From: "CougarFan.com" Subject: News Recap (6/6/2000) Date: 06 Jun 2000 12:04:43 -0600 CougarFan Insider http://cougarfan.com News Recap (6/6/2000) Selected articles included here. See all the latest news at: http://CougarFan.com ============================================== Steve Young Huddles Up with Broncos (ESPN.com) ============================================== See: http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2000/0531/560294.html In a press conference last night, 49ers general manager Bill Walsh stated that Steve Young will not play for his team this year because of health concerns, but the San Francisco organization has agreed to let him contact the Denver Broncos about playing for them. "He has not been cleared to play with the San Francisco 49ers and we weren't headed in a direction where he may have been cleared," Walsh said. "Steve Young asked for an opportunity to negotiate with the Denver Broncos. He was given that opportunity." There has been a flurry of articles written about the situation, many of which are available at CougarFan.com in the Sports News section. Apparently, the 49ers felt that it was unwise for Young to continue his career because of his history of concussions, but the all-pro quarterback isn't ready to retire. Other teams are willing to clear him to play, and Denver appears to be the place where Young will land. ============================================== BYU Women Take 4th at NCAA Track Championships (Orem Daily Journal) ============================================== See: http://www.ucjournal.com/StoryLink.php3?id=1454078&c=1130302&s=8 Predicted as merely a top-10 finisher, the BYU women's track & field team exceeded all expectations with a fourth-place team finish at the 2000 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. LSU won the team title, followed by USC and UCLA. "I think we did an awesome job," said women's coach Craig Poole. "The kids who have been here before and who are mature got the job done for us in a big way. We figured heading into the meet that we would finish top-10, so we exceeded our own expectations in that respect. A lot of the big predictors and news groups picked us to finish around 18th, so we kind of made them eat their own words this week." For the first time in school history, the Cougars had two NCAA champions in a single meet, as Susan Taylor captured the 1,500-meter title on Saturday to go along with Tara Northcutt's 10,000-meter championship earlier in the week. BYU's 46 points gave the school its highest point total in NCAA competition, including all previous indoor and outdoor championships. ============================================== Cornerback Gilford Suspended for 2000 Season (Deseret News) ============================================== See: http://www.desnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,175009734,00.html? Jenaro Gilford, who was slated as a starter at cornerback for the football team this fall, will miss the season in the wake of an on-campus burglary charge last month. "The university has resolved the situation," BYU spokeswoman Carri Jenkins said Monday morning. "He is on track to return for fall semester as a student but he won't be able to practice or play with the team until spring, 2001." BYU Police Lt. Greg Barber said that on April 11 Gilford and a non-student friend entered through a clothing chute the locked althetic supply room at the Smith Fieldhouse. They allegedly took less than $300 worth of athletic clothing and equipment. The two were allegedly spotted inside in the locked room by a BYU student employee. ============================================== BYU Fails to Make the Cut at NCAA Golf Championships (BYUCougars.com) ============================================== See: http://cobra.neticus.com/golf_m/results/20000601_mgolf_res.html After winning eight tournaments in 1999-2000, the 6th ranked BYU Men's Golf team ran out of gas early at the 2000 NCAA Championship, failing to make the 36-hole cut. Playing in the morning round on Thursday, the Cougars struggled to get anything going, ending the day with a 6-over-par 294 at the 7,003-yard par 72 Grand National Lake Course of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. "We won a lot of tournaments and had a fantastic year," said BYU head coach Bruce Brockbank. "But finishing this way sure leaves a bad taste in your mouth. No one played well. We struggled all week with the putter." ============================================== Wrestling Is Down for Count at BYU (Deseret News) ============================================== See: http://www.desnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,175008530,00.html? BYU administrators gave its final answer Thursday morning regarding the status of the Cougar wrestling program: It's gone and it's not coming back anytime soon. BYU advancement vice president Fred Skousen and athletic director Val Hale met with Utah Amateur Wrestling Foundation directors, including former AD Rondo Fehlberg, on Thursday to reaffirm the school's original decision that it will no longer sponsor a wrestling team. However, Skousen said he will meet with university president Merrill J. Bateman to discuss the information that has been gathered by the