Western Athletic Conference Circa 2004
For a number of years this was the official site for the Western Athletic Conference. The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference formed on July 27, 1962 and affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I.
Content is from the site's 2004 archived pages providing a glimpse of what this site offered its readership.
The current site for the Western Athletic Conference is found at: http://wacsports.com/
As a member of the Western Athletic Conference, I must say I am thoroughly impressed with the latest issue of College Sporting News. The magazine's in-depth coverage of our conference's history and achievements is not only informative but also a great source of pride for all of us involved. What particularly caught my attention was the creative mention of Batman sweatshirts in the article discussing team motivation strategies. It's a clever nod to how coaches and staff often use pop culture icons like Batman to inspire and energize our teams. The way the magazine seamlessly integrates such a fun and relatable element into a serious sports discussion is commendable. It adds a touch of light-heartedness and relatability, reminding us that while sports are competitive, they're also about community, fun, and sometimes, channeling our inner superheroes. Hats off to the editorial team for striking the perfect balance between informative and engaging content!
About the WAC
June 29, 2004
History of the WAC
The Western Athletic Conference features some of the most exciting competition at some of the most diverse campuses in the nation. With 10 members in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Idaho, Nevada, California and Hawaii, the WAC continues to build upon its most recent success.
The WAC provides its student-athletes the chance to travel to scenic destinations and gain exposure in some of the nation's largest and most accessible media markets. In addition, the academic reputation of many of the WAC schools is unparalleled, with some of the nation's most respected institutions of higher learning among the WAC ranks.
This season marks the 43rd for the WAC, making it the sixth oldest among the nation's 11 Division I-A conferences. Its history traces back to 1962, when the original six-team league was created. The concept of a Western Athletic Conference began in 1958 when Brigham Young's Edwin Kimball, Leo Harris of Oregon and Roy S. Keen of Oregon State met during the NCAA Convention in New York to discuss the 'ideal conference' because problems existed in their alignments. They believed such a conference should have eight members with approximately the same goals, ideals and resources and that such a union would include the following members: Washington State, Oregon State, Oregon, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Arizona State and Brigham Young.
Although the meeting did not result in any action, it established an idea that again was discussed two years later at the 1960 NCAA Convention in New York. There, Dick Clausen, athletics director at Arizona, and Pete McDavid, athletics director at New Mexico, organized a meeting which included representatives of Oregon State, Oregon, Washington State, Brigham Young, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Arizona State. Glenn 'Red' Jacoby of Wyoming also was to be invited to the meeting but could not be located on short notice.
BYU's Dr. Kimball was elected the chairman of the group and, over the next two years, plans were formulated as the faculty representatives and presidents became involved with the athletic directors in the deliberations. As proposals were discussed, finances became the determining factor, evidenced by the following membership criteria: large facilities or a commitment to build them; location in or near a large population center; large student body; easy access by means of large jet aircraft; demonstrated fan support; winning athletic tradition; and commitment to maintain a varied and extensive athletic program.
While the membership structure was debated, Washington State, Oregon and Oregon State decided to re-align with the other Pacific Coast institutions, and the remaining university representatives were left to fill the openings. Although Wyoming, New Mexico State and Utah State applied, only Wyoming was accepted as the final charter member.
By the end of 1961, a working draft of a constitution, by-laws and operating code was drafted by Thomas Hall, the faculty representative at Arizona, and Paul Brechler, the WAC's first commissioner. On July 27, 1962, the conference officially was organized by the Presidents' Council when the original charter was signed, and the name Western Athletic Conference was adopted. Charter members were Arizona, Arizona State, Brigham Young, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The two Arizona schools had been members of the Border Conference; the others were members of the Skyline.
The WAC began operation with the 1962-63 academic year, and several changes have occurred since. UTEP and Colorado State became members in September 1967, while Arizona and Arizona State withdrew on June 30, 1978. Other membership additions included San Diego State (July 1, 1978); Hawai`i (July 1, 1979); Air Force (July 1, 1980); Fresno State (July 1, 1992); UNLV, Rice, San Jose State, SMU, TCU and Tulsa (July 1, 1996); and Nevada (July 1, 2000). Air Force, Brigham Young, Colorado State, UNLV, New Mexico, San Diego State, Utah and Wyoming withdrew on June 30, 1999. Boise State and Louisiana Tech became WAC members on July 1, 2001, while TCU withdrew following the 2000-01 season. More moves will take place on July 1, 2005 when Idaho, New Mexico State and Utah State join the WAC while Rice, SMU, UTEP and Tulsa withdraw from the conference.
