Courtesy of the Western Athletic Conference
SALT LAKE CITY – Defending WAC champion Boise State has been named the favorite in the 2010 Western Athletic Conference football coaches poll announced today at the league's football preview being held in Salt Lake City. It's the second straight year that Boise State has been picked to win the WAC by the coaches. Nevada was picked second for the second consecutive year, while Fresno State finished third.
Boise State finished last season with a 14-0 record, winning the WAC regular season title with a perfect 8-0 mark for the sixth time since 2002. The Broncos capped their perfect season with a 17-10 victory over TCU in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and enter the 2010 season tied with Alabama for the longest active winning streak in the nation at 14 in a row. Boise State returns the 2009 WAC Offensive Player of the Year in junior quarterback Kellen Moore who is 26-1 as a starter.
Nevada was 8-5 last year and finished second in the WAC with a 7-1 mark. The Wolf Pack played in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl last season, their fifth consecutive bowl appearance. Nevada returns last year's WAC Defensive Player of the Year in senior defensive end Dontay Moch.
Fresno State finished in third last year with a 6-2 mark in conference play. Utah State's selection of fourth in the poll is its highest since joining the WAC in 2005. The Aggies were 3-5 last year, tying for fifth place in the conference.
Boise State received 64 points from the nine WAC coaches while Nevada was in second with 55 points. Fresno State was third with 50 followed by Utah State (37). Hawai'i was selected fifth with 36 points followed by Idaho with 33 points, Louisiana Tech (26), New Mexico State (14) and San Jose State (9).
The following is the complete 2010 WAC football coaches' poll (coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams).
Coaches' Poll
Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Boise State (8) 64
2. Nevada (1) 55
3. Fresno State 50
4. Utah State 37
5. Hawai‘i 36
6. Idaho 33
7. Louisiana Tech 26
8. New Mexico State 14
9. San Jose State 9
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For the third year in a row, Boise State has been named the favorite in the Western Athletic Conference football media poll announced today at the conference's Football Preview being held in Salt Lake City. The Broncos were 14-0 last year and finished with a perfect 8-0 mark in conference play. It was their seventh WAC title in the last eight years.
Boise State received 386 points and 42 first-place votes from media members around the WAC and the nation. Nevada was picked second after garnering 333 points and the other first-place vote. Fresno State finished third with 300 points followed by Idaho with 207 points. Louisiana Tech was selected fifth with 200 points followed closely by Utah State (196), Hawai'i (166), New Mexico State (81) and San Jose State (66).
The media also voted on preseason players of the year. Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore was voted the Offensive Player of the Year, while Nevada defensive end Dontay Moch was picked as the Defensive Player of the Year.
Moore, a junior quarterback from Prosser, Wash. (Prosser HS), was second in the nation in passing efficiency with a 161.7 rating last year. He completed 277-of-431 passes for 3,536 yards and 39 touchdowns with just three interceptions in leading the Broncos to a perfect 14-0 record and a victory in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. As a starter, Moore is now 26-1 in just two seasons. He was named the WAC's Freshman of the Year in 2008 and the Offensive Player of the Year last season.
Moch, a senior defensive end from Chandler, Ariz. (Hamilton HS), led the WAC and was eighth in the nation in tackles for loss with 20 for negative 93 yards last season. He had a total of 61 tackles (38 solo), including 6.5 sacks for a loss of 49 yards. He also broke up three passes and forced two fumbles on the year. Moch helped lead Nevada to the top spot in the WAC in rushing defense. He was named the Defensive Player of the Year last season.
Media Poll
Rank Team (1st place votes) Points
1. Boise State (42) 386
2. Nevada (1) 333
3. Fresno State 300
4. Idaho 207
5. Louisiana Tech 200
6. Utah State 196
7. Hawai‘i 166
8. New Mexico State 81
9. San Jose State 66