Readily Rising: UTEP

Free Falling: San Jose State
God bless Dr. Fitz Hill. He's a fantastic football mind and solid motivator, but he lacks the athletic support to show the world how great he can be. After a 3-9 season in his first campaign, things seemed to be turning around with a 6-7 season the year after. But the Trojans fell to 3-9, last year, and things don't look promising with only nine starters returning and just five home games- two of them include Boise and Fresno. Things will get a little easier with a changing landscape in the WAC, but unless fans start filling those seats, this program won't see the light of D-I.

Most to Prove: Boise State
The Broncos have gone through their last 22 WAC games unscathed. They fully expect to stretch that streak to 30 by season's end. The challenge is great, though, as only ten starters return and there's an abundance of talent to compete with over in Fresno. Dan Hawkins has compiled a 31-6 record since taking over in 2001, and knows exactly how high the bar is set this year. He may need that bar to help fend off the (Bull)dogs and other contenders in 2004.

Could Sneak Up: Rice
Ken Hatfield decided to get back to what gave him success in the first place- the triple option. After toying with a three-wide, shotgun set in the beginning of the year, the Owls reverted back to the perplexing run game and started giving opposing defenses fits. They won four of their last six games, and each of the two losses came by three points! Rice returns an experienced group of starters (fifteen, plus both kickers), and get Hawaii and Fresno State in Houston, while missing out on Boise this year. I pick them 6-5, but if they rob a game or two, the Owls will reach their first bowl game since 1961.

Offensive Player of the Year QB Timmy Chang - Hawai'i
Defensive Player of the Year ILB Robert Rodriguez - UTEP
Special Teams Player of the Year K Tyler Jones - Boise State
Freshman of the Year WR Damacho Ousley - Tulsa

WAC's Top Units

OFFENSE
Backfield Hawai'i
Starters QB Timmy Chang, RB Mike Bass
Backups QB Kainoa Akina, QB Jack Rolovich, RB Michael Brewster, RB West Kiliikipi, RB Kala Latuselu
Potential Help from Newcomers RB Andrew Pearman, QB Taylor Humphrey, RB Matthew Kirschner, QB Brandon Satcher, QB Tyler Graunke, RB Ryan Grice-Mullen
Next Best Fresno State

Receivers Hawai'i
Starters WR Chad Owens, WR Nate Ilaoa, WR Ross Dickerson, WR Britton Komine
Backups WR Orlando Wong, WR Jason Rivers, Gerald Welch, WR Se'e Poumele, WR Jason Ferguson, WR Ian Sample
Potential Help from Newcomers WR Desmond Thomas
Next Best UTEP

Offensive Line Tulsa
Starters OT Jeff Perrett, OG Matt Black, C Derek Warehime, OG Jesse Stoneham, OT Aaron Danenhauer
Backups OT Mike Mengers, OG Eric Tibbits, C Victor Mercado, OG Jeff Bryant, OT Tony Guined
Potential Help from Newcomers OT Mike Mengers (jr), OG Jeff Bryant (jr), OT Roderick Thomas (jr), C Nick Grimes
Next Best Hawaii

DEFENSE
Defensive Line Fresno State
Starters DE Brian Morris, NT Donyell Booker, DT Garrett McIntyre, DE Claude Sanders
Backups DE David Adamo (may miss time to injury), NT Louis Leonard, NT Jason Shirley, DT Fai Satele, DE Marlon Brisco
Potential Help from Newcomers DE Mike Roland, DT Jon Monga, DL Kenny Avon,
Next Best Boise State

Linebackers Boise State
Starters OLB Andy Avalos, MLB Korey Hall, OLB Colt Brooks
Backups OLB Tim Hefty, OLB Jared Hunter, MLB Chris Barrios, MLB Ben Chuckovich, OLB Josh Bean, OLB Mike Altieri, OLB Brock Drake
Potential Help from Newcomers LB Casey Herron, LB Dallas Dobbs
Next Best UTEP

Defensive Backs Fresno State
Starters CB Richard Marshall, CB Awan Diles, SS James Sanders, FS Tyrone Culver
Backups CB Raymond Washington, CB Marcus McCauley, CB Therrian Fontenot, SS Nathan Ray, FS Josh Sherley, FS Vincent Mays
Potential Help from Newcomers SAF Jake Jorde
Next Best Hawaii

Special Teams Fresno State
Starters K Brett Visintainer, P Mike Lingua, KR/PR Adam Jennings
Backups K Clint Stitser, RS Nathan Ray
Potential Help from Newcomers None
Next Best Boise State

Chappy's Nutshell
Things are a-changing in the Western Athletic Conference. Rice, SMU, Tulsa and UTEP all leave for C-USA next season, and there are rumors that the Mountain West is hunting Boise State, Fresno State and Hawaii. But to focus on this year, I see Fresno winning their first WAC title under Pat Hill. Too much skill on both sides of the ball, and they get Boise State after a bye week. The Broncos will again be tough, but they lost a lot of talent and it will catch up to them when Fresno comes to town. Be on the lookout for UTEP. I'm telling you, buy the hype on the Miners! Mike Price has done wonders with little teams with minimal (competitive) talent. He'll get this program up and running for the next few years (or however long he chooses to stay). Fresno State has the talent to pull off a national shocker (at Kansas State), but after what happened against Marshall last season, the Wildcats will be prepared for Pat Hill's gang. This will be the most talented group of teams the WAC will have for a while. One-by-one, the prominent contenders are being plucked away.