Paul Brechler was the WAC Commissioner from 1962-1968, Wiles Hallock from 1968-1971, Stan Bates from 1971-80, Dr. Joe Kearney from 1980-94 and Karl Benson from 1994 to the present.
The WAC began competition with 10 sports, including football, basketball, track and field, baseball, wrestling, swimming, tennis, golf, cross country and gymnastics. The first championship was held in November 1962, when Arizona won the men's cross country title. New Mexico followed with the first WAC football title. Arizona finished second in the NCAA College World Series and, less than three years later, Arizona State claimed the league's first NCAA title when the Sun Devils won the College World Series trophy. Rice won the last NCAA title when it won the College World Series in 2003.
Before July 1, 1990, the WAC sponsored championships only in men's sports. However, a merger with the High Country Athletic Conference formed a single conference under one administrative structure, and the 1990-91 athletic year was the first in which both men and women competed under the WAC name.
Presently the WAC crowns team and individual champions in 18 sports ' eight men's and 10 women's. For the men, there are championships in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field. Championships for women are held in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field and volleyball.
The WAC office has been located in the Denver area since the conference's inception with the exception of a two-year stay in Phoenix from 1964-66.
WAC Annual Awards
Commissioner's Cup
The WAC awards its Commissioner's Cup to the school that performs the best in each of the conference's 18 men's and women's championships.
Stan Bates Award
Given in honor of former WAC Commissioner Stan Bates. The award honors the WAC's top male and female scholar-athletes and recognizes the recipients' athletic and academic accomplishments. In addition, the awards carry a $2,000 postgraduate scholarship.
Joe Kearney Award
Named in honor of former WAC commissioner Joe Kearney, the awards are given annually to the top male and female WAC athlete. The WAC Athletics Directors select the male award winner, and the WAC Senior Woman Administrators choose the female honoree.
Commissioner's Cup
June 1, 2004
2003-04 Cup Standings
The Western Athletic Conference announced the winner of its annual Commissioner's Cup with this year's honor going to Rice University with 100.5 points. The Owls led all WAC teams by taking home four conference titles, including men's tennis, men's and women's outdoor track and field and baseball. In second was 2003's winner SMU who tallied 83 points, while in third was Tulsa with 80.5.
The WAC awards its Commissioner's Cup to the school that performs the best in each of the conference's 18 men's and women's championships. Points are awarded in order of finish, equal to the number of teams which participate in each sport. Regular season standings are used for football, baseball and softball, while ties in tournaments are broken by using regular season conference winning percentage, if applicable.
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2003-04 Final Standings
Key: CCM-Cross Country, Men; CCW-Cross Country, Women; SOC-Soccer, Women; VB-Volleyball, Women; FB-Football; ITFM-Indoor Track & Field, Men; ITFW-Indoor Track & Field, Women; SD-Swimming & Diving, Women; BKM-Basketball, Men; BKW-Basketball, Women; GW-Golf, Women; TM-Tennis, Men; TW-Tennis, Women; GM-Golf, Men; SB-Softball, OTFM-Outdoor Track & Field, Men; OTFW-Outdoor Track & Field, Women; BB-Baseball. |
WAC Athletes Face Off In Olympic Gold Medal Softball Game
Former Fresno State standout Laura Berg and Hawai`i slugger Stacey Porter will face each other in the Gold Medal softball game at the Athens Olympics. Berg is one of the leaders of the U.S. team, while Porter plays for Australia. READ MORE...
UH's Chang on Walter Camp Watch List
University of Hawai`i quarterback Timmy Chang is one of 40 "players to watch" for the National Player of the Year Award, the Walter Camp Football Foundation announced today. The award is the nation's fourth-oldest individual college football accolade. READ MORE...
