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No Comments [ Add Comment ]As bye week dawns, 'Cats reflect on joy of Big Sky title
By Jasen AsayThe Weber State Wildcats made an unscheduled stop on their way out of Pocatello, Idaho, on Saturday night.
With the newly-earned Big Sky Conference football championship trophy in the grasps, all of the Wildcats went to see coach Ron McBride at the Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello.
McBride spent Saturday night at the hospital after leaving the game against Idaho State in the second half due to lightheadedness and a quicker-than-usual heart rate.
Since McBride was not there to celebrate the 59-27 win over the Bengals that gave the No. 9-ranked Wildcats (9-2, 7-0 Big Sky) a share of the Big Sky title as well as a berth in the FCS playoffs, the 'Cats wanted to make sure their coach got the chance to experience some of the joy that came with the victory.
"I felt really bad about (not being there at the end)," McBride said. "To go through all of that and not be there for the final outcome, that was tough."
But the visit from his team made McBride feel better. The coach got to see the trophy that the players showed off a little earlier to the die-hard WSU fans that traveled to see the Wildcats' win at the Holt Arena. McBride also got to see some video and pictures that WSU athletic trainer Joel Bass took with his cell phone.
McBride said he is still unsure why he started feeling ill. Heart tests performed at the medical center came back negative.
WSU assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Kevin Clune had to fill in for McBride during the postgame interviews, and he did his best to answer the question of what happened to McBride.
"Something happened and he was chewing somebody out and he got out of breath," Clune said. "Immediately our doctor staff, and I've got to say we've got one of the best medical staffs, was right on top of it."
What's next?
Now that the Wildcats have clinched a place in the playoffs, they will get a little time to rest.
The Wildcats have their bye week this weekend, so after watching film and doing a little running on the practice field today, the team will not practice again until Friday.
"I'm looking forward to (the bye week), but we don't need to lose focus," said WSU defensive back Josh Morris, who had three interceptions on Saturday. "Even though we're co-champs right now, I'm not satisfied with being co-champs. I want all the bragging rights. Being co-champs just isn't good enough."
WSU still has one regular-season game remaining, on Nov. 22 at home against Eastern Washington. With a win in that game, or a loss by Montana (9-1, 5-1) in either of its final two games, WSU would win the league title outright.
The day following WSU's regular-season finale, the FCS Sports Committee will announce the 16 teams that made the playoffs, as well as the brackets. Seven other teams will receive automatic berths in the playoffs, and the final eight will be made up of teams earning at-large spots.
Montana is the only other Big Sky team likely to get into the playoffs.
WSU notes
Junior safety Beau Hadley was not properly credited by the Saturday's official scorekeeper for his forced fumble during a kickoff. The play came just after the Wildcats had taken a 10-3 lead in the second quarter. During the return Hadley stripped ISU's JD Ponciano of the ball and WSU's Blake Keller recovered the fumble. Hadley now has five forced fumbles, tying him with Kevin Linehan for most on the team. ...
Quarterback Cameron Higgins threw three touchdown passes on Saturday, giving him 33 this season. He is now two touchdowns away from tying Jamie Martin's school record of 35 touchdown passes in a season. ... Speaking of touchdowns, wide receiver Tim Toone needs just one more to become the Wildcats' all-time leader in touchdown receptions. He's currently tied with Wade Orton, who set the mark at 18 during his career (1984-1988).
Jasen Asay covers Weber State for the Standard-Examiner and can be reached at 625-4260 or jasay@standard.net. Check out his WSU sports blog at www.standard.net.
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