New Mexico State media stumps for Tadman

Yesterday, we joked about including Marty Tadman in the discussion for preseason WAC defensive player of the year. The New Mexico State media? Not joking.

The preseason picks for offensive and defensive players of the year should be announced later today. We voted for Chase Holbrook for offensive player of the year and Boise State's Marty Tadman for defensive player of the year.

Here's a close-up image of their selection.

Tadman lost to Hawaii's Solomon Elimimian, who is still an active player.

Preseason Football Poll Update [Bleed Crimson]

Update: This was not a typo. These guys actually voted for Marty Tadman.

Thursday: Links with technology

Story of the day:

Karl Benson's state of the WAC [ESPN.com]

In his press conference at the WAC media days yesterday, commissioner Karl Benson had plenty of good things to say about the recent success of the WAC and the high national profile that the conference has earned over the past few years. The only thing that could bring down his good times? Idaho, Utah State, and NMSU.

"We need to get better at the bottom of the league," Benson said. "There are 120 FBS programs and we've had teams in the hundreds, and those teams need to get better. It has an impact on the teams in the top half in terms of BCS standings."

Besides those three black sheep, Benson was pleased with the conference's progress. And he always loves a good MWC ribbing.

"The WAC has re-established itself as the second-most recognized conference in the West behind the Pac-10," Benson said. "It wasn't intended to compare the WAC to the Mountain West. The WAC is well-grounded, well-established and continues to perform at a high level."

Benson did not confirm an ESPN TV deal, but he did promise better officiating and a concerted effort to keep anyone from using the term "non-BCS conference" ever again. Good luck with that.

Other links:

Broncos will speak this afternoon [WAC Sports]
Ian Johnson, Mike Williams, and Coach Pete on the mic.

Notes from WAC media days [Press-Tribune]
Shirtless Idaho players? We're kind of glad we're not there.

Media votes Colorado seventh-best Big XII team [Big12 Sports]
Dan Hawkins wonders if BSU will take him back.

The Sugar Bowl did more harm than good [Salt Lake Tribune]
"Hawaii debacle" is a pretty strong headline.

Coach Pete conquers Blue Angels [Statesman]
Not blowing chunks in an 800 mph airplane is quite the achievement.

Ian Johnson weight update [Dave's Blog]
He's at 207. Update your Excel spreadsheet accordingly.

Honest, biased preseason WAC standings

Yesterday: preseason WAC players of the year
Today: preseason WAC poll
Tomorrow: a nap

The WAC media and coaches have released their picks for conference favorites, and now it is time to reveal ours. As is always the case, our preseason poll has an unconventional look to it, and plenty of bias and passive-aggressive anger went into the picks. Feel free to tell us how badly we botched things.

1. Boise State
We see them going undefeated and winning the national championship, which is probably why we weren't invited to the WAC media convention.
2. Nevada
Why are we giving Nevada respect? Beats us, but we do see them winning six conference games
3. Fresno State
We'd be surprised if anyone else had the Bulldogs this low, but if there's a way for Fresno to screw the pooch in conference play, they'll find it. We imagine it's hiding under the guise of a road game at LaTech.
4. Louisiana Tech
Speaking of LaTech, the Bulldogs may show flashes of a program on the rise this season. However, they will also show flashes of LaTech.
5. San Jose State
If the Spartans win in Hawaii in September, they could certainly finish here. If they don't, then we will never trust them with anything again.
6. Hawaii
The Warriors may surprise us, or they may completely implode under the shaky hand of Tyler Graunke and the deer-in-the-headlights stare of Greg McMackin. We're betting on the latter.
7. Idaho
The Vandals are a poorly-coached, undisciplined, talentless football team. That's good enough for seventh place in the WAC.
8. Utah State
Happy trails, Brent Guy. Pick up your parting gift at Deseret Industries on your way out.
9. New Mexico State
Finishing below Idaho and Utah State is no easy task, but considering that the Aggies lost at home last year to USU and get both of the teams on the road this season, we're confident they are up to the challenge. Catch the Hal Mumme fever!

Robb Akey on the mic at WAC media convention

Enjoy. Or don't.

• Robb Akey press conference 

Coaches, commissioner speak...[WACSports.com]

Wednesday: Links with dread

The WAC preseason picks are out. Click here for the results. (Spoiler alert: the good guys win.)

Story of the day:

Boise State making play for MWC? [Review Journal]

For awhile now, it seems like the Broncos have been exploring options on how to get out of the WAC. Their latest accomplice may be...the Humanitarian Bowl?

The Mountain West could send a team to that game this season if the Atlantic Coast Conference fails to qualify an eighth bowl team, but a deal would be for a guaranteed spot in 2009 for the No. 5 MWC team. MWC commissioner Craig Thompson didn't deny Boise State might use the bowl as a means to gain admission into the Mountain West.

What strange bedfellows. Boise State and the H-Bowl have a tenuous history, mostly because BSU treats the home game as a fall-back option, not unlike our dating history in high school. "Well, if the Hawaii Bowl asks us out, then we're going, but I guess we could always play mini golf with the H-Bowl if all else fails." We love mini golf.


Not sure how everyone is making the presumption that a MWC team in the H-Bowl means Boise State is making a play to join the conference. From what we can tell, the Broncos might have more incentive to stay home and face a MWC team (ugh, Wyoming again?) to prove that they belong with Mountain West teams.

It's worth following to say the least, but we'd rather the Broncos be looking for subversive ways to join the Pac-10.

Other links:

Tim Brady on cover of media guide [Press-Tribune]
Sorry, Brock Jaramillo. Maybe next year.

