Sports Publications

Western Athletic Conference

Sporting News, The, August 21, 1995 by Andy Boogaard

Defense is the key to success

1994 was the best season in WAC history. Offensive tradition was upheld, defensive standards were raised and success out of conference was unprecedented. Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Arizona, Pac-10 champion Oregon -- the WAC conquered them all, some more than once, a few decisively. Home attendance soared and the WAC had three teams (Utah, Brigham Young and Colorado State) finish in the Top 20 for the first time.

But keep the champagne corked. The success represented elevation, not evolution; it occurred in a season, not for a decade.

No one knows better than Brigham Young Coach LaVell Edwards, who is entering his 24th season in the conference.

"Last season was a benchmark for the WAC," Edwards says. "Now what we need to do is follow up with a couple of years in a row of having the same success."

Sonny Lubick guided Colorado State to its first WAC title in only his second season with the Rams, yet he, too, has the big picture in focus.

"The WAC earned respect nationally in 1994 that it probably deserved long before," Lubick says. "Now the challenge is to maintain the respect."

There will be no shortage of opportunity. Non-conference opposition features Notre Dame, UCLA, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Oregon and Stanford.

So how can the WAC maintain momentum? Through defense, particularly with big, fast linemen rarely seen in the league before last season. The improved defense changed the WAC's complexion as shootouts weren't a prerequisite for success in big games. Offense took a back seat in victories such as BYU's over Notre Dame (21-14) and Oklahoma (31-6), Colorado State's over Arizona (21-16) and Utah's over Arizona (16-13).

Nothing suggests that the highoctane offense won't continue. The WAC accounted for six of the nation's top 14 teams in total offense last season. But there is no guarantee for sustained defensive excellence, either -- and that's the WAC's ticket to the big time.

Cotton, maybe

The WAC is guaranteed two postseason berths with a chance to make its first New Year's Day appearance in the Cotton Bowl.

Though carrying Tier Two status, the conference would be walking tall in the Cotton, which will match the WAC champion or the Pac-10 runner-up against the Big Eight runner-up while offering $2-million payouts.

If the WAC fails to receive that invitation, it will continue to send its champion to the Holiday Bowl in San Diego against the Big Eight's No.3. The WAC also is assured a ticket to the Copper Bowl in Tucson and may secure an agreement with the Freedom Bowl should the Anaheimbased event survive financially and receive NCAA certification.

Quick fix

A conference known for gunslinging quarterbacks will break new ground this year.

Rarely in its 33-year history has the WAC not returned a marquee quarterback, but 1995 will be an exception with the departure of Stoney Case, John Walsh, Mike Mc-Coy and Anthoney Hill.

For the first time, many conference schools chose a quick-fix formula with juniorcollege quarterbacks. The best of the lot is Fresno State's Jim Arellanes, who came from Los Angeles Valley College. The others: BYU's Steve Sarkisian, El Camino (Calif.); Colorado State's Daren Wilkinson, Ricks (Idaho) College; New Mexico's donald Sellers, Trinity Valley (Tex.), Utah's Mike Fouts, Saddleback (Calif.); and Wyoming's Josh Wallwork, Gavilan (Calif.)

Mass exodus

Though 10 head coaches remain the same, no fewer than 15 assistants have left the WAC. And that's a change in personnel that could have far-reaching effects this season because it's in the trenches where games are won and it's the assistant coaches who are in the trenches this time of the year.

Major overhauls took place at Hawaii and Wyoming, where internal problems were most responsible for each school replacing four assistants. Hawaii Coach Bob Wagner has new offensive and defensive coordinators. If they don't work, he could be looking for a new job next season, too.

Utah Coach Ron McBride also is working with two new coordinators, San Diego State and Air Force each hired two new assistants and Fresno State took a big hit when highly regarded recruiting coordinator Steve Mooshagian stayed home to accept a juniorcollege head-coaching job.

The most intriguing change occurred at San Diego State, where Ted Tollner and Claude Gilbert reversed roles. Tollner has hired as his defensive coordinator Gilbert, a former Aztecs boss who had Tollner as an assistant from 1973 through '80.