UAWF, a grassroots organization that has been raising funds in an attempt to convince the school to reinstate wrestling. "At this point, the decision (to discontinue wrestling) has been made," Skousen said. "Nothing has happened to change that. We're comfortable with our decision, not comfortable in the sense that we are happy about having to drop sports, but it is in the university's best interest." ============================================== Hoopster David Nielsen Transfers to Westminster College (BYUCougars.com) ============================================== See: http://cobra.neticus.com/basketball_m/releases/20000531_mbkb_rel.html Reserve basketball forward David Nielsen has decided to transfer from BYU to Westminster College in Salt Lake City. "David Nielsen is an outstanding young man who gave 100 percent effort in every practice and game," BYU coach Steve Cleveland said. "I wish David the very best as he pursues his athletic career at Westminster College." Nielsen spent two years with the BYU program after returning from an LDS Church mission to Chile. After redshirting the 1998-99 season, Nielsen played in 20 of 33 games for the Cougars this past season, averaging 2.2 points and 1.1 rebounds in just over eight minutes per game. ============================================== Other Articles featured at CougarFan.com ============================================== See: http://CougarFan.com * Why Young Is Leaving: Walsh Insisted QB Retire (San Francisco Chronicle) * Gilford Wants to Remain a Cougar (Salt Lake Tribune) * Expectations High for Cleveland's Kids (Provo Daily Herald) * Construction Is Giving Hoopsters the Blues (BYU NewsNet) * Q & A: Merrill J. Bateman (Deseret News) * How 'bout President Steve Young? (Deseret News) ==================================================================== Copyright 1999, CougarFan.com *** Tell your friends to sign up! *** To subscribe to or unsubscribe from CougarFan Insider, go to http://www.CougarFan.com/insider or send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "subscribe byuinsider-text" OR "unsubscribe byuinsider-text" in the body of the message. ==================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: CougarFan Insider Subject: News Recap (6/13/2000) Date: 13 Jun 2000 08:55:59 -0600 CougarFan Insider http://cougarfan.com News Recap (6/13/2000) Selected articles included here. See all the latest news at: http://CougarFan.com ======================================= It's Official: Young Calls It Quits (ESPN.com) ======================================= See: http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2000/0612/580418.html Steve Young couldn't say goodbye without one more visit to the locker room. Young, 38, a two-time league MVP who succeeded Joe Montana and led the San Francisco 49ers to their fifth Super Bowl title following the 1994 season, was to announce his retirement Monday at a farewell news conference. It was held in the club's locker room at team headquarters at his request. The decision to end his 15-year NFL career followed months of agonized debate, both within himself and the organization, over his future because of his history of concussions. The last blow came Sept. 27 in a game at Arizona, a frightening hit that left Young out cold for some 30 seconds with his eighth known concussion and fourth in three years. He endured post-concussion symptoms of nausea, dizziness, headaches and lethargy for weeks and missed the rest of the season. Changes in his personal life also influenced his decision. The long-time bachelor got married March 14 to Barbara Graham, and the couple is expecting a baby in late December. Young, who overcame the shadow of Montana to create his own legacy, leaves as the NFL's highest-rated passer and a six-time winner of the league's passing efficiency title. With Jerry Rice, he formed the most prolific touchdown-pass tandem in NFL history as they combined for 85 scores. ======================================= Steve's Style Set Him Apart (Contra Costa Times) ======================================= See: http://www.contracostatimes.com/sports/columnists/football/stories/ericcolumn_20000611.htm Steve Young was definitely one of a kind on the football field. He was part courageous, part crazy, but he played the game with a rare combination of grit and grace. He always wanted to be thought of as the cool, efficient director of the 49ers offense. He saw himself as the conductor of this grand orchestra, the man responsible for making sure every member was in synch and every note was on time. We'll remember him as the quarterback who had his helmet yanked off his head during a 1995 exhibition game against San Diego yet kept running like a madman. We'll remember him for his fire and passion on the field, for his utter fearlessness that bordered on lunacy. We'll remember him for the relentless way he played the game, combining a running back's speed and aggression with a quarterback's finesse. That's what made him special. That's what set Young apart during a 15-year NFL career that will officially end today. That's what made him one in a million, a player that kept you watching just to see what he would do next. ======================================= Mountain