Fresno State Athletics
Nevada Becomes Newest WAC Member
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June 9, 1999
Napa Valley, Calif. -
The Western Athletic Conference today announced that an invitation for membership has been issued to and accepted by the University of Nevada to become the conferences ninth member effective July 1, 2000.
The announcement by SMU President Gerald Turner came at the conclusion of the conferences Board of Directors meetings in Napa Valley, California.
"We are delighted with this opportunity to add the University of Nevada to the Western Athletic Conference," said Turner. "Nevada has an academic program mix that is very attractive, it has an athletic program that we believe adds to the overall strength of the WAC and its location provides geographical balance to the conference.
"Nevada also provides a sister institution for those members on the west side of the Rockies, and it has a long history with those institutions."
WAC Commissioner Karl Benson said that various expansion models had been reviewed. "When it came down to deciding what was in the best interest of the WAC, both immediately and in the future, the University of Nevada was the best fit," said Benson. "Nevadas overall athletics program is very good and adds strength to our championship sports. In addition, its proximity to San Jose and Fresno will add to the rivalries in the conference."
Nevada, currently a member of the Big West Conference, has an enrollment of approximately 12,400 students and is located in Reno. The Wolfpack play their home football games in the 32,000-seat Mackay Stadium and their home basketball games in the 12,000-seat Lawlor Events Center.
"We are delighted to accept this invitation," said Nevada President Joe Crowley, "and we are pleased with the confidence the WAC has shown in us. We expect to be competitive immediately, and we look forward to becoming a WAC member."
Currently a 16-member conference, the WAC will consist of Fresno State, Hawaii, Rice, San Jose State, SMU, TCU, Tulsa and UTEP effective July 1, 1999, and then will become a nine-member conference with the addition of Nevada one year later.