Football picked eighth in WAC preseason media poll

Boise, Idaho-----San Jose State University is picked to finish eighth in the 2002 Western Athletic Conference football standings according to a preseason media poll released during the conference’s annual football media session.

The Spartans received 79 points out of a possible 230 in the poll of 23 writers and broadcasters who regularly cover WAC football.

Boise State received the most first-place votes, 14, and topped the poll with 214 points. Defending WAC champion Louisiana Tech finished second in the voting with six first-place votes and 203 points.

Fresno State, with one, and Hawaii, with two were the other schools that received first-place votes. The Bulldogs and the Rainbow Warriors were picked third and fourth, respectively.

Louisiana Tech quarterback Luke McCown was named the preseason "Offensive Player of the Year." McCown, a junior, threw 28 touchdown passes in 2001. Boise State defensive back Quintin Mikell was chosen preseason "Defensive Player of the Year." Mikell, a 2001 first-team All-WAC choice, was credited with 87 tackles last season.

2002 WAC football media poll
1. Boise State (14) 214
2. Louisiana Tech (6) 203
3. Fresno State (1) 189
4. Hawaii (2) 174
5. Rice 114
6. Nevada 100
7. SMU 92
8. San Jose State 79
9. UTEP 57
10. Tulsa 43