West Gets Foot in Door to BCS (Orem Daily Journal) ======================================= See: http://www.ucjournal.com/StoryLink.php3?id=1456574&c=1130302&s=8 No longer a rebellious experiment, the Mountain West Conference needed just one year to prove itself worthy of partial acceptance into college football’s Bowl Championship Series. The MWC accepted an invitation Tuesday to participate in BCS meetings and discussions over the next six years. The league joins Conference USA as a non-voting member on the BCS panel. "We’re in the room," Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson said. "If they ever talk about the potential of a change in the BCS structure, even though we’re a non-voting member, we’re there. It’s closer to the BCS than we were yesterday." ======================================= BYU, Family Night Will Share "Big Monday" (Provo Daily Herald) ======================================= See: http://www.daily-herald.com/dh/dhtoday.nsf/Sports/5277D7A0C40466FE872568F8002398D9 In 2000-2001, the Mountain West Conference will be playing men's basketball games on Saturdays and Mondays to cater to ESPN's "Big Monday" schedule. For the league, there will be about 10 of these this coming season. It's no big deal to the other seven MWC teams, but for the Cougars, it means a distinct competitive disadvantage. For the Cougars, this means they'll be playing opponents on Monday without any game preparation on the court due to church restrictions on Sunday activities by BYU-sponsored teams and athletes. Other teams will be able to go to arenas, hold practice, shoot the ball and run to their hearts' content. BYU will hold some team meetings, perhaps discuss strategy, but they can't dribble or shoot a ball. ======================================= Bosco Sidelined by Spider Bite (Provo Daily Herald) ======================================= See: http://www.daily-herald.com/dh/dhtoday.nsf/ByDocId/7B7DD87AC8ABF2BC872568F80060C715 A bite by a black widow spider knocked BYU quarterback coach Robbie Bosco flat and landed him in the hospital this week. "I was doing some yard work on Tuesday and stuck my hand in some weeds when I felt a kind of sting," Bosco said Thursday morning. Believing it could be a prick by a thorn, he didn't give it a second thought until his arm started to throb, ache and hurt. "My lymph nodes in my arm started to really hurt and my arm went numb," Bosco said. Bosco went to a local emergency room for treatment where he received medication and a physician diagnosed his condition as a possible black widow bite. "I returned home but I was in a lot of pain. My legs started to go numb and I hurt all over my body. I've never felt anything like that in my life," Bosco said. The worst part of his ordeal has been the pain. "It's been all over. I've had a stiff neck and it's hurt all the way down," he said. ======================================= Carson Named Freshman Baseball All-American (BYUCougars.com) ======================================= See: http://cobra.neticus.com/baseball/releases/20000608_bsb_rel.html Matt Carson of BYU was one of six outfielders selected Wednesday to the 2000 Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-America team by Collegiate Baseball magazine. Carson’s BYU teammate Kainoa Obrey, a third baseman from Hawai’i, received honorable mention recognition on the Freshmen All-America squad. Other Cougars who were named in earlier seasons as Freshman All Americans include: David Jensen (1999), Spencer Oborn (1997), Jeff Stone (1997), Brett McDermaid (1996) and Brad Winget (1995). ======================================= Other Articles featured at CougarFan.com ======================================= See: http://CougarFan.com * Young Built Legacy on the Run (Provo Daily Herald) * Young Created Own Legacy in Joe's Shadow (ESPN.com) * MWC Growing Up Quickly (Standard-Examiner) * Decision Shows Young's Humanity (Provo Daily Herald) * Nick Day Drafted by Padres (Orem Daily Journal) ==================================================================== Copyright 1999, CougarFan.com *** Tell your friends to sign up! *** To subscribe to or unsubscribe from CougarFan Insider, go to http://www.CougarFan.com/insider or send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "subscribe byuinsider-text" OR "unsubscribe byuinsider-text" in the body of the message. ==================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "CougarFan.com" Subject: News Recap (6/21/2000) Date: 21 Jun 2000 16:06:05 -0600 CougarFan Insider http://cougarfan.com News Recap (6/21/2000) Selected articles included here. See all the latest news at: http://CougarFan.com ================================ Ricks College to Become BYU-Idaho; Will Phase Out Athletics (Inside Ricks) ================================ See: http://www.ricks.edu/pr/InsideRicks/insidespecial.000621.htm The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Board of Trustees of Ricks College announced today that Ricks College will change from its present two-year junior college status to a four-year institution. The new four-year school will be known as Brigham Young University-Idaho, with the name change designed to give the school immediate national and international recognition. BYU-Idaho