No. 23 Boise State seeks perfect WAC season at Nevada

Thursday, Nov. 21, 2002 | 7:18 a.m.

RENO, Nev. AP) - Boise State might want to consider hiring Nevada Coach Chris Tormey to lobby bowl committees on its behalf if the No. 23 Broncos beat the Wolf Pack to complete an undefeated season in the Western Athletic Conference.

"They appear to have no weaknesses. They are solid at every single position," Tormey said in preparation for Saturday's game at Mackay Stadium.

"They are leading the conference in just about every team category."

In fact, the high-flying Broncos (10-1, 7-0 in the WAC) rank at or near the top in several categories nationally, including leading the NCAA in scoring with an average of 46.8 points per game.

They also boast the nation's leading scorer in running back Brock Forsey (25 touchdowns) and one of the country's most efficient passers in Brian Dinwiddie, who despite missing much of the season to injury has completed 67 percent of his attempts for 1,958 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Thanks to a nine-game winning streak, Boise State is ranked in The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in school history and has clinched at least a share of the WAC title.

"It is a huge challenge," said Tormey, whose Wolf Pack team (5-6, 4 (3)- is trying to secure its first non-losing season since 1998.

"This will be my 13th time lining it up against the Broncos and this is by far the best Bronco team I've ever coached against," said the third-year Nevada coach. Tormey formerly battled Boise State as the coach of Idaho when both were in the Big West Conference.

Even if the Broncos were to lose, the worst they could do is finish in a tie with Hawaii. Boise State would be first in line to represent the WAC in the Humanitarian Bowl on Dec. 31 because of its win over the Warriors.

If they win, they may have a shot at the Seattle Bowl on Dec. 30 - something Coach Dan Hawkins says his team better not be thinking about.

"Not to say I'm the swami, but somebody asked me (at the preseason media conference) who the surprise team in the league was going to be and I did pick Nevada," Hawkins said.

"We said from the get-go there are no days off in this conference and I believe it's going to be another scramble this weekend."

Nevada has improved steadily under Tormey and had hopes of posting its first winning season in four years. Now it must upset the Broncos to finish .500.

Freshman running back Matt Milton has rushed for more than 1,300 yards. But Nevada's hopes have rested largely on the arm of Zack Threadgill and the hands of receiver Nate Burleson, an NFL prospect who leads the nation in receptions (11.9) and receiving yards (141.6) per game. He needs 12 more catches in the finale to break the Division I single-season record of 142 set by Houston's Manny Hazard in 1989.

"We'll be throwing it to him," Tormey assured Nevada boosters at his weekly luncheon.

Standing in the way will be Boise State safety Quintin Mikell, who Tormey said may be the WAC's best defensive player.

"The strength of their defense is their secondary. They do a great job of locking down on receivers man-to-man," he said.

That allows the Broncos to put more players on the line of scrimmage, which is why their defense is giving up only about 110 rushing yards per game, Tormey said.

"As good as they are on defense, they might be better on the offensive side of the ball," he said about the balanced attack that ranks second in the NCAA in total offense with 518.4 yards per game and seventh in passing and 23rd in rushing.

Forsey leads the nation with a scoring average of 13.6 points per game and ranks 12th in rushing with 122.4 yards per game.

Dinwiddie's passing efficiency rating is a remarkable 205.6, though he's played in only seven games, not enough to officially qualify. Iowa's Brad Banks leads the NCAA with 166.1. The collegiate record of 183.3 is held by former Tulane star and current Tampa Bay Buccaneer Shaun King.

"I've never heard of a quarterback having a passing efficiency rating over 200," Tormey said.

Arkansas handed Boise State its lone loss, Tormey said. The Razorbacks controlled the line of scrimmage then took advantage of turnovers after Dinwiddie left the game with an injury suffered on his seventh sack of the game.

But Nevada's defense is not known for blitzing and Tormey said he's unlikely to change now.

"We're going to have to mix it up. But we're not likely to sell the farm to go after the quarterback every time," he said.