2006 WAC Preview
 1. BOISE STATE Most teams can only dream of the success Boise State has enjoyed under the previous coaching staffs of Dan Hawkins (53-11) and Dirk Koetter (26-10).  Now its up to Chris Peterson to keep things moving on the blue rug of Boise.  Much will depend on whether or not quarterback Jared Zabransky can shrug off a problematic 2005, where he tossed 16 interceptions.  He's got four starters returning to the offensive line, including Ryan Clady to fill the huge void left by Daryn Colledge.  Zabransky will have plenty of targets to throw to, as Hawkins hit the talent button in recruiting there before leaving for Colorado.  Balance is key for the Broncos and the running backs like to get physical.  While defense is usually the sore spot in Boise, this year might be an exception.  Nine starters return to the fold, including the entire secondary.  Still, the real strength is in the linebackers, who make up for a lack of size with plenty of speed.  Key will be the continued development of an experienced line.  Hawkins oversaw special teams in his tenure, so look for some changes there, though the kickers are both experienced and capable.  On paper, BSU looks loaded.
SACRAMENTO STATE
OREGON STATE
at Wyoming
HAWAII
at Utah
LOUISIANA TECH
at New Mexico State
at Idaho
FRESNO STATE
at San Jose State
UTAH STATE
at Nevada

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  2. FRESNO STATE With just one loss in its first nine games, and that was a three pointer at Oregon, Fresno was at the ready to make a huge splash in '05.  It took powerful Southern Cal to the brink only to watch Reggie Bush push the Trojans past them.  Then the bottom fell out in losses to Nevada, Louisiana Tech and Tulsa.  Now its up to Pat Hill to get the Bulldogs back in line.  At least the offense should be at the ready.  Four starters return to the line.  Anchored by powerful center Kyle Young, this group has plenty of strength, size and agility to protect new quarterback Tom Brandstater.  He's got big time size (6'5-220) and potential, but lacks game experience.  Finding a dependable running back will be high on first-year coordinator Steve Hagan's list.  Although the Dogs have plenty of size and experience on defense, it will sorely miss the play of tackle Garrett McIntyre.  At times this unit played lights out.  That was until the league title was on the line.  Unlike the offense, the defense has retained its coaches and should form into a solid unit.  Things look set on special teams, especially in the return game.  Fresno can get its revenge early.  How it does in them will tell what 2006 will be like.
NEVADA
OREGON
at Washington
COLORADO STATE
at Utah State
HAWAII
at Louisiana State
at Boise State
NEW MEXICO STATE
IDAHO
at Louisiana Tech
at San Jose State

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  3. NEVADA One ingredient to a successful football program is a quality coaching staff.  Chris Ault shed the title of athletic director to regain his old job as head coach, and guided the Pack to a share of the league title in only his second year.  Now he'll try to get Nevada through its toughest schedule with the same staff.  It also takes talent to win, and now there are some huge holes for Ault's players to fill if another run is to be enjoyed.  At least he's got senior quarterback Jeff Rowe to bank on.  Rowe took to Ault's single-back shotgun offense and the Pack responded by winning its last five games, scoring 30 points or better in each game.  Robert Hubbard is capable of replacing B.J. Mitchell at running back, and there is enough experience on the line to see the good balance return.  However, its on defense where Nevada must become stronger.  There is plenty of experience on the 3-4 line, but not much production.  Ezra Butler (6'2-250) is a big linebacker who plays more like an end.  In fact, the Pack has good size on defense, but not much speed.  Issues with the secondary remain.  Brett Jaekle is a solid kicker, but the rest of the special teams are rather weak.
at Fresno State 
at Arizona State
COLORADO STATE
NORTHWESTERN
at Nevada-Las Vegas
at Hawaii
SAN JOSE STATE
NEW MEXICO STATE
at Idaho
UTAH STATE
at Louisiana Tech
BOISE STATE

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  4. HAWAII It took a while for UH to get its footing in 2005, as it broke in a new offense and struggled to find talent on defense.  However, by year's end, the offense had come together.  Nine starters return to that side, including quarterback Colt Brennan, who threw for 4,300 yards and 35 scores.  He'll likely top the 5,000-yard mark with a deep group of receivers to throw to.  More good news is Samson Satele at center and the return of both starting tackles.  Now head coach June Jones, who happens to play the role of offensive coordinator, will be hoping his defensive guru in Jerry Glanville can kick start the Warrior defense.  Hawaii runs the 3-4, and has all three linemen up front returning.  That offers a good base for Glanville to work from, but the sophomore linebackers must step up and start making plays.  Hawaii has struggled stopping the run and now must also replace both starting corners.  Ouch!  Even more work needs to get done on special teams.  UH was atrocious in all facets of the kicking game last year.  This time going in Jones knows what he has on offense and Glenville will have had a year to prep the defense.  While the offense will score loads of points, the defense has a ways to go before it can prove that it can keep others from scoring more.
at Alabama
UNLV
at Boise State
EASTERN ILLINOIS
NEVADA
at Fresno State
at New Mexico State
IDAHO
at Utah State
LOUISIANA TECH
SAN JOSE STATE
PURDUE
OREGON STATE

