WAC teams aim to join heavyweights
Since there are not 10 schools in the Western Athletic Conference, Robb Akey’s vow bodes well for Idaho football fans.
“I don’t believe we’re going to end up in ninth place,” the first-year head coach said. “I don’t know where we’re going to end up, but we’re not going to end up ninth.”
That Idaho was picked for the basement in its third season in the WAC shouldn’t be a surprise considering the Vandals have been through seven straight losing seasons and Akey is the fourth head coach in five seasons.
“I don’t believe that, I’m not going to believe that,” Akey said. “There’s one ranking that matters, after we all play each other to find out where we all end up.”
The shakedown begins this week with the first conference game, Hawaii at Louisiana Tech.
The Vandals placed sixth last season, the only season of Dennis Erickson’s second stop in Moscow.
After replacing Erickson, who left for the sunshine and big bucks at Arizona State, Akey moved east from Washington State and tidied up. Almost 20 players brought in by Erickson and his predecessor, Nick Holt, who went 5-18 in his two years, left the program.
It doesn’t sound like a formula for avoiding the basement, but San Jose State Dick Tomey had a prediction after his second team went 9-4 and won the New Mexico Bowl following his 3-8 debut.
“The only thing we know for sure,” Tomey said, “is that somebody picked to finish high won’t finish high and somebody picked to finish low won’t finish low.”
There should be a lot of attention focused on the WAC considering both Boise State and Hawaii finished last season ranked, both are ranked in the preseason and both have bona fide Heisman Trophy candidates in BSU junior running back Ian Johnson and Rainbows senior quarterback Colt Brennan.
Brennan, the nation’s leader in passing efficiency last season when he set a I-A record with 58 touchdown passes, was sixth in the Heisman voting last year. Johnson, who set a school record with 1,713 rushing yards, was eighth in Heisman voting.
Behind those two heavyweights is a wide-open battle for the WAC’s third bowl tie-in.
Western Athletic Conference
(In predicted order of finish)
Hawaii Rainbows
2006: 11-3, 7-1 WAC, 2nd
Head coach: June Jones, 64-40, 9th year, 9th overall
Returning starters: 15, 6 offense, 8 defense, kicker
When they play the Vandals: Sept. 29 in Moscow
Outlook: The Rainbows don’t have a power-packed schedule to impress voters, so it is up to Brennan and the high-octane offense to garner the attention needed to make a run at a BCS bowl. Brennan has set or tied 41 school, 17 conference and 18 NCAA records while directing an offense that led the nation last year with 46.9 points a game. Linebackers Adam Leonard and Solomon Elimimian anchor a solid defense. If Hawaii doesn’t stumble on the road, it could be undefeated when Boise State visits Nov. 23.
Boise State Broncos
2006: 13-0, 8-0 WAC, 1st
Head coach: Chris Petersen, 13-0, 2nd year, 2nd overall
Returning starters: 12, 5 offense, 7 defense
When they play the Vandals: Nov. 17 in Boise
Outlook: It would be hard to duplicate last year’s magical run or win a sixth straight conference title after losing the quarterback and top three receivers, but Johnson provides hope it can be done again. Senior Taylor Tharp replaces Jared Zabransky, who went 33-5 in three years as the starting quarterback. The receiving corps is much more unsettled with Johnson’s backup Vinny Perretta moving outside. The defense has fewer holes but did lose WAC Defensive Player of the Year Korey Hall and Colt Brooks at linebacker.
Nevada Wolf Pack
2006: 8-5, 5-3 WAC, tie 3rd
Head coach: Chris Ault, 185-78-1, 23rd year, 23 overall
Returning starters: 14, 5 offense, 7 defense, punter, kicker
When they play the Vandals: Oct. 27 in Reno
Outlook: The Wolf Pack have the defense to challenge with standout linebacker Ezra Butler leading a veteran group, but the offense has to reload. Nevada allowed less than 19 points a game with its high-pressure 3-4 defense that led the conference in turnover margin and the returning front seven is solid. The offense lost quarterback Jeff Rowe plus the top receiver and running back, although receiving depth shouldn’t be an issue. Sophomore Nick Graziano takes over the offense that has a veteran interior line but no experience at tackle.
