QBs the Question in the WAC : Football: All but three schools will have new quarterbacks.

To some, they will be playing football in the Western Athletic Conference this season.

To others, they will be playing Name That Quarterback.

Aside from David Lowery of San Diego State, Frank Dolce at Utah and Michael Carter at Hawaii, the offense-crazy WAC will be reloading this season.

Air Force, Brigham Young, Colorado State, New Mexico, Wyoming and even newcomer Fresno State go into this season with new quarterbacks.

And Texas El Paso has lost incumbent starter Mike Perez for at least its Sept. 5 season opener against BYU because of tendinitis in his throwing arm.

However, as far as the defenses go, this is the conference whose initials still stand for “Without A Clue.”

And rookie quarterbacks or not, high-octane offenses are as predictable as death, taxes and junk mail.

“It sure appears that way,” BYU Coach LaVell Edwards said. “Teams have got a lot of speed. Notre Dame had an excellent football team last year, but they go to Hawaii and win (48-42).

“Welcome to the WAC. Teams are going to move the football on anybody they play.”

The movers and shakers, excluding San Diego State, in order of last season’s finish:

BRIGHAM YOUNG

1991: 8-3-2, 7-0-1

Happy Campers If: Quarterbacks Steve Clements, last season’s backup, or John Walsh, a transfer from the University of Texas reminiscent of former BYU quarterback Robbie Bosco, can get the job done replacing Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer. Largely because of Detmer, the Cougars have won three consecutive WAC titles.

Signs of a Long Season: The secondary getting toasted as in the SDSU game last season. Or the Cougars gaining significantly more yards on the ground than through the air.

AIR FORCE

1991: 10-3, 6-2

Happy Campers If: The wishbone attack clicks under quarterback Jarvis Baker as it did when Rob Perez was at the helm. And the Falcons can fare well at home, where they play seven of 12 games--including a season-ending match with BYU on Nov. 21.

Signs of a Long Season: The rushing game is halted--the Falcons were second nationally last season at 338 yards per game. Or Carlton McDonald, last season’s WAC defensive player of the year with six interceptions, slumps.

UTAH

1991: 7-5, 4-4

Happy Campers If: The defense, which led the WAC in total defense last season (372 yards per game) and collected a league-high 54 sacks, continues to improve.

Signs of a Long Season: Quarterback Frank Dolce and receiver Brian Rowley (60 passes for 1,011 yards in 1991) can’t find each other as often.

HAWAII

1991: 4-7-1, 3-5

Happy Campers If: The Rainbows, historically poor road players, can change that. Only five of their 12 games this season are away from Aloha Stadium. And the line can clear the way for quarterback Carter to rush for anywhere close to 1,092 yards again.

Signs of a Long Season: The defense not bouncing back from last fall’s effort, in which it allowed 35 or more points six times and finished last in the nation in pass efficiency defense (opponents completed 60% of their passes).

WYOMING

1991: 4-6-1, 2-5-1

Happy Campers If: They can avoid the surgeon’s knife. A total of 25 players--including eight defensive starters--underwent surgery last season. And sophomore John Gustin or junior Joe Hughes can step in at quarterback and get the ball to receiver Ryan Yarborough (1,081 yards receiving, 13 touchdowns in 1991).

Signs of a Long Season: The defense yielding 33 points and 411 yards per game again.

TEXAS EL PASO

1991: 4-7-1, 2-5-1

Happy Campers If: They can hold up for four quarters--UTEP lost four games in which it led in the fourth quarter last season, including games to Colorado State when a punt was blocked in the final minute and returned for a touchdown and to BYU when a UTEP field-goal attempt was blocked in the final seconds.

Signs of a Long Season: They don’t play well during a three-game October stretch that takes them to Colorado State, SDSU and Utah.

COLORADO STATE

1991: 3-8, 2-6

Happy Campers If: Quarterback Anthony Hill, from University City High, shines. Coach Earle Bruce calls him the the most talented athlete he has ever coached at quarterback--and Bruce is in his 21st year as the head man, including nine at Ohio State.

Signs of a Long Season: If the Rams cannot hang onto the ball. They were last in the nation in turnover margin last season at minus-24.

NEW MEXICO

1991: 3-9, 2-6

Happy Campers If: New coach Dennis Franchione is Bear Bryant reincarnated. Or someone proves the running game actually exists. New Mexico was 103rd nationally in 1991 (77.8 yards per game).

Signs of a Long Season: Probably when they take the field for the season opening kickoff Sept. 5 against Texas Christian.

FRESNO STATE

1991: 10-2, 6-1 (in the Big West)

Happy Campers If: The people from New Mexico leave their coach, Jim Sweeney, alone. There has been bad blood between the schools since the time in 1989 when Lobo fans chanted, “Sweeney is a Weenie!” So in 1991, Fresno State ran up a 94-17 revenge-a-thon on the Lobos.

Signs of a Long Season: If the Fresno State offense, which led the nation in scoring (44 points per game) and total offense (541 yards per game) in 1991, can’t handle pudding-thin WAC defenses.