weberwildcat
Active member
http://www.standard.net/topics/sports/2010/09/01/mcbride-higgins-lead-new-look-wildcats
McBride, Higgins lead new-look Wildcats
Authors
* Roy Burton
* Standard-Examiner staff
OGDEN -- After unprecedented back-to-back trips to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, Weber State is looking to stretch a double into a triple.
To reach the FCS playoffs for a third straight year, coach Ron McBride's young Wildcats have to step up to own the tradition, as well as overcome a Big Sky Conference schedule bookended by tough road games at Boston College and Texas Tech. Weber State opens the season Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at BC's Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
"We expect to be in the playoffs. We expect to play for the league title. That's the only thing that's really acceptable," McBride said. "That's where the bar is."
The 'Cats also need to replace the top rusher in school history. Tailback Trevyn Smith is gone, and with him his conference-record four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Standout receiver/returner Tim Toone played his way into a contract with the Detroit Lions, despite being the last pick in the NFL draft -- the so-called Mr. Irrelevant. Other contributors graduated and moved on as well, leaving a young 'Cats team behind.
But Weber State's cupboard isn't bare in McBride's sixth season at the helm. Four-year starting quarterback Cameron Higgins stands on the threshold of several school and conference records of his own.
The Big Sky offensive player of the year as a sophomore, Higgins trails former NFL quarterback Jamie Martin by 2,446 passing yards and 2,553 total yards and to become the Wildcats' career leader.
Despite being picked fourth in the conference by both the Big Sky coaches and media, the Wildcats' goal isn't just the playoffs, Higgins said.
"We expect a national championship," he said. "You can't expect to be a national champion team if you can't even think about it."
Higgins believes the Wildcats have practiced and trained like a title team during the summer.
"I think if we fall short, anything less than a national championship, we've underachieved," he said.
A national title is a monumental challenge, but the path to the playoffs may be easier this year, with the FCS field expanding from 16 teams to 20. Weber State opens the season ranked No. 18 in the FCS coaches poll and No. 19 in The Sports Network's FCS Top 25 poll.
Assistant coach Colton Swan, a former Wildcat player who shares co-defensive coordinator duties with Jake Cookus, thinks Weber State has built a winning tradition that didn't exist in the past.
Continuing the Wildcats' streak of playoff seasons is important, Swan said.
"It's huge," Swan said. "We think about it non-stop. It's almost like you plan on going to the playoffs now."
Teams now target the Wildcats and everyone wants to knock them off their pedestal, Swan said.
"That's right where we want to be. It's taken a long time for this team to get the respect like that, that it deserves. When I played here, there was no respect like that."
Offensively, Higgins' primary targets should be senior wideouts Mike Phillips and Joe Collins.
Former Fremont High standout J.C. Oram will play a major role in protecting Higgins and establishing the run game. Oram joins Phillips and fullback Zac Eldridge as preseason all-conference first-teamers and was named a second-team preseason All-American.
Senior Vaingamalie Tafuna will start at tailback.
Bo Bolen, who was second in rushing behind Smith last year, was not expected to play for the 'Cats this fall, but returned to the field, because his departure date for his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints isn't until December. Bolen gives the Wildcats a versatile all-purpose weapon who will be expected to contribute at tailback, fullback, as a receiver and as a kick returner.
Eldridge, Josh Booker and C.J. Tuckett should also contribute in the running game.
Defensively, the Wildcats will rely on emotional leader Taylor Sedillo at middle linebacker. Sedillo, another preseason first-teamer, led the team with 100 tackles a year ago, followed closely by free safety Jordan Brown with 97.
Sedillo, Brown and roving linebacker Nick Webb are defensive captains. Brown will also return punts.
At the interior line positions, Weber State hopes to get nose tackle Adam White back soon. White, who is recovering from a torn pectoral muscle and is questionable for the Boston College game, is expected to anchor the defensive line with Alofaifo Levale and Trevor Pletcher contributing.
Gabe Bowers and defensive end Sam Fenn are other team leaders and Faron Creighton adds experience at cornerback.
