WAC in alternate spot for Poinsettia Bowl

Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson announced that the conference had agreed with the Poinsettia Bowl to become a back-up choice to play in the Dec. 23 game if the Pac-10 is unable to fulfill all of its bowl requirements.

The agreement is for the 2008 and 2009 only at the present time.

"The WAC looks forward to returning to San Diego and hopefully playing in the Poinsettia Bowl this December," Benson said. "There is so much history and tradition with the 'red coats' dating back tothe 80s and 90s. I know our teams and fans are excited with this possibility."

The 'red coats' Benson was referring to are members of the San Diego County Credit Union, which works both the Poinsettia and Holiday bowls.

"We are really excited about the partnership," said Larry Baber, the Poinsettia Bowl president. "This contingency plan assures us a great matchup and creates a natural and necessary regional tie."

It's a great thing for the WAC, which has averaged four bowl eligible teams over the past five years.

Boise State at 6-0 is already bowl eligible and stands a good chance of getting into a BCS game. Fresno State (4-2) and San Jose State (5-2) seemed to be locks to get to six wins. Nevada at 4-3, New Mexico State (3-3) and Louisiana Tech (3-3) will battle for one or two spots depending on what happens with Boise State and the Pac-10.

With just six weeks left in the Pac-10 season, there is a very good chance that the Pac-10 won't meet that obligation.

Three Pac-10 teams - USC, Arizona and Oregon - already have fove wins and are one victory away. All three are virtually certain to reach six wins.

Cal, Oregon State and Stanford all have four wins, so the trio must win two more to become bowl eligible.

The two teams in danger are UCLA, which is 3-4, and Arizona State, which is 2-4.

UCLA has a tough finishing schedule, including Cal, Oregon State, Washington, Arizona State and USC. ASU finishes with Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Washington State, UCLA and Arizona.

While we're on the subject of bowl games, the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl and the Mountain West Conference have announced a one-year agreement for the MWC to send a team to play the WAC in the Dec. 30 game in Boise.

The Atlantic Coast Conference is pulling out of the game after this season.

"Over the past several years, the WAC and Mountain West have demonstrated a very high level of national success on the football field," Benson said. "We look forward to carrying that success- and rivalry - over into the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl."

SHOWDOWN FOR LEAD

The biggest game in the WAC this week is Friday's Boise State at San Jose State.

The Sparatans have won 15 of their last 17 in the friendly confines of Spartan Stadium, and the only losses in that span were to Hawaii and Boise State. The last two times BSU has come to San Jose, the Broncos pulled out fourth-quarter victories.

Kyle Reed has been stellar at quarterback, but the Spartans are making noise with their defense.

"They play really well as a group," Boise State coiach Chris Petersen said. "They have a good scheme and execute it well. Their defensive line is very athletic.

"When coach Tomey was hired, we all said, 'we know what's going to happen. He knows how to win and they've gotten better every year'.''

The Spartans got a big road win at New Mexico State last weekend, and NMSU coach Hal Mumme was very impressed with the Spartans' defense.

"They have great speed," Mumme said. "They have great defensive linemen. They are difficult to block."

ONE GAME AT A TIME

One thing that has stuck out is Boise State's ability to eliminate talk about polls and getting sucked into the weekly media hype.

The Broncos have always appoached each week in a business-like manner, and that's been one of the secrets to their success under former coach Dan Hawkins and Petersen.

When a reporter pointed out to Petersen that his team was ranked 12th in the BCS, which is the last qualifying spot for the BCS, he didn't get much of a reaction.

"Talk to me after six more games," Petersen said. "I don't worry about things we have no control over."

REVENGE FACTOR

Fresno State, coming off a bye week, visits Utah State this weekend.

When Fresno State visited Logan in 2006, it found itself on the short end of a 13-12 decision, so you can bet the Bulldogs won't be taking the Aggies lightly.

Fresno State coach Pat Hill said that the bye week came at a good time, and that he might get a few players back from injury. He said he would know more later today or Wednesday.

POW HONOREES

Louisiana Tech's Daniel Porter and Boise State teammates Brandyn Thompson and Kyle Brotzman have been named the offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week by the conference.

Porter, a junior running back, rushed for a season-high 145 yards and two scores in Tech's 46-14 win over Idaho.

Thompson, a sophomore, intercepted three passes and had five solo tackles in the Broncos' 27-7 win over Hawaii last Friday. he stopped one Hawaii drive at the 5 with the interception, and then his return of 24 yards on his second theft, led to a score.

Brotzman, a sophomore, averaged 60 yards on three punts, including a career-best 75-yarder. He kicmed two field goals and made three PATs, extending his streak in that category to 90 straight.

ETC...

Since 2003. Boise State has piled up the second-most victories in the NCAA with 62. The leader is USC with 64. Hawaii is eighth with 48 ... The WAC trio of Boise State, Fresno State and Hawaii has combined for 153 win which is fifth-best behind the SEC, Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-10 ... Boise State's Ian Johnson has 49 career rushing touchdowns and needs nine more to become the WAC's all-tme leader. Johnson hasn't scored in Boise's last three games. The Broncos are now using him on special teams ... Ross Jenkins made his first start of the season for Louisiana Tech and he led Tech to an easy win over Idaho. Jenkins completed 13 of 20 for 192 yards. He rushed for 47 yards and a score.