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  5. LOUISIANA TECH Who says winning solves all problems?  Last year Tech was one of the few schools left on the outside to be looking in.  Despite a seven-win season, the Bulldogs failed to nail down a bowl bid.  Now the 13-game schedule is flat out wicked and quite a few voids require attention.  There will be almost no experience at quarterback, a position that settled down quite nicely last year in terms of limiting mistakes.  While the receivers and running backs are back to provide the necessary balance, the interior of the offensive line needs a bit of retooling.  Both tackles do return, as does gigantic guard Marcus Lindsey (6'7-360), so whoever winds up under center should be reasonably well protected.  Really, the biggest issues will be on defense where just two starters return.  Particularly daunting is filling the shoes of departed linebacker Byron Santiago.  More work will be needed in breaking in new corners.  Special teams could wind up becoming a team strength.  Facing huge opponents in a weathering 13-game slate will certainly put a strain on what little depth Tech does enjoy.   Eight road games may make the Bulldogs a bit weary down the stretch.  So, its imperative that the offense continues its improvement.   
at Nebraska
NICHOLLS STATE
at Texas A&M
at Clemson
at Boise State
IDAHO
UTAH STATE
at San Jose State
at North Texas
at Hawaii
NEVADA
FRESNO STATE
at New Mexico State

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  6. SAN JOSE STATE It was refreshing to see a defensive coach take over a program and actually work on the defense for a change.  That is what Dick Tomey (a former head coach at Arizona and Hawaii and more recently Texas' defensive coordinator) did in his first year in San Jose.  While the Spartans improved a great deal on defense, it still has a long ways to go.  Expect more of a conservative approach on offense, as the line returns four starters.  That means the emphasis will be running back Yonus Davis to keep the defense off the field, as quarterback Adam Trafalis completed less than half his passes.  Davis is a small (5'7-180), but agile back, who averaged over six yards a pop.  With two starters returning to the defense, don't expect much more improvement on that side of the ball.  Actually, the problem isn't as much a lack of experience as it is size.  While the tackles have enough beef to face the run, the linebackers are the size of safeties.  Tomey uses the most from his kickers, so its good news that the Spartans have a solid pair there.  Actually, the key for the Spartans in 2006 will be to field a better balanced offense to keep the small defense off the field.
at Washington
STANFORD
CAL POLY
SAN DIEGO STATE
UTAH STATE
at Nevada
LOUISIANA TECH
at New Mexico State
BOISE STATE
at Hawaii
at Idaho
FRESNO STATE

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  7. UTAH STATE With several playmakers returning for the Aggies, it appeared that USU could make some headway in '06.  Then off field legal issues hit Brent Guy's recruits and sent State reeling into damage control.  How much those problems will wind up affecting the team remains to be seen, but it certainly didn't help.  To make matters worse, Guy has to rebuild the entire offensive line.  Still, it wasn't like the group last year was at the top of their game, as the Aggies couldn't run worth a darm.  At least it has two fantastic playmakers at receiver in Tony Pennyman and Kevin Robinson.  Look for versatile quarterback Leon Jackson to really open things up and get the ball to those two as much as possible.  If a running back and emerge to offer a hint of balance, things could really take off.  There is work on the defensive line, too.  One starter returns there, and it isn't defensive end John Chick, who terrorized foes last year.  While the line has adequate size, the linebackers don't.  At least they have game time to bank on.  Pennyman and Robinson are huge threats in the return game, but the kickers must get a good dose of improvement after an inconsistent '05 season.
at Wyoming
at Arkansas
UTAH
at Brigham Young
IDAHO
FRESNO STATE
at San Jose State
at Louisiana Tech
HAWAII
at Nevada
at Boise State
NEW MEXICO STATE

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  8. IDAHO There hasn't been this much excitement in Moscow since, well, the last time Dennis Erickson was on campus.  Season ticket sales skyrocketed following the announcement of him as head coach.  Now, look for him and the staff to really open up the passing game.  It's what he does everywhere.  Steve Wichman will be the first to benefit from the new system, but the senior quarterback did toss 18 interceptions a year ago.  He should have plenty of protection with four starters returning to the line.  There is also experience at receiver, though nobody really stands out.  One area in need of juice is the running game.  Idaho was pathetic on defense last year, and now much of that unit must be replaced.  There isn't much punch up front and both corners will be new to the starting roles.  There is some great news with kicker Mike Barrow coming back for his finale.  He's the best unknown commodity on special teams in college football and Erickson will be sure to squeeze everything out of him.  Still, there is work everywhere.  In other words, don't expect a quick turnaround.  It will take time for Erickson to bring in the thug recruiting classes he's known for. 
at Michigan State
at Washington State
IDAHO STATE
at Oregon State
at Utah State
NEW MEXICO STATE
at Louisiana Tech
BOISE STATE
at Hawaii
NEVADA
at Fresno State
SAN JOSE STATE

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  9. NEW MEXICO STATE Murphy's Law hit the Las Cruces campus harder than anywhere else last year, as Hal Mumme took the Aggie program to its lowest low.  If the on-field problems weren't bad enough to battle past, State had to slug through some off-field issues that only mired the team even more.  So, the embattled second year coach will only see improvement, right?  Well, maybe not.  To say Mumme's run and shoot offense failed is a bit of an understatement.  It failed to reach 20 points in over half of its games and now must replace a slew of performers, including go-to receiver Paul Dombrowski.  However, Mumme is banking on Southeastern Louisiana transfer Chase Holbrook to lend a spark at quarterback.  Holbrook is big (6'6-235) and has a pair of experienced receivers to throw to, as well as Aikeem Jolla, who transferred from Miami.  However, there is but one lone returning starter to the line to offer protection and bring punch to the ground game.  There is work to be done on defense, also.  There would be no matter who came back, but just five starters return after struggling in '05.  Obviously the key to success rests with Holbrook's arm.  If he can give the defense a break, State will find a win or two.
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA
NEW MEXICO
TEXAS SOUTHERN
at Texas-El Paso
at Idaho
BOISE STATE
HAWAII
at Nevada
SAN JOSE STATE
at Fresno State
at Utah State
LOUISIANA TECH
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