Nevada coach Brian Polian is whining again.

First, it was about what Chris Ault left him as a team in Reno. Now, it’s about Fresno State’s decision to let Derek Carr throw the ball in the closing seconds Saturday with the win more or less in hand.

Polian thought the Bulldogs should’ve taken a knee. Fresno State coach Tim DeRuyter let Carr pass for the record.

The first-year Nevada coach at least understands why the Bulldogs went for the cheap touchdown.

“… The thing that people have to keep in mind is … as a competitor, in the moment, I’m not happy about it,” he said. “But Fresno State and Northern Illinois are competing to be the highest-ranked non-AQ team to get into a BCS bowl. And, unfortunately, in the day and age of uneducated voters and computers and people that simply look at scores.”

it’s good he understands that much. But that’s probably not all of it.

DeRuyter also let him go for it because he was probably cognizant of the fast approaching record and wanted to get it out of the way. Letting Derek Carr throw an easy 27-yard pass against an already defeated team lets him get the record at home and spares the team a side show around him approaching the record.

Around the conference

— In other foot-in-mouth incidences … Hawaii may be winless this year, but Norm Chow isn’t going anywhere, Ferd Lewis of the Star-Advertiser writes (subscribers only). He had previously told reporters, “I am too old for this.” He said he was speaking tongue-in-cheek. But, perhaps, when you have three wins in two seasons, perhaps he is too old for this? (quote obtained from Idaho Statesman’s roundup.)

— Jon Wilner pretends like he cares about non-BCS conference football.

— Fresno State coach Tim DeRuyter is among 20 coaches up on the Bear Bryant coach of the year award watch list, the Fresno Bee reports. Also, Derek Carr was named one of 16 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien award.

— Fresno State went for it on fourth down four times against Nevada with mixed results. They plan to keep going for it, the Bee adds.

— Wyoming’s first game with Jamar Cain at defensive coordinator will be against Fresno State. Welcome to the big leagues. Cowboys coach Dave Christensen said the defense will try some new things against the Bulldogs.

— A quarterback from Colorado State’s last good teams in the not-to-distant past is reconnecting with the team after years of staying away, the Fort Collins Coloradoan reports. That player, Bradlee Van Pelt, along with Joey Porter were inducted into the Rams hall of fame over the weekend.

— Despite falling a spot to No. 10 in the volleyball polls, Colorado State’s volleyball team (22-0 after wiping out Wyoming Tuesday) is still really damn good.

— Injuries are hitting San Diego State’s defense hard, particularly at defensive tackle, reports UT San Diego. This at a time when David Fales’ progress as quarterback for the Spartans has them worried.

— Worth noting: San Diego State’s starting quarterback, Quinn Kaehler, is a walk-on who has been playing this season without a scholarship. Aztecs’ coach Rocky Long says that will be rectified this spring.

— Spartans coach Rob Caragher and QB David Fales talk about the Aztecs. Caragher’s ties to Aztecs’ coach Rocky Long and offensive coordinator Bob Toledo run deep as well.

— Boise State’s game against Wyoming will be on ESPN2 at 7:15 p.m. Their defense gets a merciful week off after getting banged up through October and needing players to take the field out of position to help them beat the Rams on Saturday.

— San Jose State and Nevada will be denied a big payday by conference rules because their game in two weeks will be on ESPNU instead of one of the bigger networks. Jimmy Durkin of the Mercury News takes time to outline the raw deal.

— The father of Utah State tight end DJ Tialavea died of health complications on Monday, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.

— It’s also worth noting that the 5-4 Aggies are one win away from a third straight bowl berth. Saturday’s game against an equally desperate-for-a-win team in UNLV figures to be the highlight on the conference’s matchups. Coach Matt Wells, though, is focused beyond that, to Boise State later this month (much like San Jose State, winning out in conference earns them a spot in the Mountain West championship game.)