Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009

WAC notebook: Bowl eligibility means bonus for Akey

Idaho's coach says he'll talk contract extension after the 2009 season.

By BY NICK JEZIERNYAND CHADD CRIPE

Robb Akey will earn a bonus of 1/13th his annual salary for getting his Idaho football team eligible for a bowl game.

According to the five-year contract that Akey signed March 29, 2007, he is paid a base salary of $155,001.60 per year. That means his bonus for reaching six victories this season will be $11,923.20.

But the third-year coach only collects that money if he remains coach until July 1 of the next year.

The contract has a buyout - $750,000 if he leaves before Jan. 1, 2010, or $500,000 if he leaves after Jan. 2, 2010.

At his weekly press conference, Akey was asked about the possibility of extending his current contract.

"(Athletic director) Rob (Spear) and I have talked about it and we're going to get together at the end of the season, and I look forward to that conversation," Akey said.

Akey has orchestrated a stunning turnaround for Idaho. The Vandals, who were picked eighth and last in the WAC's two preseason polls, are 6-1 overall, 3-0 WAC. The six wins are the most since Idaho went 7-4 in 1999.

The current contract also calls for the same bonus if Idaho ends the season ranked in the coaches poll. He would get a $5,000 bonus if he garners the conference coach of the year honor.

SHOWDOWN SATURDAY

Two of the WAC's three first-place teams square off Saturday in Reno when Idaho takes on Nevada (3-3, 2-0).

"It's a bigtime showdown," Akey said.

Boise State (6-0, 1-0) is the other unbeaten in WAC play.

The game will feature Idaho's WAC-best rushing defense going against a Wolf Pack rushing attack that ranks first in the conference.

"We have to keep their big plays to a minimum," Akey said. "They are going to make plays, but we have to keep them to a minimum."

Idaho has allowed an average of just 95.6 yards per game on the ground, and defensive coordinator Mark Criner said it will be tough holding down a Nevada attack that gains 292.8 rushing yards per game.

"They run a lot of motion to get your eyes looking in different spots," Criner said. "In option football, you have to make sure you're doing your responsibility and we have to stay simple enough so our guys aren't thinking and they are just reacting."

MATHEWS OR MOORE?

The WAC boasts the nation's leading rusher in Fresno State tailback Ryan Mathews and the nation's top passer in Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore.

Both are generating some Heisman Trophy chatter and they're likely to make the race for the WAC Offensive Player of the Year award interesting. Preseason pick Colin Kaepernick, the Nevada quarterback, could get involved, too.

Mathews averages 162.3 yards per game and 7.4 yards per carry. He leads the nation by more than 25 yards per game.

Mathews rushed for 486 yards and four touchdowns in a three-week stretch against Wisconsin, Boise State and Cincinnati - three teams in the BCS Top 25.

Moore has an efficiency rating of 171.18 - nearly five points better than Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen. He has thrown at least three touchdown passes in four of his past five games and has posted an 18-1 record at Boise State.

Moore is sixth this week in ESPN.com's Heisman Watch, which polls 15 "ESPN experts." Moore received two third-place votes, one fourth and three fifths. Mathews is eighth with one second-place vote.

THE REAL LA. TECH?

The Bulldogs are 3-3 (2-1 WAC) with three road losses and three home wins. They have been outscored 106-41 on the road and have outscored opponents 120-26 at home.

They play their next two games on the road - at Utah State and Idaho. With a pair of wins, they would be title contenders when Boise State visits Ruston, La., on Nov. 6.

The Bulldogs' losses came to Auburn, Navy and Nevada.

"When you go on the road against good football team and you don't play the way you're capable of playing, you're setting yourself up for disappointment," coach Derek Dooley said. "We've played the exact opposite at home. É This week will be a good indicator."

UTAH ST. CAN'T FINISH

Utah State (1-5) has lost three games by a total of 14 points - an eight-point loss at Texas A&M, a three-point loss at New Mexico State and a three-point loss at home against Nevada.

"Special players make special plays to win football games," first-year coach Gary Andersen said. "É We're not in the position to make those plays consistently enough and our opponents are in position to make those plays."