Hawaii coach Greg McMackin is being suspended for 30 days and voluntarily taking a pay cut for making a derogatory comment while describing Notre Dame's chant before last year's Hawaii Bowl, according to the Associated Press.

McMackin addressed reporters late Friday after meeting with athletic director Jim Donovan and Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw to discuss Thursday's incident.

WAC commissioner Karl Benson and Hawaii head coach Greg McMackin held a quick news conference a few minutes ago here in Salt Lake City regarding McMackin's use of a gay slur three times earlier this morning.

"I would sincerely like to apologize for the inappropriate verbage of words I used. I have nothing against the University of Notre Dame. I don't talk like that. I'm really ticked...read more

Akey said the Vandals are a better team heading into 2009. He cites depth and competition as reasons to eye success. Idaho is 3-21 under Akey and yielded 513 points last season. With TE Eddie Williams gone, Akey said he hopes to utilize receiver depth to spread the ball around better.

Optimism: The Vandals were 107th against the pass last season, but return talent in safeties Shiloh Keo, Virdell...read more

McMackin called this team "an unknown team." The Warriors return just one full-time defensive starter but saw the offense step up toward the tail end of 2008. The road slate isn't too bad, playing Washington State in Seattle and at UNLV in nonconference. At home, they get Navy and Wisconsin to end the season.

Optimism: QB Greg Alexander started the final six games, throwing for 1...read more

The former Utah defensive coordinator takes over for Brent Guy, hoping to get the Aggies' first winning season since 1996. Andersen will see the return of elusive QB Diondre Borel and top running back Robert Turbin. He moved 15 players from offense to defense and from within the defense to new positions during the offseason.

Optimism: The Aggies should do a good job of running the ball with...read more

I posted Chris Petersen's audio from the WAC media preview in Salt Lake City today.

He talked a bit about the Oregon game and a position-by-position overview, among other things.

Click here.

The Bulldogs won their first bowl game since 1977 and posted their first eight-win season since 1999 in the process. A bulk of starters return, and they are tied for third in the coaches' preseason poll. Top returners include WR Phillip Livas, RB Daniel Porter and FS Antonio Baker.

Optimism: Playmakers. Livas had 607 receiving yards, returned two punts for touchdowns and a kickoff for a touchdown...read more

The Spartans won six games despite lacking much firepower on the offensive side of the ball. A lot of talent returns on defense, including LB Travis Cole and standout brothers Duke (safety) and Carl (DE) Ihenacho. The tough schedule includes games at USC and Stanford, plus a home game against Utah.

Optimism: Defensive line. Tomey said it will be the best he's had at SJSU. Carl Ihenacho returns...read more

The kings of the WAC return a lot of talent after an undefeated regular season, with QB Kellen Moore, WR Austin Pettis, DE Ryan Winterswyk, CB Kyle Wilson and others back. Petersen joked about sporting a tie today to impress the Boise-heavy media presence. Obviously the season opener is being spoken about plenty here, and for BCS purposes, that makes sense.

Optimism: The Broncos' defense should...read more

Boise State head coach Chris Petersen told me a few minutes ago that freshman defensive tackle Michael Atkinson will be suspended for three games stemming from his recent arrest.

He also said Titus Young is expected to be on the field against Oregon in the season opener, while fullback Andy Silsby suffered a knee injury and will serve as a student assistant this season. Freshman receiver Kirby Moore...read more

The Wolf Pack will undoubtedly have one of the best rushing attacks in the nation, led by QB Colin Kaepernick, plus a pair of 1,400-yard rushers in Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott. Top receiver Marko Mitchell is gone, but the defense brings back some experience. Considering the team had the worst pass defense in the nation, that can only help.

Optimism: With an experienced, talented QB and depth at...read more

The former UCLA defensive coordinator takes over a team that has not made a bowl game since 1960. It's a daunting task, as the Aggies lose record-setting QB Chase Holbrook and three of the top five receivers. He's adding in new systems on both sides of the ball, too, replacing the Air Raid offense with more balance and the 3-3-5 defense under Joe Lee Dunn to more of a 4-3 scheme.

Optimism:...read more

The Bulldogs were tabbed third in both preseason polls (tied with La. Tech in coaches), and Fresno State returns its top four rushers and five of its top six receivers. The Bulldogs do lose QB Tom Brandstater and gave up 28 or more points nine times last season.