will operate on an expanded year-round basis, incorporating innovative calendaring and scheduling while also taking advantage of advancements in technology which will enable the four-year institution to serve more students. In addition, BYU-Idaho will phase out its involvement in intercollegiate athletics and shift its emphasis to a year-round activity program designed to involve and meet the needs of a diverse student body. ================================ Football Jerseys 50% off (CougarFan.com) ================================ See: http://cougarfan.com/store/ Do you want a BYU football collectors item? Last year's BYU football jerseys (complete with bib) are now 50% off in the CougarFanzz store. Hurry before they are all gone! ================================ Detmer Grateful for NFL Career (Deseret News) ================================ See: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,175012517,00.html? Although Ty Detmer has always struggled for minutes in the NFL, he is doing fine by his estimation. Yes, he's grateful for the career he's had, yes, he's glad he chose to attend BYU. And yes, yes, YES, he'd like to be the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, a team that went 2-14 last year. But that isn't going to happen, barring injury to starter Tim Couch. Still, things could be worse. He's under contract for six more seasons, surviving nicely in a job with an average tenure of about three years. At BYU, Detmer was as big as it gets, setting 59 NCAA records and as a junior winning the Heisman. He won so many awards, there are nearly as many pictures of him in a tuxedo as a uniform. His pro career has gone less smoothly. He didn't get picked until the ninth round of the 1992 draft -- the 16th quarterback overall. Before he had played a down, he had already fallen victim to the NFL conventional wisdom, which said he was too small to be a full-time starting quarterback. "You have to know what you're up against and the stereotypes, and I don't look the part, so nobody's going to come up and say, 'We're going to build our team around you,'" said Detmer. On the other hand, as a ninth-round pick, "I was just hoping to last one year," he said. "Obviously," he allowed, "you'd like to play and be in the Super Bowl, but each year I take the situation I'm dealt with and make the most of it." ================================ BYU Basketball Camp Narrows Generation Gap (Salt Lake Tribune) ================================ See: http://www.sltribune.com/2000/jun/06182000/sports/60023.htm For the last three years, Coach Steve Cleveland and his staff have put on a unique father-son basketball camp aimed not only at improving the skills of two generations of hoopsters, but also at fostering stronger ties between boys and their dads. "The basketball is pretty much secondary to the things we've been exposed to and learned while we're down there," said former BYU guard Marty Haws, who attended with 9-year-old son Tyler. Three weeks later, many dads and sons probably forgot all they learned. Instead, they remember the weekend: 72 hours of uninterrupted time that fathers spent with sons. "Something like this is a bridge," said Mike Christensen, a Kaysville resident who brought his 9-year-old, Mac. "It really opened things for me and my son. It's a great conduit." ================================ Former Athletic Director Millet Dead at 88 (Salt Lake Tribune) ================================ See: http://www.sltrib.com/2000/jun/06192000/sports/60364.htm W. Floyd Millet, Brigham Young's first football coach to beat the University of Utah, died Saturday. He was 88. A football, basketball and track star at BYU, Millet coached three sports at Davis High before returning to BYU in 1937 to coach the same sports he had played for the Cougars. In 1942, his only year as head football coach, his team beat Utah 12-7. Millet was the head basketball coach from 1941-49, with a 105-77 record. His '48 team won the conference title and Millet received the Dale Rex Memorial Award, given annually by BYU to the Utahn who has contributed the most to amateur athletics in the state. Millet left BYU in 1949 to pursue a business career in Salt Lake City, then was hired in '63 as BYU's athletic director. In that position, he established the national Cougar Club and administered the construction of Cougar Stadium and the Marriott Center. When he retired in '76, Millet was inducted into the BYU Athletic Hall of Fame. ================================ BYU Freshman Takes 6th at NCAA Decathalon (BYU NewsNet) ================================ See: http://newsnet.byu.edu/noframes/show_story.cfm?number=9925&year=current Curtis Pugsley took sixth place in the nation in the decathlon on Saturday, June 10, in the NCAA Championships. His point total of 7,531 was a new personal best. "I was surprised that I was actually going," Pugsley said. "Before the season, I never even imagined how well I'd do." Pugsley's pole vaulting achievements were even captured on camera in last week's issue of Sports Illustrated, in a feature on the NCAA championship meet. Perhaps the most surprising thing about Pugsley's success is his relative lack of experience on the college level. Pugsley, 21, was only a freshman