Derek Dooley

Derek Dooley leads La. Tech for the third season, one that could be his most successful.

Last year, the team ended with a bowl victory and eight wins. This year, the Bulldogs are expected to finish in the top third of the league.

With many starters back, Dooley said the players they did lose were the "the glue of the team."

With many games on TV this season and three on ESPN networks, Dooley is happy with the direction of the team.

"It's great for our program and great for our fans," he said of the exposure.

Dick Tomey

There's no doubt San Jose State head coach Dick Tomey has changed the culture of the Spartans' football team since taking over in 2005.

"We have a trajectory that's unmistakable," Tomey said here in Salt Lake City.

The Spartans are third in winning percentage in the WAC during the last three years, winning 13 WAC games in that span.

But as much as Tomey's done, he's the first to point out that there is much room for improvement.

"We've let too many games get away ..." Tomey added.

It will be interesting to see where the Spartans end up this season. They were picked to finish sixth in both polls.

Petersen talks to the media

Boise State head coach Chris Petersen is up now here in Salt Lake City. He opened with talk about the team's long travel this season. The team has to go to Hawaii, La. Tech as well as Tulsa, Bowling Green.

He was asked early about the Oregon game, likely the most anticipated game in Bronco Stadium history.

Petersen said he understands how big the game is, but warns his team to "not get caught up in all the hype."

Dave Southorn and I will have plenty more on the Broncos later today as well as in Thursday's edition of the Idaho Press-Tribune.

High expectations for Wolf Pack

Nevada is expected to be a team to contend for WAC title this year, and maybe, the only team that can beat Boise State.

Nevada coach Chris Ault was pretty high on his defense, which returns eight starters.

"I expect them to be one of the most improve units in the entire conference," Ault said.

And speaking of Nevada, the team's quarterback looks pretty big. Colin Kaepernick was voted the WAC offensive preason player of the year. We'll get a chance to talk to him later today and I plan on asking him just how weight he has put on.

New NMSU coach DeWayne Walker

No gimmicks here, the new New Mexico State coach wants to be well-rounded.

As many know, the last NMSU coach, Hal Mumme, was all about his Air Raid offense. Not Walker. A balanced attack on offense is what seems to be in the works.

But we all know a big challenge awaits for the former UCLA defensive coordinator.

"I'm very excited about this opportunity," Walker said. "It's a great conference with great head coaches, I guess you could say, 'Let 'er rip'"

As for goals, the new coach was pretty clear: "Here's one goal: We want to win more games than we lose. "We play 13 game so seven is the magic number."

Is Pat Hill positioning himself for a PR job?

Pat Hill, the longest tenured coach in the WAC, was quick to point out the growth of the WAC via bowl game TV viewership as well as the league having three of the top 20 teams in terms of wins this decade in Boise State, Hawaii and Fresno State.

"I like the way the WAC is heading," he said.

His team, which was picked third in both media and coaches polls, has a few question marks especially at the QB spot.

As always, Fresno State plays a very tough schedule.

"After 13 years we're getting dividends back," Hill said in terms of the team's scheduling.

Last year, the Bulldogs hosted Wisconsin and though Fresno State doesn't have any BCS teams at home this season, it will play Cincinnati and Illinois next season at Bulldog Stadium.

This season, though, the team has a brutal nonconference schedule with road games at Wisconsin, Cincinnati and Illinois.