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Show StateSManSpOrtS Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010 Page 7 WAC power poll: Week 9 Moss provides plenty of drama in week eight By JAKE I PSOM With a little more than a month left to go in the college football regular season, both the bowl picture and the race for the national title are starting to take shape. The Broncos continue to be the class of the conference with their nation-leading, 21game winning streak, but an off week saw them drop from No. 3 to No. 4 in the BCS poll. Both Nevada and Hawaii continued their winning ways, while Idaho and Louisiana Tech proved that making the postseason will require some extra effort this November. But of all the stories from week nine, the biggest news out of the WAC may be the announcement that Nevada and Fresno State will be required to play through the 2012 academic year — giving WAC commissioner Karl Benson valuable time needed to explore expansion opportunities. Here's where I see the WAC's nine teams heading into the month. Boise State (7 0, 3 0): After a strong - - start to a season which saw the Broncos make headlines with wins over Virginia Tech and Oregon State, many analysts have turned on Boise, which has not notched a win over a winning team since an Oct. 9 win against 6-3 Toledo. AP voters still like the Broncos (ranking them No. 2 in the latest AP Poll) but the BCS computers favor Oregon, Auburn and Texas Christian. Fortunately for the Broncos, they'll have the opportunity to show the nation they're the real deal this weekend when they host a Hawaii team that has won six straight. Still, if Oregon and Auburn keep on winning, then the Broncos can kiss a national championship berth goodbye. Hawaii (7 2, 5 0): Is there a better story - - than the Warriors? After just missing the postseason last year, Hawaii has already accepted a bowl berth this year; the team agreed to go to the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl after its most recent victory. Hawaii's offense proved prolific as usual in Saturday s 45-10 drubbing of Idaho, with Bryant Moniz becoming the fifth passer in school history to break 3,000 passing yards in a season. While the Warriors offense proved potent as usual, they were fortunate that Idaho made a number of mistakes in Saturday's game, including 152 yards in penalties and four turnovers. The Warriors won't get any such benefit against Boise this weekend. Nevada (7 1, 2 1): Currently ranked No. - - 23 in the BCS standings and No. 25 in the AP poll, Nevada's first-half offensive explosion against USU was a sight to behold. The second half defensive colWOLF PACK lapse, however, causes one to question the mental focus of a team still disappointed from losing to Hawaii three weeks ago. Nevada is still in position to make a late season run and secure a spot in a second-tier bowl game, but after allowing Diondre Borel to pass for 399 yards in Saturday's game, does the Wolf Pack defense stand much of a chance when they travel to the smurf turf Nov. 26? names at Louisiana Tech, at home against Nevada, and away in Boise could all end up being losses for Pat Hill's bunch, while a season finale against Illinois is no cakewalk. Injuries have started to mount for the Bulldogs, but the good news is running back Robbie Rouse is back to full strength. Don't look now, but he's rushed for over 250 yards and four touchdowns in the last two games. Louisiana Tech (3 5, 2 2): Give credit to first year headman Sonny Dykes: he's found his quarterback in Ross Jenkins, and the senior ,has done an admirable job since taking over. 'Not only has he completed nearly 70 percent of hispasses, but he's hit seven touchdowns to only two picks. Jenkins did a decent job managing the game against a very good Boise State defense, and with an extra week to prepare, he and the Bulldogs have an excellent chance at upsetting Fresno State this Saturday. - - Idaho (4 4, 2 1): Color me not impressed - - by the Vandals, who have the dubious distinction of alternating between wins and losses with each additional game this season (although, after a loss in week nine, that twisted logic would tell us they upset Nevada this week). The problem withIdaho is that they're far too one-dimensional on offense, and have no running game whatsoever. A team can get away with that when the quarterback hasn't tossed 12 interceptions in a season (as Nathan Enderle has) or when its offensive line isn't allowed nearly four sacks per game. With Nevada, Boise State and Fresno State left on the schedule, a bowl is looking increasingly unrealistic. Utah State (2 6, 0 4): Only USU's - - second-half offensive explosion keeps the Aggies ahead of New Mexico State in this week's countdown, as the team • from Logan may have found a reliable pass-catching threat in tight , end Kellen Bartlett. Still, USU's injury attrition has taken it's toll, and as the Aggies limp into November, head coach Gary Andersen's promise of making the rest of the year a "four game season" doesn't bode well with matchups against Boise State and Idaho left. rer or New Mexico State (2 6, 1 3): The good - news for Aggie fans? The team has two wins. The bad news for Aggie fans? Those two wins came against arguably the worst teams in colfege football (New Mexico AGGIES two and San Jose State). New Mexico State may have bested San Jose State on Saturday by a final score of 29-27, but it took touchdown pass from Matt Christian to Taveon Rogers with no time left on the clock to do it. NEW MEXICO STATE San Jose State (1-8, 0-4): When you lose the best game you played all season, and it comes against one of the five worst teams in college football, then yes, you may indeed be San Jose State. Got beef with my picks? Think I missed the mark? We want to hear from you. Drop me a line at adam.nettina@aggiemail.usu.edu . — jake.ipsom.aggiemaiLusu. edu PACK HEAT WITH CACHE FIREARMS' CACHE VALLEYS ONLY DEDICATED FIREARMS STORE Concealed Firearm Permit