Media pick Hawaii
to win WACThe Warriors edge Boise
and Fresno in the preseason poll
BOISE, Idaho >> Hawaii received 12 of 25 first-place votes, and is favored to win the Western Athletic Conference football championship in a poll of media members who cover the league.
The Warriors got 227 voting points compared to 223 for defending champion Boise State in the poll results, which were announced by the WAC today. The Broncos received nine first-place votes.
WAC preseason media poll
Offensive Player of the Year: Ryan Dinwiddie, QB, Boise State
Team (first place) Pts. 1. Hawaii (12) 227 2. Boise State (9) 223 3. Fresno State (4) 212 4. Nevada 161 5. Louisiana Tech 148 6. San Jose State 127 7. SMU 99 8. Rice 92 9. UTEP 56 10. Tulsa 30
Defensive Player of the Year: Jorge Cordova, DE, Nevada
Fresno State got the other four first-place votes and is picked to finish third, receiving 212 voting points.
In order, the media predicts the rest of the conference race to go as follows: Nevada (161 points), Louisiana Tech (148), San Jose State (127), Southern Methodist (99), Rice (92), Texas-El Paso (56) and Tulsa (30).
The Warriors finished last season with a 10-4 overall mark. Hawaii went 7-1 in the conference, with its only loss to the unbeaten Broncos. UH has won a share of the WAC title twice: in 1992 and 1999.
Hawaii has a favorable conference schedule this year, as it faces fellow contenders Boise State and Fresno State at home.
UH has 23 players returning who started at least one game last season.
Hawaii junior quarterback Tim Chang has begun to receive mention as a possible Heisman Trophy candidate.
But Boise State quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie is the media's choice as preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Dinwiddie passed for 2,283 yards and 20 touchdowns last year despite missing four games with a broken ankle.
Nevada end Jorge Cordova is the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year. He led the league with 8 1/2 sacks last year and 13 tackles-for-loss for 78 yards. He totaled 54 tackles.
Jones' absence excused: Hawaii coach June Jones is missing the first two days of the Western Athletic Conference Football Preview here for the second year in a row.
But this time there didn't seem to be any hard feelings about it, as Jones sent notes to each of his colleagues about why he isn't here.
Also, Jones sent a substitute, offensive coordinatorrunning backs coach Wes Suan. After attending a WAC coaches' meeting this morning, Suan was scheduled to represent UH on the links in the Humanitarian Bowl's annual golf tournament at Falcon Crest Country Club.
"I don't play golf," Suan joked, when his name was announced at a pairing party for the tournament last night. He's actually one of the Warriors staff's most avid players.
Jones will be here tomorrow to talk about his team to media members who cover the WAC.
UH safety Hyrum Peters did arrive yesterday.
"I look at this as fun and a good opportunity to get to know some of the players from the other teams and coaches from around the league," Peters said.
Mini-Fridge: San Jose State's Phil Perry is on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Award, which goes annually to the nation's top defensive player.
Someone asked the 6-foot-1, 250-pound defensive end if he knew anything about Nagurski.
"I know he was a Bear, like my cousin was," Perry said.
Perry's cousin is William "Refrigerator" Perry.
Soft spot for the islands: Fresno State coach Pat Hill doesn't have good memories of Aloha Stadium, since his Bulldogs have never won there in his seven years as FSU coach.
But Hill visits Hawaii every summer. In addition to seeing Jones, he spends time with Dr. Lui Fiatoa, his buddy from college days.
"When I was a student at UC Riverside, I used to work in construction in Nanakuli with Lui," Hill said. "He became my best friend and was best man at my wedding."
Hill said his affinity for Hawaii has nothing to do with him ranking UH No. 23 in the preseason coaches poll.
"I say it every year and I'll say it again this week," Hill said. "The WAC is an underrated conference and its best teams can play with anyone."
Sticking up for little brother: Former Boise State quarterback B.J. Rhode has a favorite UH player.
"Hey, give my brother (UH sophomore backup QB Jeff Rhode) some playing time this year," he said in greeting the Hawaii contingent.
B.J. Rhode, who helped the Broncos beat the Warriors last year, had a five-day tryout with the New York Jets earlier this summer that didn't work out. He's now a student teacher and plans to be a high school football coach.
Rhode and Suan joked about Hawaii's passing-dominated run-and-shoot offense.
"Are you guys going to have any running plays this year? They can work pretty good," Rhode said.
"Hey, that would make my job harder," Suan replied.
Back out: UH walk-on running back Corey Donahue has left the team.
"That's too bad, I thought he had a chance," Suan said.
The 6-1, 225-pound sophomore was behind Mike Bass, John West and Michael Brewster in the spring, and Pesefea Fiaseu is returning to the Warriors after taking the spring off.
So Donahue probably wouldn't have played much running back this season, but might have contributed on special teams.