Optimism: Running back. Anthony Harding is the top returning rusher with 822 yards. He'll also play some fullback, as a healthy Ryan...read more

Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson is on the podium, and here's a few tidbits on what he's speaking about:

-He said he expects the same nine football teams will be part of the conference in five years

-There are no plans for expansion, as the WAC's athletics directors met in early June and said they were fine with the current nine teams

-Ten of the 39 nonconference...read more

The Boise State football team earned 55 of 58 media votes to win the WAC, making the Broncos the big favorite to win their seventh conference title.

Bronco cornerback Kyle Wilson was named the preseason defensive player of the year, and Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick was the preseason offensive player of the year.

Media poll

1. Boise State (55) 519

2. Nevada (3) 444

3. Fresno State...read more

WAC commissioner Karl Benson let it slip, I guess, tonight that Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick will be the WAC's preseason offensive player of the year.

That's no big surprise, I know...Kaepernick threw for more than 2,000 yards and ran for more than 1,000 last season. For a tall, skinny dude, he can throw down some grub. He took advantage of the hospitality buffet tonight. Benson said the QB...read more

We touched down a few hours ago here in Salt Lake City and I got my first look at the Boise State preseason outlook. It's not a full media guide, as it's rumored it will be put online or on CD.

A few things I noticed: WR Chris Potter is changing his number from 81 to 3. TE Chandler Koch will go from 86 to 88. New QBs Mike Tamburo and Joe Southwick will wear Nos. 9 and 15, respectively. WR...read more

The Boise State athletic department just sent this out to the media:

Boise State University completed its non-conference schedule for the 2010 season when it was announced the Bronco football team will face Virginia Tech on Oct. 2 (Saturday) at FedexField in Landover, MD, the home of the Washington Redskins.

The Broncos and Hokies have been two of the nation's most successful collegiate teams...read more

Today was Idaho and Hawaii's day on the College Football Live tour that covers all 50 states.

There was some talk about the blue turf and a review of the impressive numbers the Broncos have put up this decade. Hosts Erik Kuselias and Shaun King both said they believe Boise State will go undefeated this season. Naturally, there was a look back at the Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma, too. King called...read more

Boise State has an open date in 2010, and there's a high chance it will be on the road against a BCS conference foe.

According to a TV station in Virginia, the Broncos will face Virginia Tech.

Click here for more. I'll try and see if I can get anything official on this.

The Sporting News' Dave Curtis wrote today that he thinks six teams will go undefeated in 2009, causing one fine BCS mess.

Those six? Florida, Oklahoma, Penn State, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame (what?) — and Boise State.

Click here for the story.

His colleague, Dan Shanoff, also suggests it will be a return visit to the Fiesta Bowl for the Broncos. I had a wonderful time in Phoenix in...read more

Boise State got a good commitment from California cornerback Bryan Douglas, and I spoke to him today. Very nice kid — he'll fit in well.

With only a handful of scholarships to give for 2010, the Broncos showed Douglas plenty of interest, and it was appreciated.

"I felt wanted," he said. "I knew it wasn't a place where they just throw out offers."

Bronco defensive...read more

Instead of just putting up my football media preseason poll, I'll do it with a little bit of timely humor.

Here follows not just my picks, but also some Michael Jackson-related points on each team.

Team rankings

1. Boise State — "Dangerous"

The Broncos posted a perfect 8-0 WAC mark last season and return plenty of firepower on both sides of the ball. The defense will be just...read more

It's still more than a month away, but the hype machine for the Boise State-Oregon is going full steam ahead.

Click here for Si.com's ranking of the matchup.

Mandel cites some of the the reasons we all know why it's big, plus the strange fact it's going to be the late ESPN game. It's a big game around here, obviously, but it also will be nation-wide. However, who will be up...read more

From The Associated Press:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch is calling on the Justice Department to investigate college football's Bowl Championship Series for what he views as violations of antitrust laws.

The top Republican on the Senate subcommittee with antitrust oversight, Hatch made the comment Tuesday after conducting a hearing. He said that it is clear to him whether the...read more

Former Boise State and current Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins will open up 10 practices to the public in August.

Click here for the story.

Chris Petersen has closed fall practices to the public, and initially it was met with a bit of anger, but I don't hear folks complaining much that they can't see practice. Does losing only three regular season games in three years make up for that...read more

Wait ... there's articles in there?

Boise State senior cornerback/returner extraordinaire Kyle Wilson was named to the Playboy All-American team Thursday, joining Ryan Clady (2007) as the only Broncos to do so.

Wilson had five interceptions last season and also averaged 14.2 yards per punt return — his three punt return TDs were tied for No. 1 in the NCAA.