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, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, Nevada, New Mexico State, San Jose State, and Utah State.
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, Hawaii, and Nevada. All became members of the Mountain West in 2012 (Hawaii 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.
Preseason
Award watch lists
The following WAC players were named to preseason award watch lists.
Maxwell Award:
Fred Biletnikoff Award:
- Royce Pollard â Hawaii
- Rishard Mathews â Nevada
- Noel Grigsby â San Jose State
Bronko Nagurski Trophy:
- Logan Harrell â Fresno State
- James-Michael Johnson â Nevada
- Bobby Wagner â Utah State
Outland Trophy:
- Logan Harrell â Fresno State
- Chris Barker â Nevada
Jim Thorpe Award:
- Duke Ihenacho â San Jose State
Lombardi Award:
- Corey Paredes â Hawaii
- Bobby Wagner â Utah State
Rimington Trophy:
Davey O'Brien Award:
- Bryant Moniz â Hawaii
Doak Walker Award:
- Lennon Creer â Louisiana Tech
- Robert Turbin â Utah State
Walter Camp Award:
- Bryant Moniz â Hawaii
Lou Groza Award:
- Trey Farquhar â Idaho
- Kevin Goessling â Fresno State
WAC Football Preview
During the WAC Football Preview in Las Vegas on July 27âÂÂ28, Hawaii was selected as the favorite to win the conference by both the media and the coaches. In the media poll, Hawai received 18 first place votes. Fresno State and Nevada both received 11 first place votes with Utah State receiving one. In the coaches poll, Hawaii 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.
Media Poll
- Hawaii â 292 (18)
- Fresno State â 284 (11)
- Nevada â 264 (11)
- Louisiana Tech â 184
- Utah State â 164 (1)
- Idaho â 141
- San Jose State â 85
- New Mexico State â 60
Coaches Poll
- Hawaii â 47 (5)
- Fresno State â 41 (1)
- Nevada â 40 (2)
- Louisiana Tech â 31
- Utah State â 22
- Idaho â 21
- San Jose State â 15
- New Mexico State â 7
The media also voted on the WAC preseason players of the year. Hawaii'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
WAC vs. BCS matchups
Regular season
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 (CentralâÂÂLouisiana Tech, MountainâÂÂNew Mexico State, Utah State, PacificâÂÂFresno State, Idaho, Nevada, San Jose State, HawaiianâÂÂHawaii). 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
^ Neutral site
Players of the week:
Week two
Players of the week:
Week three
Players of the week:
Week four
Players of the week:
Week five
Players of the week:
Week six
Players of the week:
Week seven
Players of the week:
Week eight
Players of the week:
Week nine
Players of the week:
Week ten
Players of the week:
Week eleven
Players of the week:
Week twelve
Week thirteen
Week fourteen
All-WAC Teams
First Team
Offense
QB Derek CarrâÂÂFresno State
RB Robert TurbinâÂÂUtah State
RB Robbie RouseâÂÂFresno State
WR Jalen SaundersâÂÂFresno State
WR Rishard MatthewsâÂÂNevada
TE Ryan OttenâÂÂSan Jose State
OL Bryce HarrisâÂÂFresno State
OL Chris BarkerâÂÂNevada
OL Tyler LarsenâÂÂUtah State
OL Philip GapeluâÂÂUtah State
OL Davonte WallaceâÂÂNew Mexico State
Defense
DL Matt BrohaâÂÂLouisiana Tech
DL Brett RoyâÂÂNevada
DL Logan HarrellâÂÂFresno State
DL Travis JohnsonâÂÂSan Jose State
LB Adrien ColeâÂÂLouisiana Tech
LB Bobby WagnerâÂÂUtah State
LB Travis BrownâÂÂFresno State
DB Isaiah FreyâÂÂNevada
DB Duke IhenachoâÂÂSan Jose State
DB Donyae ColemanâÂÂNew Mexico State
DB John Hardy-TuliauâÂÂHawaii
Specialists
PK Matt NelsonâÂÂLouisiana Tech
P Bobby CowanâÂÂIdaho
KR Taveon RogersâÂÂNew Mexico State
PR Devon Wylie-Fresno State
Second Team
Offense
QB Bryant MonizâÂÂHawaii
RB Kenny TurnerâÂÂNew Mexico State
RB Lennon CreerâÂÂLouisiana Tech
WR Quinton PattonâÂÂLouisiana Tech
WR Taveon RogersâÂÂNew Mexico State
TE Michael LaGroneâÂÂIdaho
OL Matt ClevelandâÂÂIdaho
OL Kris CavittâÂÂLouisiana Tech
OL David QuessenberryâÂÂSan Jose State
OL Jeff NadyâÂÂNevada
OL Bryce HarrisâÂÂFresno State
Defense
DL Kaniela TuipulotuâÂÂHawaii
DL Christian LaceyâÂÂLouisiana Tech
DL David NiumataloloâÂÂNew Mexico State
DL Pierre FilsâÂÂNew Mexico State
LB Aaron BrownâÂÂHawaii
LB Corey ParedesâÂÂHawaii
LB Keith SmithâÂÂSan Jose State
DB L.J. JonesâÂÂFresno State
DB Gary WalkerâÂÂIdaho
DB Terry CarterâÂÂLouisiana Tech
DB Matthew HarveyâÂÂIdaho
Specialists
PK Jens AlvernikâÂÂSan Jose State
P Ryan AllenâÂÂLouisiana Tech
KR Mike EdwardsâÂÂHawaii
PR Rishard Matthews-Nevada
Players of the year
Offense
Robert TurbinâÂÂUtah State
Defense
Bobby WagnerâÂÂUtah State
Freshman
Cody FajardoâÂÂNevada
Coach of the year
Sonny DykesâÂÂLouisiana Tech
Bowl games
Home attendance
References