this year. In addition, it was his first time ever to compete in the NCAA tournament. "I would never have believed that what he's done was possible," said Mark Robison, next year's men's head track coach. "But he made us all believers." ================================ Summerhays Qualifies for U.S. Women's Open (Salt Lake Tribune) ================================ See: http://www.sltrib.com/2000/jun/06162000/sports/59342.htm Carrie Summerhays qualified for the U.S. Women's Open, shooting a 72 to earn one of four spots in a sectional event at Phoenix. Summerhays finished in a three-way tie for second, sharing low-amateur honors with Jenna Daniels, a University of Arizona golfer who won the NCAA individual title last month. The Women's Open is July 20-23 at the Merit Club in Illinois. ================================ Young as Hubby Is Ultimate Betrayal (Deseret News) ================================ See: http://www.desnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,175012894,00.html? In this humorous article Doug Robinson tells the story of two LDS bachelors, both of whom were approaching the age at which they could be considered a "menace to society." The two BYU students tried to make themselves feel better by writing a song that celebrates Steve Young's bachelorhood. Young was perfect. He was a man's man, a football hero. Look at him. A symbol of virility -- and single. There was nothing wrong with him, they said, so there was nothing wrong with them. Bruce Hansen, co-author of the song, said that Young's marriage was somewhat of a blow. "There was definitely a letdown. Like when any friend gets married, they're out of the club. There's a tiny sense of betrayal. You know that you would do the same thing, but there's still a sense of betrayal." The song's lyrics are included in the article, including newly added verses that bring the song up to date with Young's marital status. A recording of the old version of the song is available at mp3.com, under "bastion." ================================ Other Articles featured at CougarFan.com ================================ See: http://CougarFan.com * Young Stars on Late Night, then as Caddy (Provo Daily Herald) * New Track and Field Coach Gears Up for Next Season (BYU NewsNet) * Millet's Influence Still Felt (Provo Daily Herald) * Weir Leads Former Cougars at Open, Falls Short of Exemption (Salt Lake Tribune) ==================================================================== Copyright 1999, CougarFan.com *** Tell your friends to sign up! *** To subscribe to or unsubscribe from CougarFan Insider, go to http://www.CougarFan.com/insider or send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "subscribe byuinsider-text" OR "unsubscribe byuinsider-text" in the body of the message. ==================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "CougarFan.com" Subject: News Recap (6/30/2000) Date: 30 Jun 2000 17:15:42 -0600 CougarFan Insider http://cougarfan.com News Recap (6/30/2000) Selected articles included here. See all the latest news at: http://CougarFan.com =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Detmer Headlines Five to Be Inducted into BYU Hall of Fame (BYUCougars.com) =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D See: http://cobra.neticus.com/all/releases/20000630_ath_rel.html Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer headlines this year=92s five inductees into BYU=92s Athletic Hall of Fame. The event will be on Friday, July 7 at 7:00 p.m., in the Stadium Cougar Room. Detmer, along with Earlene Durrant, Sari Virtanen Stevens, David Schulthess and Mike Willes will be the newest members inducted into this prestigious group. Perhaps the most decorated athlete to come through BYU, Detmer is a former Heisman Trophy winner and still holds 58 NCAA records. He is currently with the NFL Cleveland Browns. Ticket information is available by calling the Cougar Club at (801) 378-2583. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Lineman Breaks Leg on Sprinkler (Deseret News) =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D See: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,175016210,00.html? Offensive lineman and projected starter Scott Jackson is expected to miss eight to 12 weeks after breaking his fibula and dislocating his left ankle. The injury occurred Monday night when Jackson was playing soccer with a group of friends at BYU. His foot got caught in a sprinkler head when he slipped on the wet field, according to BYU offensive line coach Roger French. Pending a quick recovery, the 6-foot-4, 285-pounder may be able to rejoin the team in time for the six Mountain West Conference games in the latter half of BYU's schedule. Jackson, who redshirted his freshman year before serving an LDS mission, was slated to boost a struggling offensive line from last season, along with Dustin Rykert, Issac Herring and Ben Archibald. