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ENLARGE
WACCommissioner Karl Benson
All eyes in the Western Athletic Conference and around many regions in the country will be on Honolulu and Friday night's Hawaii-Boise State game (6 p.m.) which will be shown on ESPN2.
The WAC championship and a possible Bowl Championship Series game is at stake. Hawaii is one of two undefeated teams in the nation this year, while Boise State is one of six teams with just one loss.
The Warriors, 10-0, are ranked 13th in the Harris Poll and 14th in the Associated Press poll. Boise State is ranked 15th in the Harris poll and 17th in the AP. The duo are ranked 16th and 19th, respectively, in the BCS rankings.
WAC commissioner Karl Benson originally compared this game to the 1996 BYU-Wyoming title game, but has since changed his mind.
"This is the biggest game in WAC history, and I'm anxious to be in Hawaii for the game," he said. "We talked about the possibility of this back in late July at our football preview, the possibility of a highly ranked Boise State team playing a highly ranked Hawaii team."
The WAC championship and a possible Bowl Championship Series game is at stake. Hawaii is one of two undefeated teams in the nation this year, while Boise State is one of six teams with just one loss.
The Warriors, 10-0, are ranked 13th in the Harris Poll and 14th in the Associated Press poll. Boise State is ranked 15th in the Harris poll and 17th in the AP. The duo are ranked 16th and 19th, respectively, in the BCS rankings.
WAC commissioner Karl Benson originally compared this game to the 1996 BYU-Wyoming title game, but has since changed his mind.
"This is the biggest game in WAC history, and I'm anxious to be in Hawaii for the game," he said. "We talked about the possibility of this back in late July at our football preview, the possibility of a highly ranked Boise State team playing a highly ranked Hawaii team."
A few of the conference coaches were quizzed, but none would give the media a prediction.
"It's going to be a great game," New Mexico State's Hal Mumme said. "Colt Brennan being healthy is certainly a factor and so is Hawaii playing in Hawaii."
"This is a huge game," Utah State coach Brent Guy said. "Boise State is playing real well. They defended New Mexico State's passing game well. Hawaii is a little more vertical. It's going to come down to Hawaii stopping Boise State's running game. That (the run) is what makes their offense work."
BCS, bowl chat
No doubt Hawaii's players and coaches are probably wondering what they have to do to get any love from poll voters and the computers.
"It's going to be a great game," New Mexico State's Hal Mumme said. "Colt Brennan being healthy is certainly a factor and so is Hawaii playing in Hawaii."
"This is a huge game," Utah State coach Brent Guy said. "Boise State is playing real well. They defended New Mexico State's passing game well. Hawaii is a little more vertical. It's going to come down to Hawaii stopping Boise State's running game. That (the run) is what makes their offense work."
BCS, bowl chat
No doubt Hawaii's players and coaches are probably wondering what they have to do to get any love from poll voters and the computers.
The Warriors are 10-0, but they still find themselves 15th in the BCS standings, which means they need to move up three spots in the next two weeks to reach a BCS game. The Warriors are ranked 22nd by the computers, up five spots from the previous week.
Benson is still confident that if Hawaii finishes 12-0, it will jump into the top 12.
"I'm disappointed that that the polls were not more fair to Hawaii and Boise State," Benson said. "There is an opportunity in this coming week to be a correction, even the weekend of Dec. 1. There are so many games being played with teams ahead of Hawaii and Boise State.
"The Boise game as well as the Washington game will enhance the computer rankings. I'm still very confident that the system in place will place accordingly a 12-0 Hawaii team."
Benson also is confident that should Boise State beat Hawaii and finish 11-1 then the Broncos will move up. He believes the Broncos could go as high as No. 14 or 15. A non-BCS conference champion that finishes in the top 16 must finish above a champion from a BCS conference to get a bowl bid. There is a chance that Boise, with a win, could finish ahead of a Big East or Atlantic Coast Conference champion, but that may not be decided until Dec. 1.
Benson is still confident that if Hawaii finishes 12-0, it will jump into the top 12.
"I'm disappointed that that the polls were not more fair to Hawaii and Boise State," Benson said. "There is an opportunity in this coming week to be a correction, even the weekend of Dec. 1. There are so many games being played with teams ahead of Hawaii and Boise State.
"The Boise game as well as the Washington game will enhance the computer rankings. I'm still very confident that the system in place will place accordingly a 12-0 Hawaii team."
Benson also is confident that should Boise State beat Hawaii and finish 11-1 then the Broncos will move up. He believes the Broncos could go as high as No. 14 or 15. A non-BCS conference champion that finishes in the top 16 must finish above a champion from a BCS conference to get a bowl bid. There is a chance that Boise, with a win, could finish ahead of a Big East or Atlantic Coast Conference champion, but that may not be decided until Dec. 1.
If BSU or Hawaii gets to a BCS game, Nevada or Louisiana Tech could move into one of the three WAC bowls, probably the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 22.
WACawards
Hawaii quarterback Tyler Graunke, Hawaii kicker Dan Kelly and Louisiana Tech linebacker Mark Dillard were named the conference's offensive, special teams and defensive players of the week.
WACawards
Hawaii quarterback Tyler Graunke, Hawaii kicker Dan Kelly and Louisiana Tech linebacker Mark Dillard were named the conference's offensive, special teams and defensive players of the week.