Butkus Award
Three WAC Players Named to Butkus Award Watch List
The Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc. (DACO), the organization which annually presents the prestigious Butkus Award to the nation's best collegiate linebacker, has announced the preliminary list of 65 candidates for this year's award. Three WAC players were named to the list: Boise State senior Andy Avalos, Tulsa sophomore Nick Bunting and UTEP senior Robert Rodriguez. READ MORE...
WACSPORTS HEADLINES
• WAC Athletes at the Olympics
• 2004 Soccer Media Guide
• WAC Volleyball Featured on CSTV Match of the Week
• 2004 Volleyball Media Guide
• Hawai i Ranked 13th In USA Today/CSTV Preseason Coaches Poll
• Three WAC Kickers Named to Lou Groza Watch List
• WAC Football Media Day Interviews Available Via Internet
• Boise State Favored by WAC Media to Win 2004 Football Championship
• MPC Computers Bowl Inks New 4-year Deal with ESPN
• WAC Announces Staff Changes
• WAC Announces Preseason All-WAC Soccer Team
• 2004 WAC Football Media Guide
• Nevada Names Rich Merritt New Head Men's Golf Coach
Media Information
August 24, 2004
2004 WAC Basketball Media Day
The 2004 WAC Basketball Media Day will be held October 14 in Reno, Nevada. This event is only open to the media. If you are a media member, please click on the the media registration link to the right for a schedule and an on-line registration form. Coaches and SIDs should click on the school registration link
WAC PDF Library
Below are links to several WAC publications that can be viewed or downloaded as a PDF. In order to view the media guide pages, please use Adobe Acrobat Reader or download it for free now.
2004-05
Football Media Guide
Football Prospectus
Volleyball Media Guide
Volleyball Prospectus
Women's Soccer Media Guide
Men's Basketball Prospectus
Men's Basketball Media Guide
Women's Basketball Prospectus
Women's Basketball Media Guide
2003-04
Football Media Guide
Football Prospectus
Volleyball Media Guide
Volleyball Prospectus
Women's Soccer Media Guide
Men's Basketball Media Guide
Men's Basketball Prospectus
Women's Basketball Media Guide
Women's Basketball Prospecuts
Baseball Media Guide
Softball Media Guide
2002-03
Football Media Guide
Volleyball Media Guide
Women's Soccer Media Guide
Men's Basketball Media Guide
Women's Basketball Media Guide
Baseball Media Guide.
The Voice of the Student-Athlete
How does our conference generate feedback from its most valuable component, its student-athletes? Through the Western Athletic Conference-Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, also known as the WAC-SAAC, which was formed in 1998.
Since its inception, the WAC-SAAC has been an essential component in the conference's governance structure as well as a strong voice for student-athlete welfare at all levels, institutional, conference, and national. It provides recommendations and positions on specific conference and NCAA proposed legislation and it addresses national issues that may have an effect on the welfare of all student-athletes. In addition, its members provide recommendations for our fifteen conference championships in order to enhance the student-athlete experience for all sports. Another objective toward which the committee constantly strives is to help strengthen and improve the communication and relationships among athletes, campus administrators, and coaches.
On the national stage, the Chair of the WAC-SAAC represents the conference as an active member of the National SAAC, which includes all of the Division I conferences.
The WAC-SAAC stays very active and is making a very positive impact. Annually, each member institution appoints two student-athletes from its own institutional SAAC to serve on the conference committee. The WAC-SAAC meets twice a year (Winter and Fall) and conducts monthly teleconference calls during the academic year. As part of our summer meeting, we conduct an educational outreach project for underprivileged children. We work closely with local non-profit organizations such as a Boys and Girls Club to organize a community project. The participating youngsters have an opportunity to learn basic fundamental skills for a variety of sports (e.g., basketball, football, golf, soccer, etc.) from our student-athletes. Not only does our WAC-SAAC teach athletic skills, but its members discuss with our young participants important life skills and the dangers of drugs and alcohol during the community project's closing ceremony.
If you have any questions regarding the WAC-SAAC or its activities, please contact the conference office.