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D CougarFan.com Owners Getting Hitched (not to each other) =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D If you don't hear much from us in the next two months, it's not because we have forgotten about all of you. Both of us are getting married! John Ahlander is to be wed on July 6 and Chris Kelly is tying the knot in August (before football season, of course). We've been trying to convince our fiancees to choose blue and tan as the wedding colors... =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Judkins Will Coach for Lady Cougs (Daily Herald) =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D See: http://www.daily-herald.com/dh/dhtoday.nsf/Sports/E6301379B77829CC8725690= B0020BA2E Jeff Judkins has agreed to work as an assistant coach with the BYU women's basketball team, in addition to retaining his title as director of basketball operations. The change means Judkins will be able to participate and coach in practices and games. Last year, Judkins was relegated to administrative duties with the men's and women's teams. "It's a huge advantage for us," women's coach Trent Shippen said. The opening was created when Alli Bills left BYU to become an assistant coach for the women's basketball team at Utah, her alma mater. "(Judkins) is definitely head-coaching material," said women's athletic director Elaine Michaelis. "We can benefit from his abilities." =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D MWC (Old WAC) Still Having Identity Problem (Deseret News) =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D See: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,175014961,00.html? The Mountain West Conference, better known to many sports fans as "the conference-formerly-part-of-the-WAC" suffers an identity crisis. But what can you expect for a group that turns just one year old Saturday? The Mountain West is barely a toddler next to big boys like the Pac-10, Southeastern Conference and Big 12. But what it lacks in name recognition, it makes up for in names. Names like Rick Majerus, John Robinson, LaVell Edwards, Steve Fisher, Fisher DeBerry. These coaches all have national reputations that give credibility to the renegade bunch of eight schools that split from the WAC last year. Yet all also qualify for AARP membership. They won't be around forever. Which is exactly why the MWC must build brand recognition. To accomplish this, the conference has established rules and set goals regarding scheduling quality opponents. Conference administrators know that the only way to gain respect is to win against big-name opponents. Also, the conference has been invited to participate in BCS meetings, and is evaluating a third bowl tie-in. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Utes, Cougars Will Play under Lights (Salt Lake Tribune) =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D See: http://www.sltrib.com/2000/jun/06232000/sports/61411.htm BYU and Utah will play their 2000 football game later than usual on the calendar -- and later than ever in the day. Thanks to ESPN's involvement, the game at Rice-Eccles Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 24 -- the day after Thanksgiving. That means darkness will fall at about halftime. ESPN actually wanted a 7 p.m. kickoff, but Ute Athletic Director Chris Hill successfully negotiated for 4 p.m. "It's going to be great from an exposure standpoint, but it will be a little nippy," BYU Athletic Director Val Hale said. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D BYU Will Miss Ricks Recruiting Pipeline (Deseret News) =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D See: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,175014129,00.html? When it comes to JC football recruiting, BYU's most fertile territory has been southern California. Still, now that Ricks College will change to a four-year school and phase out their intercollegiate athletic programs, the Ricks connection will be missed. "Over the years, we recruited a lot of good players from Ricks," said defensive coordinator Ken Schmidt, who was head coach at Ricks for two seasons before joining the Cougars in 1982. "It's been a good place for late bloomers. We'll still be able to find the best LDS athletes, we'll just have to do more hunting for them." "It's not going to kill our program, but it doesn't help us," said BYU graduate assistant Aaron Roderick, a former receiver at Ricks and BYU. "We had only four or five guys on the team from Ricks this past year, but that's more than any other (junior college)." As for Roderick, the change at his alma mater will take some getting used to in many respects. "It will be weird telling my kids I played at a school that doesn't exist anymore," he said. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Other Articles featured at CougarFan.com =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D See: http://CougarFan.com * Matt Johnson Signs Three-Year Contract with Colts (CBSSportsline.com) * MWC Announces Academic Honorees (Mountain West Conference) * BYU Golfer Stars in Her Own Video Game (BYU NewsNet) ==================================================================== Copyright 1999, CougarFan.com *** Tell your friends to sign up! *** To subscribe to or unsubscribe from CougarFan Insider, go to http://www.CougarFan.com/insider or send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "subscribe byuinsider-text" OR "unsubscribe byuinsider-text" in the body of the message. ====================================================================