2011 Western Athletic Conference football season

The 2011 Western Athletic Conference football season is a college football season for the Western Athletic Conference. The 2011 season consisted of eight members: Fresno State, Hawaiʻi, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, Nevada, New Mexico State, San Jose State, and Utah State.

2011 WAC football season
LeagueNCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision
SportFootball
DurationSeptember 1, 2011
through December 24, 2011
Number of teams8
TV partner(s)ESPN, WAC Sports Network
2012 NFL Draft
Top draft pickLB Bobby Wagner, USU
Picked bySeattle Seahawks, 47th overall
Regular Season
ChampionsLouisiana Tech
Season MVPRB Robert Turbin, USU
LB Adrien Cole, La. Tech
2011 Western Athletic Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Louisiana Tech $  6 1     8 5  
Nevada  5 2     7 6  
Utah State  5 2     7 6  
Hawaii  3 4     6 7  
San Jose State  3 4     5 7  
Fresno State  3 4     4 9  
New Mexico State  2 5     4 9  
Idaho  1 6     2 10  
  • $ Conference champion

This season the WAC's membership changed for the first time since 2005. Boise State, who joined the conference in 2001, left to join the Mountain West Conference.

This season was the last year of membership for three other schools: Fresno State, Hawaiʻi, and Nevada. All became members of the Mountain West in 2012 (Hawaiʻi as a football only member, other sports will join the Big West Conference). In response to their departure, the WAC added five new members in 2012. Of the new members, only Texas State and UTSA had football programs.

Previous season

After going 14–0 in 2009, Boise State started the season in the top 5 in both the AP and Coaches preseason polls and was picked to win the conference. Boise State spent a majority of the season ranked in the top 4, including climbing as high as #2 in the AP and Harris polls, while running their nation leading win streak to 24 games before their day after thanksgiving matchup with #19 Nevada. Nevada, whose only loss of the season was at Hawaiʻi, defeated the #3 ranked Broncos in overtime. Boise State, Nevada, and Hawaiʻi all finished the season 7–1 to share the WAC title.

In bowl games, Boise State (12–1) defeated Utah 26–3 in the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas. Hawaiʻi (10–4) lost to Tulsa 35–62 in the Hawaiʻi Bowl. Nevada (13–1) defeated Boston College 20–13 in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. Fresno State (8–5) lost to Northern Illinois 17–40 in the Humanitarian Bowl.

Preseason

Award watch lists

The following WAC players were named to preseason award watch lists.

WAC Football Preview

During the WAC Football Preview in Las Vegas on July 27–28, Hawaiʻi was selected as the favorite to win the conference by both the media and the coaches. In the media poll, Hawaiʻ received 18 first place votes. Fresno State and Nevada both received 11 first place votes with Utah State receiving one. In the coaches poll, Hawaiʻi received five first place votes while Fresno State, who ranked second, received one first place vote and Nevada, who ranked third, received two first place votes.[12]

Media Poll

  1. Hawaiʻi – 292 (18)
  2. Fresno State – 284 (11)
  3. Nevada – 264 (11)
  4. Louisiana Tech – 184
  5. Utah State – 164 (1)
  6. Idaho – 141
  7. San Jose State – 85
  8. New Mexico State – 60

Coaches Poll

  1. Hawaiʻi – 47 (5)
  2. Fresno State – 41 (1)
  3. Nevada – 40 (2)
  4. Louisiana Tech – 31
  5. Utah State – 22
  6. Idaho – 21
  7. San Jose State – 15
  8. New Mexico State – 7

The media also voted on the WAC preseason players of the year. Hawaiʻi's Bryant Moniz was selected as the offensive player of the year and Utah State's Bobby Wagner was selected as the defensive player of the year.

Coaches

NOTE: Stats shown are before the beginning of the season

Team Head Coach Years at School Overall Record Record at School WAC Record
Fresno State Pat Hill 15 108–71 108–71 75–36
Hawaiʻi Greg McMackin 4 23–18 23–18 15–9
Idaho Robb Akey 5 17–33 17–33 8–24
Louisiana Tech Sonny Dykes 2 5–7 5–7 4–4
Nevada Chris Ault 27 219–97–1 219–97–1 36–17
New Mexico State DeWayne Walker 2 5–21 5–20 2–14
San Jose State Mike MacIntyre 2 1–12 1–12 0–8
Utah State Gary Andersen 3 12–23 8–16 5–11

