Welcome to WAC Conference
By Canes142, COMISSIONER

Welcome to DaONE WAC members, I look forward to commisioning what I feel will be one of the most competitive conferences around. I wish you all luck and ask that you feel free to contact me at anytime with any questions or situations you are having concerning the league. Dont wait to the last minute to make me aware of any scheduling difficulties. If you don't let me know, I can't help you, so please keep me informed. Hopefully, we won't have any issues, but I am here if you do. Best of luck to everyone in the WAC!

WAC Coaches Gunning for the Big Three
By XtraPott, COMISSIONER

This year, the Western Athletic Conference will try to prove it belongs in the national spotlight. But without a team ranked in the preseason Top 25, it will be a tough battle. Three teams bring in 9-plus wins from a year ago, but after that the bottom falls out. Boise State (12-1), Hawaii (10-4), and Fresno State (9-5) were the only teams from the WAC with winning records.

These three teams should be at the top of the WAC again this year with plenty of returning talent and all- conference selections.

Fresno State leads the way with five preseason All-WAC selections, four on the offensive side. Topping that list is Rodney Davis, who rushed for 1,586 yards last year. Two top-notch receivers in Bernard Berrian and Marque Davis and offensive lineman Logan Mankins will also make Fresno State’s offense tough.

Hawaii brings in four selections, including senior defensive backs Hyrum Peters and Kelvin Millhouse. Isaac Sopaga is rated as one of the nation’s top defensive linemen. Timmy Chang is all that is needed on the offensive side, throwing for close to 4,500 yards last year.

Boise State is led offensively by Ryan Dinwiddie a three-year starting quarterback. Defensively, Andy Avalos returns as the team’s leading tackler and Gabe Franklin brings eight interceptions from a year ago.

Scattered throughout the rest of the league is good talent and capable players, but nothing like the top three teams. For the other teams in the WAC, key players must have exceptional years for their teams to compete for a league title and playoff possibility.

"Isn't that why you play the game?” said Coach Potter of the Rice Owls. “If the game was on paper, you might as well give the trophy to Boise State or Hawaii."

Even if you do play the games, the WAC is a three-team race with Boise State likely to take home the title.

Until the WAC can consistently put together a year where five or six teams have enough wins to become bowl-eligible or playoff-eligible, the spotlight will always shine elsewhere. Some say it is because of lack of recruiting. Others say it’s because the talent level drops off after the major conferences get finished.

WAC coaches, however, are up to the challenge.

“I really don't think the talent will have that much of an effect,” Coach GPaul of Boise State said. “If you can ball, you can ball, period. An experienced player can always overcome a one-dimensional player."

With that said, it is up to the coaches of the WAC to bring their A-game each and every time they step on the field. If that happens, you can bet that some of the national spotlight will be shining in the WAC's direction.

Healthy Chance Kretschmer Makes Nevada WAC Contender
By XtraPott, SPORTS WRITER

Chance Kretschmer, the nation's leading rusher in 2001, will be back with the Nevada Wolf Pack this year. Chance suffered a season-ending injury early on last season after gaining 1,732 yards as a freshman.

Coach Gee (Atlplayboy23) will take charge of a team that returns 19 starters, more than any other team in the WAC. The question is, will that be enough to get the Wolf Pack a playoff berth? Coach Gee was in the running for the Florida State job, but was passed up by the Seminoles and decided to give the Wolf Pack a shot.

“I think it is better that I didn’t get Florida State," Coach Gee said. "Playing with Nevada makes my game that much better.” Coach Gee and the Wolf Pack will have to be that much better to improve on their 5-7 record from a year ago.

With that said, Nevada could be the surprise of the WAC this year, with experienced players returning at nearly every position. “Overall, I think this conference is up for grabs," Coach Gee said. "Everyone should be about rated evenly. So great ballers should be able to win the conference.” But great ballers can also use a little help sometimes. Nevada has home games against Hawaii and Fresno State, which give them a better Chance (Kretschmer) to make waves in the WAC.

Whether or not the Wolf Pack can win the WAC is still up in the air. One thing is certain, Coach Gee will be ready for all challenges thrown his way. Look for the Wolf Pack to pull off a few upsets during the inaugural season in DaONE.