Left-footer Shaun McClain will handle placekicking duties, while safety Tony Epperson will double as the punter while trying to earn playing time in the secondary.
McBride, Higgins lead new-look Wildcats
Authors
* Roy Burton
* Standard-Examiner staff
OGDEN -- After unprecedented back-to-back trips to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, Weber State is looking to stretch a double into a triple.
To reach the FCS playoffs for a third straight year, coach Ron McBride's young Wildcats have to step up to own the tradition, as well as overcome a Big Sky Conference schedule bookended by tough road games at Boston College and Texas Tech. Weber State opens the season Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at BC's Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
"We expect to be in the playoffs. We expect to play for the league title. That's the only thing that's really acceptable," McBride said. "That's where the bar is."
The 'Cats also need to replace the top rusher in school history. Tailback Trevyn Smith is gone, and with him his conference-record four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Standout receiver/returner Tim Toone played his way into a contract with the Detroit Lions, despite being the last pick in the NFL draft -- the so-called Mr. Irrelevant. Other contributors graduated and moved on as well, leaving a young 'Cats team behind.
But Weber State's cupboard isn't bare in McBride's sixth season at the helm. Four-year starting quarterback Cameron Higgins stands on the threshold of several school and conference records of his own.
The Big Sky offensive player of the year as a sophomore, Higgins trails former NFL quarterback Jamie Martin by 2,446 passing yards and 2,553 total yards and to become the Wildcats' career leader.
Despite being picked fourth in the conference by both the Big Sky coaches and media, the Wildcats' goal isn't just the playoffs, Higgins said.
"We expect a national championship," he said. "You can't expect to be a national champion team if you can't even think about it."
Higgins believes the Wildcats have practiced and trained like a title team during the summer.
"I think if we fall short, anything less than a national championship, we've underachieved," he said.
A national title is a monumental challenge, but the path to the playoffs may be easier this year, with the FCS field expanding from 16 teams to 20. Weber State opens the season ranked No. 18 in the FCS coaches poll and No. 19 in The Sports Network's FCS Top 25 poll.
Assistant coach Colton Swan, a former Wildcat player who shares co-defensive coordinator duties with Jake Cookus, thinks Weber State has built a winning tradition that didn't exist in the past.
Continuing the Wildcats' streak of playoff seasons is important, Swan said.
"It's huge," Swan said. "We think about it non-stop. It's almost like you plan on going to the playoffs now."
Teams now target the Wildcats and everyone wants to knock them off their pedestal, Swan said.
"That's right where we want to be. It's taken a long time for this team to get the respect like that, that it deserves. When I played here, there was no respect like that."
Offensively, Higgins' primary targets should be senior wideouts Mike Phillips and Joe Collins.
Former Fremont High standout J.C. Oram will play a major role in protecting Higgins and establishing the run game. Oram joins Phillips and fullback Zac Eldridge as preseason all-conference first-teamers and was named a second-team preseason All-American.
Senior Vaingamalie Tafuna will start at tailback.
Bo Bolen, who was second in rushing behind Smith last year, was not expected to play for the 'Cats this fall, but returned to the field, because his departure date for his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints isn't until December. Bolen gives the Wildcats a versatile all-purpose weapon who will be expected to contribute at tailback, fullback, as a receiver and as a kick returner.
Eldridge, Josh Booker and C.J. Tuckett should also contribute in the running game.
Defensively, the Wildcats will rely on emotional leader Taylor Sedillo at middle linebacker. Sedillo, another preseason first-teamer, led the team with 100 tackles a year ago, followed closely by free safety Jordan Brown with 97.
Sedillo, Brown and roving linebacker Nick Webb are defensive captains. Brown will also return punts.
At the interior line positions, Weber State hopes to get nose tackle Adam White back soon. White, who is recovering from a torn pectoral muscle and is questionable for the Boston College game, is expected to anchor the defensive line with Alofaifo Levale and Trevor Pletcher contributing.
Gabe Bowers and defensive end Sam Fenn are other team leaders and Faron Creighton adds experience at cornerback.
Left-footer Shaun McClain will handle placekicking duties, while safety Tony Epperson will double as the punter while trying to earn playing time in the secondary.