WAC vs. BCS matchups

DateVisitorHomeNotes
September 3^ Fresno State 21 California 36 Played at Candlestick Park
September 3 Colorado 17 Hawaiʻi 34
September 3 San Jose State 3 #6 Stanford 57 Bill Walsh Legacy Game
September 3 Utah State 38 #19 Auburn 42 Utah State led by 10 with less than 5 minutes to play
September 10 Fresno State 29 #10 Nebraska 42
September 10 Hawaiʻi 32 Washington 40
September 10 Nevada 20 #14 Oregon 69
September 10 New Mexico State 28 Minnesota 21 NMSU first win over BCS team since 1999
September 10 San Jose State 17 UCLA 27
September 17 Idaho 7 #9 Texas A&M 37
September 24 Louisiana Tech 20 Mississippi State 26 Overtime
September 24 Nevada 34 Texas Tech 35
October 1 Mississippi 38 Fresno State 28
October 1 Idaho 20 Virginia 21 Overtime
November 5 New Mexico State 16 Georgia 63
November 12 Louisiana Tech 27 Mississippi 7
^Denotes neutral site game

Regular season

Index to colors and formatting
WAC member won
WAC member lost
WAC teams in bold

All dates, times, and TV are tentative and subject to change.

The WAC has teams in four different time zones. Times reflect start time in respective time zone of each team (Central–Louisiana Tech, Mountain–New Mexico State, Utah State, Pacific–Fresno State, Idaho, Nevada, San Jose State, Hawaiian–Hawaiʻi). Conference games start times are that of the home team.

Rankings reflect that of the USA Today Coaches poll for that week until week eight when the BCS poll will be used.

Week one

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 16:00 PMBowling GreenIdahoKibbie DomeMoscow, IDALTL 15–3212,173
September 310:00 AMUtah State#19 AuburnJordan–Hare StadiumAuburn, ALESPN2L 38–4285,245
September 32:00 PMSan Jose State#6 StanfordStanford StadiumStanford, CA
(Bill Walsh Legacy Game)
CSNBAL 3–5747,816
September 3 ^4:00 PMFresno StateCaliforniaCandlestick ParkSan Francisco
(TicketCity Battle by the Bay)
CSNCAL 21–3631,563
September 36:00 PMColoradoHawaiʻiAloha StadiumHonolulu, HIESPN2W 34–1737,001
September 36:00 PMOhioNew Mexico StateAggie Memorial StadiumLas Cruces, NMALTL 24–4414,728
September 39:00 PMLouisiana TechSouthern MissM. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS
(Rivalry in Dixie)
FSNL 17–1922,356

^ Neutral site

Players of the Week[13]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Bryant Moniz Hawaiʻi Paipai Falemalu Hawaiʻi Taveon Rogers New Mexico State

Week two

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 109:30 AMHawaiʻiWashingtonHusky StadiumSeattle, WARSNWL 32–4063,252
September 1012:30 PMNevada#14 OregonAutzen StadiumEugene, ORFXL 20–6958,818
September 101:30 PMNew Mexico StateMinnesotaTCF Bank StadiumMinneapolis, MNBTNW 28–2148,807
September 102:00 PMNorth DakotaIdahoKibbie DomeMoscow, IDSWXW 44–1410,608
September 104:00 PMFresno State#10 NebraskaMemorial Stadium • Lincoln, NEBTNL 29–4285,101
September 106:00 PMCentral ArkansasLouisiana TechJoe Aillet StadiumRuston, LAESPN3W 48–42 OT20,652
September 106:00 PMWeber StateUtah StateRomney Stadium • Logan, UT
(Beehive Boot)
W 54–1718,239
September 107:00 PMSan Jose StateUCLARose BowlPasadena, CAPrime TicketL 17–2742,685

Players of the Week[14]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Andrew Manley New Mexico State Jonte Green New Mexico State Devin Wylie Fresno State

Week three

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 171:00 PMNevadaSan Jose StateSpartan Stadium • San Jose, CAWSNNEV 17–1417,238
September 174:00 PMHawaiʻiUNLVSam Boyd StadiumWhitney, NVThe Mtn.L 20–4021,248
September 174:00 PMIdaho#9 Texas A&MKyle FieldCollege Station, TXFSN PPVL 7–3786,623
September 176:00 PMHoustonLouisiana TechJoe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LAESPN3L 34–3524,628
September 176:00 PMUTEPNew Mexico StateAggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, NM
(The Battle of I-10)
ALTL 10–1619,751
September 177:00 PMNorth DakotaFresno StateBulldog StadiumFresno, CAESPN3W 27–2227,542

Players of the Week[15]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Mike Ball Nevada Logan Harrell Fresno State Jake Hurst Nevada

