Why the WAC is Suddenly the Most Relevant Mid-Major Conference

With Louisville’s timely graduation to the BCS (if you can refer to the Big East as such in more than deference to its Miami/Virginia Tech glory days) and Utah’s return to earth a year separated from the Alex Smith era, there is a power vacuum in the Mid-Major ranks that is being filled by the Western Athletic Conference.

And while the most pub the WAC is currently getting has to do with having the least Mormon of all the Mormons in Utah (Read: Utah State Football Loves Pot!), the WAC, more so than Conference USA, the Mountain West or the MAC, is flying under the radar as the Mid Major of consequence this season. The obvious reasons are conference powers Boise State and Fresno State. Both programs have big expectations for the season.

Fresno State will assume its typical giant-killing posture with high profile non-conference matchups against Oregon, at Washington and a nasty roadtrip to Louisiana State.

BSU was picked to win their fifth straight WAC title and with a relatively easy schedule (Fresno State and Oregon State visit the blue turf) expectations are high for a 12-0 regular season and the second bid ever for a Mid-Major to play in the BCS. Coming off a national setback in an embarrassing season-opening performance at Georgia last season, the pressure on Boise State has never been greater to regain national relevance. And with Dan Hawkins departed for Colorado, these are fine times to be breaking in new coach Pete Petersen. But he’s an offensive madman, and the Broncos are deep on offense and defense, returning a shit load of starters, so the table is set.

Hometown pride is at an all-time high at Boise. The Idaho Statesman, the local Gannett rag, is pretty modest in all facets except for its new awesome Boise State Football page on its website. Seriously, this is pretty amazing as far as local coverage goes. Check out the Michigan coverage in the Detroit News if you don't agree.

Still, Boise and Fresno are old news, and the recurring criticism of the recent-era WAC has been that as a conference it’s a two-trick pony. (Similar arguments could be made for many conferences and, should West Virginia wash out, the Big East could be characterized as a rare, no-trick pony. And that, Dave Wannstadt, is one ugly hooker.)

But for the first time in recent memory, this may no longer be valid as the conference is developing some depth in emerging powers Nevada and Hawaii. Each of whom will also get to test their mettle against nationally prominent opponents like Alabama, Purdue and Arizona State. Hawaii's got this guy Colt Brennan, who figures to be more prolific than Timmy Chang, and they can usually manage to defeat a jetlagged BCS team out in the Islands. Just ask Alabama or Michigan State.

The bottom of the conference is like any other, but I’d take San Jose State over a Jay Cutler-less Vanderbilt any day because WAC teams can score some points. But from the top to the bottom, the WAC's also a Petri Dish for coaching talent: the Boise State strain dating back to Pokey (RIP) Allen, counts Houston Nutt, Dirk Koetter, and Dan Hawkins among its ranks; according to ESPN Radio Pat Hill is one of only eight mustachioed coaches in D-1A (and its a great mustache); Mike Price revived his career at UTEP when they were in the conference. And now Dennis Erickson at Idaho (coming off rebuilding Oregon State) will try to do the same.