WAC Shootout

[Eric]

I'm going to miss the WAC. It may not have been the greatest quality games over the last decade or so, but there have been some wild scoring affairs. Turn it onto ESPN2 tonight and you'll watch two teams scoring at will. The winner will be over 50 tonight I think. San Jose State just took the lead over Louisiana Tech. Both teams are 9-2 and playing for 10 win seasons.

[armchairqb]

At least in the WAC's last season, the top half of that conference has been interestingly competitive. I'm curious to see how they do in bowl games.

[warrriorsfan808]

WOW, the scoring in this game was crazy! There was a point it seemed that San Jose State scored a touchdown in 3 plays, then La. Tech scored a touchdown in 3 plays, then San Jose State scored again in like 3 plays! Definitely a fun game, and what was in the water on the sidelines at Aloha Stadium tonight? Did someone sneak June Jones onto an airplane after the SMU game? I have not seen Hawaii play like that since he and Colt Brennan took us to the Sugar Bowl!!!!! Maybe I have found a way for Hawaii to win? Just pick against them! Like the Bud Light commercial says "IT'S ONLY CRAZY IF IT DOESN'T WORK!!" Good Night from the farthest place west to play college football!!!

[Eric]

I was also pleasantly surprised. I knew coming into the season that Louisiana Tech's offense would be near unstoppable and that Utah State and San Jose State would improve by leaps and bounds (both teams ended last season on very positive notes and were making strides all year long). I didn't think the latter two would win 10 games though. They turned out to have a solid top of the conference like you said. Utah State will get paired up against one of the top MAC schools and the other two will find a home somewhere as an at-large team. I think they will make for some interesting bowl games.

I'm not sure what the future holds for this conference. As it stands they are pretty disparate (Seattle, Denver, Cal State Bakersfield, New Mexico State, Utah Valley). It doesn't look like they will ever have football again unless they manage to pluck teams out of the Big West and the Big Sky to put a mish-mash conference together. Idaho is going to the Big Sky and they'll be Independent for football, which I don't think will last. Budgeting issues and the pains that come with being an independent will force them to join the Big Sky full time and drop to the FCS. New Mexico State's fate is probably in the same territory unless they can find a way to join the Sun Belt or C-USA as a football-only member. They're too far away I think to be a full time member, except for C-USA where they could have some regional games against North Texas, UTEP, and Tulsa. It looks like the MWC has snubbed their nose at New Mexico State and that they aren't interested. If they can't find a home, they might have to drop to the Southland or the Big Sky.

[Eric]

WOW, the scoring in this game was crazy! There was a point it seemed that San Jose State scored a touchdown in 3 plays, then La. Tech scored a touchdown in 3 plays, then San Jose State scored again in like 3 plays! Definitely a fun game, and what was in the water on the sidelines at Aloha Stadium tonight? Did someone sneak June Jones onto an airplane after the SMU game? I have not seen Hawaii play like that since he and Colt Brennan took us to the Sugar Bowl!!!!! Maybe I have found a way for Hawaii to win? Just pick against them! Like the Bud Light commercial says "IT'S ONLY CRAZY IF IT DOESN'T WORK!!" Good Night from the farthest place west to play college football!!!

This UNLV/Hawaii series is getting stranger and stranger by the year. Last year's game was the biggest shock for me, probably of the entire season. UNLV looked absolutely awful and they somehow managed to annihilate Hawaii who were somewhat decent that year.

[Cane from the Bend]

I knew that San Jose St & La Tech game was gonna be fun.

At on point, after La Tech had taken the lead, and seemingly the momentum, I flipped over to the Hawai'i game . . . 31 to nothing when I tuned in.

I watched for a while. Hawai'i held to a punt, then got the ball back in a flash and put up another touchdown . . ?

Where in the world was this team all season?

I then clicked back to the San Jose/La Tech game; the score had shot up to 38 - 37 . . . I kept my laptop locked on that game, til its completion.

That was simply one exciting competition.

I would be remiss to not mention, this past weekend was edge of the seat from nearly start to finish.

Thanksgiving Night
Texas/TCU, the hornedfrogs intercept Texas' last effort to win

Friday
Ball State/Miami, (Oh) turned into a one score game
ECU/Marshall, both teams scored 21 in the 2cnd qrt; 65-59 final OT
LSU/Arkansas, the razorbacks game the tigs the game of their lives
Utah/Colorado, the Utes had a commanding lead fade & won by 7
WSU/Washington, the Apple Cup went to overtime, the Cougs win
West Va/ Iwoa St, what's with the `Eers and these heartattack games
Arizona St/Arizona, the sun devils score 24 in the 4th, to win by 7

Saturday
OSU/Michigan, tight game, but 4 turnovers killed the Wolverines
UConn/Louisville, a fieldgoal in 3OT's saw the Huskies to victory
Va Tech/Virginia, 3 point win by the Hokies to become bowlbound
SMU/Tulsa, the Mustangs held on to win by 8 points
Miami/Duke, Dukies attempt to make it interesting, `Canes win 52-45
Western Kentucky/North Texas, 25-24 victory for the Hilltoppers
UTSA/Texas St, Roadrunners do enough to takedown the Bobcats 38-31
Baylor/Texas Tech, Bears score late TD, taking it to overtime to win
No Carolina/Maryland, NC takes the lead witha flurry of scores in the 3rd
florida/fsu, this was a mostly competitive game, until mid 4th qrt
Okie State/Oklahoma, Sooners somehow did enough to take it to OT, win
Penn St/Wisconsin, the Badgers score TD with 18 ticks left, but lose in OT
LA-Monroe/FIU, Panthers did just enough to take it to OT, but lose by 6
Middle Tenn/Troy, Blue Raiders score TD & go for 2, to lead by 3 late
New Mexico/Colorado St, Rams score TD with 1:29 left, to win by 4
Rice/UTEP, Miners score a field, draw within 2, Owls returns kick 97 yds
nd/USC, trojans kept threatening, but just didn't have enough

There were plenty of blowouts this weekend, too. However, the games mentioned above were spread out through the day, making it possible to watch tight, down to the wire, matchups from early to late.

One of the best weeks of football by far, this season.

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[Eric]

I agree there were a lot of great games. I was surprised that the Arkansas/LSU game was so enjoyable with Arkansas' usual second half meltdowns. They stuck in there and kept it close. I also enjoyed TCU/Texas and the Apple Cup. Bedlam was a fun game as well.