,000, Mumme said. NMSU would have lost money, due to travel expenses, on the Oregon State game.
The WAC recommends member schools schedule no more than one “money game” and one I-AA opponent per season, commissioner Karl Benson said.
Notes
Louisiana Tech’s starting quarterback will be Zac Champion, a reserve the last couple of years who beat out two others for the job. The Bulldogs also moved 2005 leading rusher Mark Dillard to safety. … San Jose State’s Adam Tafralis will probably start at quarterback against Washington, but coach Dick Tomey said J.C. transfer Sean Flynn should see time. Tafralis started last season. … The WAC has nine games against the Pac-10, its most since 1999. Idaho plays two of those (Washington State and Oregon State). … Six true freshmen are expected to play for Fresno State, Hill said. “That’s unusual for us. It’s a really good class”