Colt Brennan blogs Colt Brennan-ness [Redskins.com]
Thanks, Warriors Will Throw. We appreciate the extra ammunition.

The Bronco Nation podcast is big time [BNN]
Voting FSU ahead of BSU in preseason polls, however, is not big time.

Sporting News' Boise State preview [Sporting News]
#33 in the country: we'll take that.

Interesting stats on the WAC [Sporting Network]
An original WAC preview. How refreshing.

Statesman's preview of media days [Statesman]
Brent Guy rationalizing his career record should be fun.

Chase Holbrook, Heisman candidate [Reno Gazette-Journal]
We just threw up in our mouth a little.

Interesting take on mid-majors [Sunday Morning Quarterback]
Kudos to blogger journalism.

Idaho State may not even be competitive in Big Sky [ISZ]
Merril Hoge sheds a tear.

Broncos picked first, Johnson picked best

Take that, Fresno State. In your face, Chase Holbrook.

The Broncos were chosen by the WAC media to finish first in the conference, and Ian Johnson was named the WAC's preseason offensive player of the year at the WAC media convention in Salt Lake City.

Boise State received 383 points and 25 first-place votes from media members around the WAC and the nation. Fresno State was picked a close second after garnering 379 points and 20 first-place votes.

Here are the official standings for the media poll.

1. Boise State (383)
   
2. Fresno State (379)
   
3. Nevada (296)
   
4. Hawaii (243)
   
5. Louisiana Tech (209)
   
6. San Jose State (183)
   
7. New Mexico State (167)
   
8. Idaho (87)
   
9. Utah State (78)
   

The coaches had Fresno State on top, but what do coaches know? Okay, they know more than we will ever forget. The Bulldogs got seven first place votes from the conference coaches, and Boise State got the remaining two.

Ian Johnson and Hawaii LB Solomon Elimimian were voted as the players of the year for the conference. Johnson is without a doubt the face of the WAC, considering his success in the Fiesta Bowl season and his national notoriety, but NMSU QB Holbrook could have just as easily duped the media into picking him.

We're actually a little surprised that the Broncos were chosen to finish first. We have heard everyone and their mother tout the greatness of the Bulldogs this upcoming season, and we figured that the media would think the same. They have obviously skipped the Fresno Kool-Aid in favor of Boise State coffee and Red Bull.

In lieu of this really early announcement (what are they doing awake this early?), we'll run the daily links later this morning.

Broncos picked first... [Bronco Sports]

Far out predictions for preseason WAC awards

Today: Preseason WAC players of the year
Tomorrow: Preseason conference standings
Thursday: a nap

The official preseason players of the year in the WAC will be revealed in the next couple days, and they are sure to reek of predictability and groupthink. Ian Johnson, anyone?

Our picks are a little different. We know from experience that a college football season rarely plays out as planned, which is why we've done our best to think outside of the box with preseason prognosticating. Does Chadd Cripe know any better than we do about what will happen this season? Of course not.Will his ballot reflect a stuffy assuredness of safe answers and false modesty? We hope not.

To be sure, we know the right answers to the preseason players of the year questions; they are obviously outlined in every preview magazine on the shelves. However, we stand by our decisions for players of the year, and we're more than happy to eat crow when things start falling apart in Week Three.

So without further ado, here are the picks:

OBNUG's preseason WAC defensive player of the year

Jeff Schweiger, San Jose State DE

Who? What? Are San Jose State linemen even eligible? These same questions ran through our heads, too, but we put peer pressure and good sense aside and went with Schweiger anyway.

Perhaps a little background would help: Schweiger is a 6'5", 255-pound transfer from USC. He owned SJSU's spring practice, and he was so good that 2007 all-WAC DE Jarron Gilbert has moved inside to tackle. Obviously, Pac-10 competition is a step above WAC play, so we're expecting Schweiger to really be an animal this fall. San Jose State is supposed to be one of several strong WAC defensive teams, and Schweiger will be the reason.

Don't let us down, Jeff Schweiger. Although, from a San Jose State Spartan, we may be asking the impossible.

What the media will say: Solomon Elimimian or Adam Leonard, Hawaii LBs

Other candidates we considered: Ryan Winterswyk, Derrell Acrey, Jake Hutton, David Veikune, Moses Harris, Elimimian, Leonard, Marty Tadman

OBNUG's preseason WAC offensive player of the year

Nick Graziano, Nevada QB

The Nevada Wolfpack have tangible hype going into the season, which could be dashed in an instant by a 4-for-26 Colin Kaepernick quarterbacking performance.

The funny thing is that you probably didn't even flinch at the absurdity of those numbers. Kaepernick completing one-sixth of his passes is a very real possibility, and thusly Kaepernick finding the bench is just as plausible. When it happens, we could see former starter Graziano stepping in and saving the Pack's season.

He'll have a wonderful running back behind him in Luke Lippincott. The offensive line will be solid. He'll have every chance to put up big numbers, and he could bring stability to an offense that will become fairly predictable once Kaepernick starts breaking the pocket immediately on passing plays. You may be thinking, "Then why not pick Lippincott for player of the year?" Because we're idiots. But only time will tell.

FYI: We were thisclose to picking Idaho RB Deonte Jackson, but we couldn't bring ourselves to openly support anything that has to do with the Vandals or anyone who shares a backfield with Nathan Enderle.

What the media will say: Ian Johnson, Boise State RB

Other candidates we considered: Jackson, Malcolm Lane, Ian Johnson, Titus Young, Ryan Mathews, Taylor Bennett, Lippincott, Ryan Dinwiddie

What do you guys think? Who would get your vote? Do you agree with our picks? Are we idiots? Actually, don't answer that last one.