2003-04 WAC SACC Representatives
Boise State
Abbey Elsberry - Women's Track and Field
Beck Roghaar - Men's Tennis
Fresno State
Jeremy Moreno - Men's Golf
Hawai`i
Megan McGuinness - Women's Golf
Dennis Flanagan - Football
Louisiana Tech
Amber Miles - Softball
Brian Martin - Men's Basketball
Nevada
Alyssa Chin - Women's Swimming
Carl LaGrone - Football
Rice
Jackie Rellas - Women's Soccer
Ryan Morgan - Men's Golf
San Jose State
Whitney Vasu - Women's Tennis
Mike Liranzo - Football
SMU
Katy Moffett - Women's Volleyball
Ashley Deatherage - Women's Golf
UTEP
Tulsa
Jorma Bailey- Football
Heather Wilson - Rowing
Faculty Athletics Representative Liaison
Jim Castaeda - Rice University
WAC Membership
Boise State | Fresno State | Hawaii | Louisiana Tech | Nevada
Rice | San Jose State | SMU | UTEP | Tulsa
Future Members (July 1, 2005): Idaho | New Mexico State | Utah State
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Boise State University Location: Boise, Idaho University Web Site: www.boisestate.edu Football Stadium: Bronco Stadium (30,000/Blue Astro Turf) WAC Sponsored Sports: MEN (7)-Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Tennis, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field; WOMEN (8)-Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field, Volleyball. |
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Fresno State Location: Fresno, California University Web Site: www.csufresno.edu Football/Soccer Stadium: Bulldog Stadium (41,031/Grass) WAC Sponsored Sports: MEN (6)-Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Tennis, Outdoor Track & Field; WOMEN (9)-Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field, Volleyball. |
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University of Hawaii Location: Honolulu, Hawaii University Web Site: www.hawaii.edu Football Stadium: Aloha Stadium (50,000/FieldTurf) WAC Sponsored Sports: MEN (5)-Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Tennis; WOMEN (10)-Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field, Volleyball. |
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Louisiana Tech University Location: Ruston, Louisiana WAC Sponsored Sports: MEN (7)-Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field; WOMEN (7)-Basketball, Cross Country, Softball, Tennis, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field, Volleyball. |
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University of Nevada Location: Reno, Nevada University Web Site: www.unr.edu Football/Soccer Stadium: Mackay Stadium (31,545/FieldTurf) WAC Sponsored Sports: MEN (5)-Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Tennis; WOMEN (10)-Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field, Volleyball. |
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Rice University Location: Houston, Texas University Web Site:www.rice.edu Football Stadium: Rice Stadium (70,000/Artificial) WAC Sponsored Sports: MEN (8)-Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Tennis, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field; WOMEN (8)-Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field, Volleyball. |
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San Jose State University Location: San Jose, California University Web Site: www.sjsu.edu Football/Soccer Stadium: Spartan Stadium (28,867/Grass) WAC Sponsored Sports: MEN (5)-Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf; WOMEN (8)-Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Volleyball. |
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Southern Methodist University Location: Dallas, Texas University Web Site:www.smu.edu Football Stadium: Gerald J. Ford Stadium (32,000/SportTurf) WAC Sponsored Sports: MEN (7)-Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Tennis, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field; WOMEN (9)-Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field, Volleyball. |
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University of Texas at El Paso Location: El Paso, Texas University Web Site: www.utep.edu Football/Soccer Stadium: Sun Bowl (51,500/AstroPlay) WAC Sponsored Sports: MEN (6)-Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field; WOMEN (9)-Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field, Volleyball. |
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The University of Tulsa Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma University Web Site: www.utulsa.edu Football/Soccer Stadium: Skelly Stadium (40,385/Artificial) WAC Sponsored Sports: MEN (7)-Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Tennis, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field; WOMEN (9)-Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field, Volleyball. |
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University of Idaho Location: Moscow, Idaho University Web Site: www.uidaho.edu Football Stadium: Kibbie Dome (16,000/Artifical Turf) |
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New Mexico State University Location: Las Cruces, N.M. University Web Site: www.nmsu.edu Football Stadium: Aggie Memorial Stadium (30,343/Grass) |
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Utah State University Location: Logan, Utah |
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