McBride optimistic about next season

OGDEN — Three years into a rebuilding project, Ron McBride finally feels like he's working on the finish carpentry instead of getting ready to flip the house.

First he had to blow out a few walls, reinforce the foundation and, obviously, add a few studs to the frame.

The result, at least to this point, has been a little less than parade-of-homes worthy. But with another year in the books, the Weber State football coach thinks all that's needed now is the final attention to detail on what may be his last season as a head coach.

"I think we're close," McBride, who has a three-year record of 15-18 with the Wildcats. "Physically, we can match up with anybody in the conference. We just have to take care of the mental part of the game."

That was illustrated perfectly in the recently completed season.

Weber State had all the parts, they just weren't assembled until it was almost too late. Losing four games in a row to start the season — each to an opponent ranked in the top 25 polls — left the 'Cats without much confidence but plenty of talent.

As it was, McBride said, the fourth loss was actually the turning point. That 18-10 defeat at then-No. 1 Montana went into the books as another loss, but WSU held the lead most of the game before falling in the fourth quarter.

"From that point on, we were a pretty substantial football team," McBride said. "We really came together after that."

Part of the problem in Weber State's late arrival was the schedule. The bigger part, though, was a young offensive team with little experience.

Sophomore Jimmy Barnes arrived from Alabama, but injuries helped him be ineffective in three starts. Redshirt freshman Cameron Higgins took over in the Montana game and held the starting job the rest of the year.

Running back Trevyn Smith was the leading rusher in the Big Sky for the second consecutive season, but he, too, was a sophomore and injuries limited his participation early in the season. Receivers Tim Toone (sophomore) and Bryant Eteuati (junior) had strong years but, like the rest of the team, needed a few weeks to gel with the gameplan.

Once the roster spots were established and injuries healed, Weber State was every bit the tough team McBride thought he had when the season started. Winners of five of six games down the stretch before the season-ending loss, the Wildcats moved the ball easily and scored points in bunches. During one stretch, WSU scored 173 points in three games including a record-setting 73-68 win at Portland State.