Week four

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 241:00 PMNew Mexico StateSan Jose StateSpartan Stadium • San Jose, CASJSU 34–2413,456
September 242:00 PMFresno StateIdahoKibbie Dome • Moscow, IDWSNFRES 48–2415,110
September 244:00 PMNevadaTexas TechJones AT&T StadiumLubbock, TXFCSL 34–3555,664
September 246:00 PMUC DavisHawaiʻiAloha Stadium • Honolulu, HIOceanic PPVW 56–1430,756
September 246:00 PMLouisiana TechMississippi StateDavis Wade StadiumStarkville, MSESPNUL 20–26 OT55,116
September 246:00 PMColorado StateUtah StateRomney Stadium • Logan, UTESPN3L 34–35 2OT22,599

Players of the Week[16]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Bryant Moniz Hawaiʻi Travis Brown Fresno State Kevin Goessling Fresno State

Week five

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 306:00 PMUtah StateBYULaVell Edwards StadiumProvo, UTESPNL 24–2763,513
October 111:30 AMNevada#5 Boise StateBronco Stadium • Boise, ID
(rivalry)
VersusL 10–3034,098
October 112:30 PMIdahoVirginiaScott StadiumCharlottesville, VAESPN3L 20–21 OT39,827
October 11:00 PMSan Jose StateColorado StateSonny Lubick Field at Hughes StadiumFort Collins, COThe Mtn.W 38–3127,863
October 15:00 PMNew Mexico StateNew MexicoUniversity Stadium • Albuquerque, NM
(Rio Grande Rivalry)
The Mtn.W 42–2830,019
October 16:00 PMHawaiʻiLouisiana TechJoe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LAESPN PlusHAW 44–2625,212
October 16:15 PMMississippiFresno StateBulldog Stadium • Fresno, CAESPN2L 28–3832,063

Players of the Week[17]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Matt Christian New Mexico State Keith Smith San Jose State Justin Hernandez Idaho

Week six

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 76:00 PM#6 Boise StateFresno StateBulldog Stadium • Fresno, CAESPNL 7–5733,871
October 81:00 PMUNLVNevadaMackay StadiumReno, NV
(37th Battle for Nevada)
ESPN3W 37–025,978
October 82:00 PMLouisiana TechIdahoKibbie Dome • Moscow, IDESPN3LT 24–1115,309
October 86:00 PMWyomingUtah StateRomney Stadium • Logan, UTESPN3W 63–1917,561
October 87:15 PMSan Jose StateBYULaVell Edwards Stadium • Provo, UTESPNUL 16–2959,783

Players of the Week[18]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Chuckie Keeton Utah State Brett Roy Nevada Ryan Allen Louisiana Tech

Week seven

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 146:00 PMHawaiʻiSan Jose StateSpartan Stadium • San Jose, CAESPNSJSU 28–2724,643
October 151:00 PMNew MexicoNevadaMackay Stadium • Reno, NVW 49–715,369
October 156:00 PMIdahoNew Mexico StateAggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, NMALT2NMSU 31–2412,711
October 157:00 PMUtah StateFresno StateBulldog Stadium • Fresno, CAESPN3FRES 31–2128,854

Players of the Week[19]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Chandler Jones San Jose State Khalid Wooten Nevada Travis Johnson San Jose State

Week eight

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 221:00 PMFresno StateNevadaMackay Stadium • Reno, NVWSNNEV 45–3815,113
October 221:00 PMLouisiana TechUtah StateRomney Stadium • Logan, UTLT 24–1716,037
October 226:00 PMNew Mexico StateHawaiʻiAloha Stadium • Honolulu, HIHAW 45–3430,586

Players of the Week[20]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Mike Ball Nevada Adrien Cole Louisiana Tech Ryan Allen Louisiana Tech

Week nine

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 292:00 PMHawaiʻiIdahoKibbie Dome • Moscow, IDESPN PlusHAW 16–1410,461
October 293:00 PMSan Jose StateLouisiana TechJoe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LALT 38–2819,642
October 296:00 PMNevadaNew Mexico StateAggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, NMWSNNEV 48–3415,782

Players of the Week[21]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Cody Fajardo Nevada Aaron Brown Hawaiʻi Kenton Chun Hawaiʻi

Week ten

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 510:30 AMNew Mexico State#18 GeorgiaSanford StadiumAthens, GACSSL 16–6392,746
November 51:00 PMIdahoSan Jose StateSpartan Stadium • San Jose, CAWSNIDHO 32–2910,621
November 56:00 PMUtah StateHawaiʻiAloha Stadium • Honolulu, HIOceanic PPVUSU 35–3130,301
November 59:30 PMLouisiana TechFresno StateBulldog Stadium • Fresno, CA
(Battle for the Bone)
ESPNULT 41–2127,965

