Getting a chance to coach your own son in college is a unique happening, one which doesn't occur very often.
Boise State coach Dan Hawkins will have that opportunity when his son, Cody, currently a senior at Bishop Kelly High School in Boise, will play for the Broncos starting next fall. Cody announced on July 28 that would go to Boise State.
"His mom was happy," Hawkins said during Monday's Western Athletic Conference teleconference. "He's a good player; a really good player. He knows what the game is about.
"It does bring issues. It's not like being somebody else on this team. As long as we're playing OK, things will be fine. If he's not playing well, he'll get a hard time from you folks (the media). People will say he's only playing because he's the coaches' kid."
Did Hawkins try to push him to a different school?
"I didn't push one way or another," Hawkins said. "I stayed out for the most part. I wanted him to make up his own mind.
"He didn't want to play against us (Boise State). Unfortunately a couple of schools (that he liked) would have played against us."
The younger Hawkins led Bishop Kelly to a 12-0 record and state title last year, throwing for more than 2,500 yards and 31 TDs.
Hawkins was ranked 18th nationally by scout.com, a national recruiting service. The only knocks on him were arm strength and size (5-11). His accuracy and leadership qualities are considered strengths.
WAC HONOREES
Hawai'i quarterback Colt Brennan, Fresno State cornerback Richard Marshall and FSU place-kicker Clint Stitser were named the Xbox Live Western Athletic Conference offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week, respectively.
Brennan threw for a career-best 515 yards and seven touchdowns in the Rainbows' 49-28 win over New Mexico State on Saturday night. He completed 38 of 53 passes, and the seven scores were the most by a WAC quarterback since San Jose State's Scott Rislov threw seven against UTEP on Nov. 8, 2003.
"He's starting to get a better understanding (of the offense)," Jones said. "He threw the ball very accurately and he made some good scrambles when things broke down."
Marshall racked up six tackles, returned a fumble 17 yards and intercepted a pass in the Bulldogs' 53-21 win over Utah State. He also had a 70-yard kickoff return.
Stitser, a sophomore from McQueen High School, made all three of his field-goal attempts, including a 44-yarder.
HAWAI'I (2-4, 2-2)
There have been several NFL head coaches and assistants that have drifted back into the college ranks as head coaches in the last 10 years - Jones, Dave Wannstedt at Pitt and Charlie Weis at Notre Dame to name a few
Jones was asked if there was a trend developing.
"I don't have an answer," he said. "The NFL is the highest level in our profession. Anybody in the right situation would want to be there still.
"If I hadn't come to Hawai'i, I never would have left the NFL. I have a great love for the islands. Thirty years ago I went to school here and I got married here."
LOUISIANA TECH (2-3, 2-1)
Coach Jack Bicknell's biggest concern is injuries to guards Aaron Lips and Ryan Considine, and center Marcus Stewart.
All three are struggling with ankle injuries, and Bicknell believes that was a big reason why Louisiana Tech was unable to sustain a running game.
"We are not as efficient as we have been," Bicknell said. "Those three are struggling. We didn't take them out because they were better than the guys on the bench."
Bicknell said that may change. If the Bulldogs can't run, they are in big trouble. He felt that the Bulldogs' inability to gain yards on first and second down left them in too many third and long situations.
NEW MEXICO STATE (0-7, 0-3)
The Aggies have a much-needed bye. It gives them a chance to regroup after seven straight losses and to rest up from the long flight home.
Coach Hal Mumme seemed encouraged by the Aggies' passing offense, as Royal Gill threw for 356 yards and two scores in the 49-28 loss to Hawai'i. Gill completed 34 of 57 passing attempts.
"Royal has a better grasp of what we're trying to do," Mumme said. "He's working more within the offense. He's making better decisions. Our offensive line has young guys. They gave up only two sacks."
UTAH STATE (2-3, 1-2)
The Aggies are in a brutal stretch of their schedule. After getting blown out by Fresno State last weekend, Utah State hosts Boise State and then visits Alabama.
"We try to take it one game at a time," coach Brent Guy said. "I think we took a step back last week. We let the crowd and adversity affect us. I thought we learned from that at Utah."
Guy was steamed that the Aggies gained only 44 yards on the ground. Quarterback Leon Jackson had minus-30 yards rushing, including sacks, and the special teams also had a bad punt snap leading to a 27-yard team rushing loss.
IDAHO (1-2, 1-5)
The Vandals got back to basics during their bye week, according to coach Nick Holt.
Holt gave the team off last Monday and Friday and had good workouts the rest of the week.
"We needed the time off to get healthy," Holt said. "We'll get some guys back and that will help us be competitive. We are trying to get better. We got back to fundamentals."
Holt hopes to have his line at full strength, as Billy Bates (bruised shin) should play and Nate VanderPol is 100 percent healthy. VanderPol played against Nevada, but wasn't at full strength. Jade Tadvick (appendectomy) returned to practice recently,
Running back Antwaun Sherman (high ankle sprain) should also return. At full strength, Sherman gives the Vandals some much-needed speed in the backfield.
Idaho hosts Fresno State this weekend, the Bulldogs' first visit to Moscow in the Pat Hill era.
"They are a solid football team," Holt said. "They run the ball 70 percent of the time. They've always done this. It will bring a big challenge to us."
SAN JOSE STATE (1-5, 0-3)
The Spartans used P.J. Greco at quarterback last week against defending champion Boise State, and he threw for 122 yards before being replaced by Adam Tafralis.
One of Greco's completions was a 90-yarder to John Broussard. Other than that, the Spartans didn't get the ball upfield with their passing game while Greco was in. The running game is struggling, too, as the Spartans don't have a back that has gained more then 200 yards thus far.
"We played poorly the last third of the second quarter," coach Dick Tomey said. "In the second half, we got it to 10 points and had an opportunity to get back (or win) the football game."
It will be a family affair for the Brennans. Brent Brennan, the Spartans' receivers coach, is a first cousin to Hawai'i quarterback Colt Brennan.
FRESNO STATE (4-1, 2-0)
Coach Pat Hill continues to love his defense, which is dominated by sophomores and juniors.
The Bulldogs are first in rushing defense, allowing only 102.4 per game, and first in total defense (306.2).
"We've got a lot of guys playing," Hill said. "Richard (Marshall) has played well and Marcus Riley keeps playing well." Dwayne Andrews and Emanuel Sanchez also have played well.
Hill said South Lake Tahoe's Garrett McIntyre is almost at full strength, and should be there by the time Fresno visits Hawai'i in two weeks. That game could help decide the bowl fate for both teams. Hawai'i can afford only one more loss and still reach seven wins.
At the start of the year, Hill said this team could be as good if not better than the 2001 team, which compiled a 11-3 record.
"I felt this team had potential, but potential to me means you haven't done it yet," he said. "The 2004 team played well in spurts. This team has been playing very good (football). It's a very mature team."
BOISE STATE (4-2, 2-0)
When a reporter asked coach Dan Hawkins about Boise State being a model for building college programs, he just shrugged it off.
"Boise State has always had a great program," he said. "We get tremendous support from the community and the administration."
Hawkins said the Broncos have been blessed with some great coaches like Jim Criner, who won one national I-AA title and reached the semifinals another time, and Dirk Koetter (26-10 in three years). Another coach who fared well in Boise was Tony Knap. who won three Big Sky titles in the '70s and took Boise State to the Division II quarterfinals twice and the semifinals once.
n Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com or (775) 881-1281