Classes •Ammunition • Holsters Night Sights Installed •Yes, We Do Trades! • Gun Cleaning Reloading Supplies • Bench made Knives, Scopes • Pellet Guns (435) 753-2606 42 E. 2200 N., STE. C, N. LOGAN WWW.CACHEFIREARMS.COM Throwing a party, dance, fundraiser, or live performance? BJM Productions Get a sound that will be professional and suited for your specific needs. - but have arguably the most challenging late season stretch of the WAC s nine teams. A three-game stretch including Swenson: Star on court and off Schedule your event early by calling: 435-770-8208 continued from page 5 for each other. Overall we all get along really well." She said she and the other members of the team also appreciate their coach, Christian Wright. "Coach Wright is so good with all of us girls," she said. "He is very patient and handles everything so well. Last year, I was so mad after a match, and threw my racket. He just quietly and calmly said, 'keep your racket in your hand:" Swenson compared Coach Wright's temperament to that of a parent who has expressed their "disappointment" with a child. "He is just good at working with us and putting up with us," she said. Swenson has already been named Western Athletic Conference player of the week this year, and has an Aggie-high 20-win record. But one of the hardest parts of the game, to her, is the mental aspect. "You can lose a match because of what is going through your head," she said. "I always try to get a good night's rest, and when I'm in the match I tell myself, 'I will win this point' and then I focus on that specific point. Then I tie them all together. My style is to get one more ball back. Always." Count her head coach as one of the many people in awe of her accomplishments on the court and in the classroom. "Hailey is a very dedicated player, and really has a good attitude," Wright said. Her dedication is evident, too, although she tries to downplay the magnitude of her efforts. The team is given specific workouts to do during the summer to keep them in shape. "I did them every day," she said. "(The workouts) aren't that hard." Since it's Swenson's last season on the team, she has been thinking about goals she wants to accomplish before leaving. "I really want to get on the All-Conference team this year," she said. "So far is hasn't happened. And as a team, I want a higher ranking." What will she miss the most about collegiate sports? "The competitive level is what I will miss," she said. "It's a higher level of play, and more is expected." When it comes to expectation, Swenson is her own harshest critic. "I'm very competitive." Swenson said. "It is one of the main things that has helped me in my classes, to push myself in tennis, and to do well. My family really pushes me to work hard, which helps as well." Tierra Davis, Swenson's roommate, emphasized her roomate's humility, and said above all, Swenson is a good-natured young woman who is all about making people happy. Week eight in the NFL had everything. A game played in England, an aging quarterback knocked out of a game, and the Vikings losing another receiver, to go along with the fact that two of the top preseason favorites to go to the Super Bowl continued their downward spiral. The main storyline heading into week eight was the Brett Favre saga. After breaking two bones in his left foot during week seven's game, many thought Favre's consecutive starts would end on Sunday. But Favre was there to start the game. The only problem was he didn't finish the game. The biggest Viking story came on Monday when the Vikings abruptly waived Randy Moss — the same Randy Moss whom the Minnesota Vikings just traded a third round pick to get into the Twin Cities. Now, three weeks later, Moss is no longer a Viking, and will be put on the waiver wire where several teams have interest in adding his talents. It'll be interesting to see how the situation unfolds. Switching front, there was a game played in London, England this Sunday. This year the Denver Broncos played the San Francisco 49ers. Both teams were struggling entering the game but it was the 49ers that enjoyed a happier plane ride home. The 49ers defeated the Broncos - Fresno State (5 2, 3 1): The Bulldogs were off last week, - staff writer 24-16 behind the reliable running game of Frank Gore and the solid play of quarterback Troy Smith, who was starting in place of Alex Smith after the latter suffered a separated shoulder. Troy Smith may have started the game shaky, but he lead the 49ers on three scoring drives in the second half and they never looked back. Denver, meanwhile, continues their slide into mediocrity. The Broncos are currently fourth in the league in total offense but 30th in total defense. The most obvious thing to watch for will be the team that picks up Randy Moss. Will Randy Moss be the good soldier for his new team or will he just play out the season and wait for his free agency? Another thing to watch is the Redskins quarterback situation. In the final minutes of the Redskins game, head coach Mike Shanahan benched starting quarterback Donovan McNabb. Shanahan said McNabb was not in good enough shape to run the two-minute offense. It will be interesting to see how McNabb handles the benching. Finally, keep an eye on America's team, the Dallas Cowboys, who at 1-6 could be close to letting head coach Wade Phillips go. We now mix YOUR ipod for house parties! Part Time Snowsports Instructors Wanted! Hiring Clinic Wednesday November 3rd 7-9PM HPER Room 118 HAILEY SWENSON plays the number one singles position for Utah State's woman's tennis team. ALISON OSTLER photo "She never brags about tennis, and we usually have to pry it out of her," Davis said. "She never talks about all of things she has accomplished. She just asks people about themselves and makes jokes. Hailey is really a good person." — kayla.clark@aggiemaiLusu.edu Positions are available for Alpine and Telemark Skiing and Snowboarding. beaver mountain Call 753-0921 for information. |