Players of the Week[22]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Colby Cameron La Tech Travis Johnson San Jose State Stanley Morrison Utah State

Week eleven

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 121:00 PMSan Jose StateUtah StateRomney Stadium • Logan, UTWSNUSU 34–3314,593
November 126:00 PMFresno StateNew Mexico StateAggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, NMWSNNMSU 48–4514,227
November 126:15 PMIdahoBYULaVell Edwards Stadium • Provo, UTESPN2L 7–4257,770
November 126:30 PMLouisiana TechMississippiVaught–Hemingway StadiumOxford, MSCSS/CSTW 27–744,123
November 127:15 PMHawaiʻiNevadaMackay Stadium • Reno, NVESPNUNEV 42–2816,527

Players of the Week[23]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Cody Fajardo (2) Nevada IK Enemkpali La Tech Taveon Rogers (2) New Mexico State

Week twelve

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 191:00 PMLouisiana TechNevadaMackay Stadium • Reno, NVWSNLT 24–2011,639
November 191:00 PMNavySan Jose StateSpartan Stadium • San Jose, CAESPN3W 27-2425,114
November 192:00 PMUtah StateIdahoKibbie Dome • Moscow, IDESPN PlusUSU 49–42 2OT8,216
November 196:00 PMFresno StateHawaiʻiAloha Stadium • Honolulu, HIWSNFRES 24–2128,907
November 198:15New Mexico StateBYULaVell Edwards Stadium • Provo, UTESPNUL 7–4257,134

Week thirteen

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 261:00 PMNevadaUtah StateRomney Stadium • Logan, UTUSU 21-1715,784
November 263:00 PMNew Mexico StateLouisiana TechJoe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LAESPN PlusLT 44-017,458
November 265:00 PMSan Jose StateFresno StateBulldog Stadium • Fresno, CA
(rivalry)
SJSU 27-2425,492
November 266:00 PMTulaneHawaiʻiAloha Stadium • Honolulu, HIOceanic PPVW 35-2327,411

Week fourteen

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
December 31:00 PMIdahoNevadaMackay Stadium • Reno, NVWSNNV 56-310,027
December 35:00 PMFresno StateSan Diego StateQualcomm Stadium • San Diego, CACBS Sports NetworkSDST 35-2832,790
December 36:00 PMBYUHawaiʻiAloha Stadium • Honolulu, HIESPN2BYU 41-2030,765
December 36:00 PMUtah StateNew Mexico StateAggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, NMUSU 41-2013,631

All-WAC Teams

Bowl games

Bowl Date Winner* Score Loser* Score Location Time+ Network Notes
Famous Idaho Potato Dec. 17, 2011 Ohio 24 Utah State 23 Boise, Idaho 2:30 PM ESPN
SDCCU Poinsettia Dec. 21, 2011 #15 TCU 31 Louisiana Tech 24 San Diego, California 5:00 PM ESPN
Sheraton Hawaiʻi Bowl Dec. 24, 2011 Southern Miss 24 Nevada 17 Honolulu, Hawaii 5:00 PM ESPN
*WAC team is bolded. +Time given is Pacific Time Rankings reflect Coaches Poll

Home attendance

Team Stadium (Capacity) Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 Game 6 Game 7 Total Average % of Capacity
Fresno State Bulldog Stadium (41,031) 27,542 32,063 33,871 28,854 27,965 25,492
175,787 29,298 71.4%
Hawaiʻi Aloha Stadium (50,000) 37,001 30,756 30,586 30,301 28,907 27,411 30,765 215,727 30,818 61.6%
Idaho Kibbie Dome (16,000) 12,173 10,608 15,110 15,309 10,461 8,216
71,877 11,980 74.9%
Louisiana Tech Joe Aillet Stadium (30,600) 20,652 24,628 25,212 19,642 17,458
107,592 21,518 70.3%
Nevada Mackay Stadium (29,993) 25,978 15,369 15,113 16,527 11,639 10,027
94,653 15,776 52.6%
New Mexico State Aggie Memorial Stadium (30,343) 14,728 19,751 12,711 15,782 14,227 13,631
90,830 15,138 49.9%
San Jose State Spartan Stadium (30,456) 17,238 13,456 24,643 10,621 25,114
91,072 18,214 59.8%
Utah State Romney Stadium (25,513) 18,239 22,599 17,561 16,037 14,593 15,784
104,813 17,468 68.5%
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  2. http://no2minutewarning.com/2011/07/06/2011-biletnikoff-award-watch-list/
  3. http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/news/2011/nagurski110708.html
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