ISLE FILE
Hawai'i fifth in WAC contest
Advertiser Staff
The University of Hawai'i finished tied for fifth among nine Western Athletic Conference schools in Commissioner's Cup competition.
The WAC awards the cup to the school that performs the best in each of the conference's 19 men's and women's championships. Nine points are awarded for first place, eight for second, and so forth, in every sport (regardless of the number of teams), and are averaged between a team's regular-season finish (if applicable) and its WAC championship finish. Ties are not broken; instead they are averaged between tied teams.
Affiliate members, such as Sacramento State's baseball team, are not eligible for the cup, although their standings are used to determine points.
Boise State, which claimed four WAC titles, won the cup with 96.50 points. Nevada was second with 93.75 points, followed by Fresno State (89.50), Utah State (87.00), and UH (82.50) and Idaho (82.50).
UH was hindered because it did not field teams in three of the eight men's sports, and one of the 11 women's sports. Meanwhile, UH was not credited with its success in two non-WAC men's sports — volleyball and swimming/diving — and its two sailing teams.
Still, UH won WAC titles in soccer, women's volleyball and women's swimming/diving.
"The rankings give you some understanding of where your program is," UH athletic director Herman Frazier said. "However, I am aware that some schools do not sponsor all the sports in the conference, and are sometimes penalized because of that. I salute Boise State for (its) success, and I hope the University of Hawai'i can get closer to the top."
FOOTBALL
BRENNAN PRESEASON WAC PLAYER OF YEAR
Blue Ribbon Magazine has selected University of Hawai'i quarterback Colt Brennan as the Western Athletic Conference's preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
"Oh, really? That's cool," Brennan said. "I am surprised. I think Hawai'i has a tendency to get under-credited for all of the things it does. This is a great honor, but at the same time, it only goes so far. It doesn't mean much now. You have to use it as a motivational tool. You have to focus on working hard and having a great year and doing a lot of great things."
Last year, Brennan led the nation in total offense, passing yards and touchdown passes.
Slotback Davone Bess, center Samson Satele, defensive end Melila Purcell III and free safety Leonard Peters also were named to the All-WAC team.
Boise State was picked to finish first. UH was selected No. 2.
