Weber football preview notes

2008 schedule

Aug. 28 ... Mont.-Western, 7 p.m.
Sept. 6 ... at Hawaii, 10 p.m.
Sept. 13 ... Dixie State, 6 p.m.
Sept. 20 ... at Scrmnto St., 3 p.m.
Sept. 27 ... at Utah, 6 p.m.
Oct. 4 ... Montana, 1 p.m.
Oct. 11 ... at Mt. St., 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 18 ... N. Colorado, 1 p.m.
Oct. 25 ... at N. Arizona, 4 p.m.
Nov. 1 ... Portland State, 1 p.m.
Nov. 8 ... at Idaho State, 3 p.m.
Nov. 22 ... E. Washington, noon
All times MST

2007 record

4-4, 5-6

Predicted finish

Fifth (as voted on by the league's coaches and media)

Returning starters

15

Starters lost

7

Names to know

QB Cameron Higgins, RB Trevyn Smith, FB Marcus Mailei, WR Bryant Eteuati, C Kyle Mutcher, LB J.D. Folsom, DE Caldwell Taylor, DE Pate Moleni, DT Bryce Scanlon, P Mike Snow

Key dates

Sept. 6: at Hawaii for the first time in school history; Sept. 27: at Utah for Coach Mac's return to Rice-Eccles; Oct. 4: vs. Montana with a chance to show it can contend for the conference championship; Nov. 22 vs. Eastern Washington with perhaps a FCS playoff berth on the line.

Reasons to be excited

The Wildcats should be dynamic on offense. Quarterback Cameron Higgins, receiver Bryant Eteuati and running backs Trevyn Smith and Marcus Mailei should lead one of the Big Sky's most productive units. Overall, the team has 15 returning starters.

Reasons to be worried

The schedule isn't easily manageable. The Wildcats play two Division I teams in Hawaii and Utah. Following the Utah trip, Weber State plays Montana at home and Montana State on the road. Weber State will need to stay healthy and win the games it is supposed to win to contend in the Big Sky.