Wagner named preseason defensive player of the year
LAS VEGAS – Utah State was picked to finish fifth in the Western Athletic Conference by both media and coaches preseason polls, released earlier this summer.
Hawaii is the early favorite and picked to win the WAC, followed closely by Nevada in second and Fresno State in third. Louisiana Tech, in fourth, precedes Utah State, in fifth, who is followed by Idaho, in sixth. San Jose State, in seventh, and New Mexico State, in eighth, finish out the polls.
Hawaii coach Greg McMackin said he does not believe a walk championship will be a “walk.”
“Our goal is to compete for the WAC championship,” McMackin said. “I think there are several teams that are going to be right in the thick of it.”
With the departure of longtime favorite Boise State to the Mountain West Conference, many players and coaches feel the WAC championship is up for grabs, including Idaho head coach Rob Akey.
“Everybody’s saying it, some of them believe it,” Akey said. “The ones that believe it will have a chance.”
Bryant Moniz from Hawaii was selected to be the WAC offensive player of the year for his senior season. Moniz led the Warriors to a 10-4 season last year and a share of the WAC championship.
“I’ve coached at every level and I’ve never seen a guy study as hard as Bryant Moniz,” McMackin said. “He’s at our offices all the time – works hard, has got a family – I’ve got a great deal of respect for him.”
Utah State’s senior linebacker Bobby Wagner was named the conference Defensive Player of the Year. Wagner led the WAC and tied for seventh in the FBS with 11.1 tackles per game and is a two-time all-WAC honoree.
“He’s a heck of a player,” said New Mexico State head coach DeWayne Walker. “I know when we get to that stage of the season (Wagner) is definitely a guy we’re going to have to account for. Obviously we’re going to be watching him throughout the year. He’s a very good football player.”
WAC Commissioner Karl Benson put to rest all rumors of USU joining the MWC, calling the rumors “erroneous reporting.”
“Whatever report you may have read or seen yesterday about something being imminent between the Mountain West and Utah State,” Benson said. “I have no idea where it surfaced or how it surfaced.”
Benson also addressed issues he is facing with keeping the WAC afloat as a competitive conference with the nearing departures of Hawaii, Fresno State and Nevada, as well as the deal he nearly worked out with BYU to join the conference for all sports except football.
“We will look forward to continuing the WAC-Mountain West rivalry and on-the-field competition,” Benson said.
“We’re proud that we’ve been able to get through this period,” Benson said. “I’m obviously disappointed that that didn’t materialize, but on the other hand, we’re here again with a plan and will execute that plan that will allow the WAC and our member institutions to be clearly recognized nationally.”
Nevada, Hawaii and Fresno will be spending 2011 as their last football season in the WAC. Nevada and Fresno will join the MWC in all sports for the 2012-13 season, while Hawaii will join the Mountain West for football only, and all other sports will compete in the Big West Conference, also beginning in the 2012-13 season.
WAC play will begin on Thursday, Sept. 1, at 6 p.m. when Bowling Green travels to Moscow to take on the Vandals of the University of Idaho.
– tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu.edu