It is altogether appropriate, not to mention convenient, that the Western Athletic Conference is holding its annual football preview in Boise, Idaho this week.

For most of the conference's head coaches other than Boise State's, this is their only opportunity to see the last four WAC football championship trophies. And, size up the Broncos they'll have to beat to win this one.

So, it was no surprise that the WAC media overwhelmingly picked Boise State (36 of 50 first-place votes) to win what would be a share of its fifth consecutive crown.

Once again the road to the WAC title figures to go through Boise. For the University of Hawai'i (picked fourth) and Fresno State (forecast second) this season, that would be University Drive, a two-lane stretch of asphalt that leads to Bronco Stadium, where the Broncos are 20-0 in the WAC and the Warriors and Bulldogs play what stacks up as their toughest conference road games.

If anybody is to end Boise's run before it really takes on BYU-like dynastic implications, the betting is one of them is probably going to have to do it.

Of the schools picked to finish in the top four of the conference by some of the finest minds of our time — conference sportswriters and sportscasters, of course — only Nevada has the Broncos away from the smurf turf of Boise. But the Wolf Pack have to play at both Aloha Stadium and Bulldog Stadium, where nobody other than Boise State doubles up.

With their straight-arm of the competition, the Broncos have begun to take on the look of those WAC bullies of a bygone era, BYU, losing just one conference game in the last four years. Indeed, Boise's only finish below first place has been a tie for second in its WAC debut season of 2001.

Not since BYU (1989 to 1993) has a team won or shared five consecutive titles. And only two schools, Arizona State and BYU, have won or shared five championships or more in succession in the conference's 44 seasons.

The Broncos were ripe to be kept off the honor roll last year and, at several points, including a September game at Aloha Stadium, the reign was in danger. But, in the end, only Fresno State managed to beat Boise State, opening the way for Nevada to share the title with the Broncos at 7-1.

UH certainly had its chances against Boise in a 44-41 loss that turned on three second-half breakdowns — and 16 turnaround points — in the kicking game.

This year, since the Broncos return 17 of 22 starters from a 9-4 team, the rest of the nine-team conference is trying to read some hope into the change of head coaches and staff shakeup that has accompanied it. The departure of Dan Hawkins to Colorado has brought six new assistants for Chris Petersen, the accomplished former offensive coordinator who now runs the show. Their task will be holding together the remarkably well-rounded package of offense, defense and special teams that has given the Broncos their years of ham-fisted dominance.

Will that change provide the opening UH or Fresno State need to open up the WAC again? The answer will come adjacent to University Dr. this fall.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.