San Jose State Spartans
2006: 9-4, 5-3 WAC, tie 3rd
Head coach: Dick Tomey, 12-12, 3rd year, 170-122-7, 27th overall
Returning starters: 15, 7 offense, 6 defense, punter, kicker
When they play the Vandals: Oct. 6 in San Jose
Outlook: The Spartans surprised even themselves last year with their first winning season since 2000 and first bowl win since 1990, but they haven’t had consecutive winning seasons in 15 years. A solid corps of veterans could change that, led by quarterback Adam Tafralis and running back Yonus Davis on offense, and cornerbacks Dwight Lowery and Christopher Owens on defense. Lowery tied Idaho’s Stanley Franks for the national lead in interceptions with nine and Owens had four. A tough preconference schedule of three BCS schools could derail San Jose’s momentum.
Fresno State Bulldogs
2006: 4-8, 4-4 WAC, 5th
Head coach: Pat Hill, 76-51, 11th year, 11th overall
Returning starters: 15, 7 offense, 6 defense, punter, kicker
When they play the Vandals: Oct. 13 in Moscow
Outlook: Fearless scheduler Pat Hill first put the WAC on the map, but the Bulldogs stumbled badly last year, ending a string of seven straight winning, bowl-appearance seasons. Hill vowed to go back to the basics that gave the Bulldogs the bite that produced some memorable upsets of BSC teams in years past. Quarterback Tom Brandstater returns behind a veteran line that only allowed 12 sacks, but the running backs are unproven. Kicker Clint Stitser is one of the best in the country. Several players have to step up at linebacker and in the secondary, but the defensive line is strong.
New Mexico State Aggies
2006: 4-8, 2-6 WAC, 7th
Head coach: Hal Mumme, 4-20, 3rd year, 101-84-1, 17th overall
Returning starters: 19, 9 offense, 9 defense, punter
When they play the Vandals: Oct. 20 in Las Cruces
Outlook: Expect more fireworks from the Aggies and junior quarterback Chase Holbrook, who broke 19 school records as he threw for 4,619 yards. Receiver Chris Williams is back as his favorite target, 117.9 yards and 7.67 receptions a game, both best in the nation. The offense needs to finish better after finishing third in the nation in total offense (475.1 yards) but 15th in scoring (31.1 points). The Aggies have the most returning starters, but while the offense was prolific the defense was among the worst in the nation. They ranked 99th in total defense and 115th in scoring defense, which puts too much pressure on the offense.
Idaho Vandals
2006: 4-8, 3-5 WAC, 6th
Head coach: Robb Akey, 0-0, 1st year
Returning starters: 14, 5 offense, 7 defense, punter, kicker
Outlook: Not much is expected from the Vandals with their fourth head coach in five years and almost 25 percent turnover in the roster, which had 23 freshmen or non-lettermen on the season-opening two-deep roster. But the survivors are close-knit and hungry to win. A strong linebacking corps is the backbone of a defense that could be tough if the line steps up. A solid line, including tight ends, and some veteran running backs must take pressure off redshirt freshmen quarterback Nathan Enderle and a young, unproven group of wide receivers.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
2006: 3-10, 1-7 WAC, tie 8th
Head coach: Derek Dooley, 0-0, 1st year
Returning starters: 18, 6 offense, 10 defense, punter, kicker
When they play the Vandals: Nov. 3 at Moscow
Outlook: This team is all about the coach, who spent the last seven years working for Nick Saban, and whose dad is Georgia favorite Vince Dooley. He believes in a tough, aggressive defense and ball control offense, which fits in with the returning Bulldogs. Ten starters return on defense, which was last in the nation a year ago, as well as the top three rushers on offense. Quarterback Zac Champion (18 picks, 14 TDs) must improve to help running back Patrick Jackson, seventh nationally in all-purpose yards. But the Bulldogs have a long ways to go and a schedule that includes games at Cal, LSU and Mississippi.
Utah State Aggies
2006: 1-11, 1-7 WAC, tie 8th
Head coach: Brent Guy, 4-19, 3rd year, third overall
Returning starters: 19, 7 offense, 11 defense, punter
When they play the Vandals: Nov. 24 in at Moscow
Outlook: With just a little help from the offense the defense has to be better than the group that finished 116th last year. The problem was the offense was ranked 114th. While the defense returns everyone, led by linebacker Paul Igboeli, the WAC Freshman of the Year who averaged 8.1 tackles, the offense has issues. Top running back Marcus Cross left the team and quarterback Riley Nelson is on a mission. Leon Jackson, who was replaced by Nelson midway through the season, is back under center. A tough schedule doomed the Aggies last year and it is similar this year.