The coaches and the media didn't find much to disagree about at the annual Big West Football Media Day Thursday at the Stouffer Concourse Hotel.
As expected, defending champion Fresno State is picked to win again and perpetual cellar-dweller New Mexico State is picked for last. In between, the coaches and media picked San Jose State second, UNLV third, Cal-State Fullerton fourth, Utah State fifth, Long Beach State sixth and Pacific seventh.The Big West has its usual dose of big-time non-league opponents (Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, Miami, Auburn, USC and Illinois) and as usual the winner will play in the California Raisin Bowl Dec. 9 against the winner of the Mid-American Conference.
Here is a capsule look at each of the eight Big West teams:
Fresno State
"Defense is where it all begins - that's how you win in our league."
That's the philosophy of Coach Jim Sweeney and that's why the Bulldogs are usually the team to beat in the Big West. They usually have the best defense.
That appears to be the case again this year as the Bulldogs return several key defensive players, including defensive backs Darrell Martin and James Williams, linebacker Ron Cox and defensive end Nick Ruggeroli.
And Sweeney calls his offense "outstanding" with quarterback Marc Barsotti back along with leading rusher Myron Jones.
The Bulldogs open with Utah on Sept. 2 in Fresno.
San Jose State
Johnny Johnson, the Spartans' all-everything running back/shooting guard, is back for one more season. Last year, he became the first player in NCAA history to rush for over 1,200 yards and catch 60 passes. In the winter he joined the defection-ridden basketball team in midseason and averaged 11 points as a starter.
"We have a rather inexperienced group on paper," said Coach Claude Gilbert. "It's a spirited group though."
The quarterback will be Matt Veatch, a transfer from Butler CC. The backup QB is a familiar name to local fans - Ralph Martini, who played a couple of years at BYU but couldn't move up the quarterback ladder.
UNLV
After three mediocre seasons (6-5, 5-6, 4-7) Coach Wayne Nunnely is looking for big things this year.
"We've made some great strides in the program," said Nunnely. "This will definitely be the best team we've fielded in my four years here.
The Rebels return 17 starters, including nine on defense. Noseguard Doc Wise, linebacker Jody Reinoehl and free safety Charles Anthony, make the Rebs especially strong down the middle.
Offensively, the Rebels are a running team and the top two rushers from last year, Tommy Jackson and Darin Brightmon, are back along with quarterback Charles Price.
Cal State-Fullerton
The Titans have always been known as a hard-nosed defensive club, but this year they may turn into "Air Cal" according to Coach Gene Murphy.
Dan Speltz is back at quarterback and he has some fine receivers in Rocky Palamara, J.J. Celestine, Tony Dill and Marc Hill.
"We're bringing in 13 JC players on defense, nine this fall, so it remains to be seen how good we'll be defensively," said Murphy.
Utah State
Every year since Chuck Shelton has been at USU, his team has finished in the upper division. And the coach expects to be there again this year despite being picked for fifth.
"We came out of spring feeling good about everything except quarterback," said Shelton. "Our kids are older and stronger and we have a chance to put things together defensively."
Returning on defense are linebackers Del Lyles, Tom Hansen and Kevin Bouwann, defensive backs Travis Clark and Scott Munson, and defensive lineman Jeff Hunsaker. And in Piliki Tauteoli, a transfer from Dixie, the Aggies have what Shelton calls their "best defensive linemen in four years."
The Ags, last in the nation in rushing last year, will add a running game to their passing attack with Brett Payne as the key man. The quarterback job is up for grabs between Kevin White and Kirk Johnson.
Long Beach State
The 49ers, on the verge of extinction just three years ago, are trying to build their program back into first-division status. But this may not be the year.
They lost quarterback Jeff Graham and Lafayette Shelton, last year's second-leading rusher, receiver and scorer. "We have a lot more depth overall," Coach Larry Reisbig said. "We have two and sometimes three players at each position. We are in position to compete."
Paul Oates, who will take Graham's place, is not as tall but is more mobile and throws the ball harder. David McKinnon, a 300-pound offensive lineman, is being pushed for postseason honors.
Pacific
New coach Walt Harris is junking Bob Cope's wishbone offense in favor of guess what - a passing offense.
"We need to put more people in the stands," Harris said. "Passing the ball gives a chance to be more exciting."
Harris has been given some extra help by the Pacific administration to upgrade the program. But it may take a few years to turn the program around.
New Mexico State
Ever since joining the league five years ago, the Aggies have finished dead last. And Coach Mike Knoll predicted, "We will probably be picked dead last again - that's something we expect.
Quarterback Phil Vinson is the best athlete on the team, according to Knoll, and he'll be key to the Aggies hopes this year. The team's top two rushers, Anthony Singleton and Marvin Johnson, are back. Sam Dickey, a four-year starter at linebacker leads the defense.
"One of our goals last year was to be the most improved team in the conference," Knoll said. `'And I think we were. Our next mountain is closing the gap even more and winning some games."
After five straight last-place finishes, the Aggies have nowhere to go but up. The question is whether they'll be able to.