It is safe to say that WAC commissioner Karl Benson did not plan on bowl season unfolding the way it has.

• His preseason media darling Fresno State Bulldogs - squashed by Colorado State.


• The undefeated Boise State Broncos - defeated by TCU.


• Overachiveing Hawaii - Jimmy Clausen'd.

Then here comes Louisiana Tech to save the day. The Bulldogs beat Northern Illinois 17-10 last night in the Independence Bowl, proving that the WAC still maintains dominance over directional schools.

Daniel Porter rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown, Phillip Livas returned a kickoff for a score, and the LaTech defense stuffed Northern Illinois en route to the team's first bowl win since the 1970's.

Derek Dooley lost all perspective in the post-game aftermath.

"They went out as champions," Dooley said. "That was our goal, to go out as champions."

Indepence Bowl championships are indeed the stuff of legend.

Nevada has a chance to raise the WAC's bowl record to a San Jose State-esque 2-3 if the Wolf Pack can get past Maryland in tomorrow's Humanitarian Bowl, but if they don't, at least the WAC is assured of not going winless for the postseason.

For once, we have LaTech to thank.

Read more: Bulldogs capture first bowl win since 1977 [ESPN.com]