Press Box
Broncos shoot for
unbeaten league markIF Boise State beats Nevada tomorrow, the Broncos become the first team to complete a Western Athletic Conference season undefeated since Brigham Young went 8-0 in league play in 1996.
Only three schools have run the WAC table since the conference's birth in 1962. None remain in the league; Wyoming did it four times, BYU and Arizona State three times each.
Last we checked, Boise State wasn't planning on bolting the conference it just joined last year.
For the record, neither is Broncos coach Dan Hawkins. He and Nevada coach Chris Tormey were mentioned in a Caspar Star-Tribune article as possible replacements for Wyoming coach Vic Koenning, who was fired Monday. Both said they haven't been contacted and aren't particularly interested in leaving their current jobs right now.
But Hawkins has hinted on more than one occasion that his stay in Idaho could end soon if his program doesn't get more financial support from the community. He isn't looking for a big pay increase for himself, but, rather, a bigger annual budget for his program.
Hawkins is a nice guy five years removed from Willamette University. He's worked his way up and does have a sense of loyalty. But he also knows he's a hot commodity.
The good citizens of Boise have stepped up recently and produced some coin: $35,000 was raised at one event, and a wine tasting brought in $40,000 for summer school tuition.
So Hawkins figures to stick around, at least for another year.
Now, will the Broncos do the same for the hometown Humanitarian Bowl?
Maybe not if the Mountain West can't qualify enough teams for its bowl commitments.
BSU going to the Seattle Bowl has passed the rumor stage. It's a real possibility.
"Very much so," said Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman. "If BYU loses (to Utah, making it 5-7 and ineligible for postseason) it's a 70 or 80 percent probability. Fans and players are really divided."
WHAT ARE the Biletnikoff voters to do with Nate Burleson?
Statistically, the Nevada wide out is the best receiver in the nation, and should win the award hands down.
But watch out for the old WAC stigma again.
The other finalists, Charlie Rogers of Michigan State and Shaun McDonald from Arizona State, play tough schedules in power conferences and are much more well-known around the country.
Burleson has caught almost as many passes himself (131 to lead the nation) as Rogers (63) and McDonald (75) combined.
Burleson also leads all with 1,558 yards and has 11 touchdowns. Rogers' numbers are 1,287 yards and 13 TDs, and McDonald's 1,280 and 13.
It's easy to rationalize not voting for Burleson; if someone wants to make a case for either of the other two, Burleson's stats can be explained by saying he must get a lot of short dump-off passes.
Anyone who has seen him play knows Burleson is an outstanding athlete, and not the plodding possession receiver that his stats might indicate. But how many east of the Rockies have seen him?
Dave Reardon, who covered sports in Hawaii from 1977 to 1998,
moved to the the Gainesville Sun, then returned to
the Star-Bulletin in Jan. 2000.
E-mail Dave: dreardon@starbulletin.com