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Show WAC Cut in Half: U., BYU Leave @ Continued from C-1 sorwRaaen gamebeforefallingto Kentucky Take away the solid programsat Colorado State and Utah, New Mexico's perenially-ranked basketball program and decent football and basketbali programs at SPSUand UNLV, and the newconferencehas essentially “ripped our Important datesin the history of the Western Athietic Conference. 1962 — guts out,” said WAC Commissioner Kar! Benson. “It's going to be a strong, attractive league,” predicted NewMexico Athletic Director Rudy Davalos. “I'm con- for the Westem Athletic Conference issig hoois: Utah, Braman" presidents of six Mexico, Arizona and An 1967 — Texas-El Paso becomesthe WAC’s vineed we'll generatethe evenue as weare now, and won't haveto divideit 16 ways Benson believes the expanded WACwould have eventually delivered that increased revenue, but it was going to take time. The eight defecting schools werenotwilling to seventh member 1968 — Colorado State becomes the WAC'S eighth wait. Wecanall suck it up through hard times,” said Fehl berg, “The problem was, nobody could come upwith a way to say, “Here's how it’s goingtoget better.’ Ail wecould see werethe costs geing up and the revenues staying Discontenthasplagued the WAC since April 1994, when conferencepresidents voted to expandto16 schools (over. ruling WACathletic directors, who wanted 12). Grumbling then turned toalarmafter the financial reports came in following the expanded league seasonin 1996 ‘That was anattention-gett d Fehlberg Talkof a new leaguefirst surfacedlast year, when offi cials fromseveral old WAC schools diseussedtiie matter — discreetly — during conference meetings. The idea gath ered momentum, thenpicked up speed earlier this month, whenleague athietic directors met in Tucson, Ariz nabie to ‘h consensus on reforming the league rambling, confusing quadrant format, ADs eventually vot. ed for two permanent diy Ene — ineffect, creating two leagues undi Thegeographical split puiting Air Forcein the Wester ision andrivals Colo radoState and Wyoming in the Bast opposed strong! by those Front Range s — especially AFA, which threatenedto bolt theleague That lit thefuse. That woke everybodyup,” said Colora: doState football CoachSoni Lubick. “People weren't going to take it lying down The action thenswungtothe presidential ievel, wherea series Douglas €. Pizac/The Associated Press Jazz forwardKarl Malonegreets his wife Kay as Utah arrived home on Sunday afternoonat Salt Lake International Airport. Kay Maloneis expecting the couple's fourth child this week. Jazz Find Ways to Remain Busy @rs* 96-94 victory in Game of the East nals on Monday wasall the talk after the J s workou at Westminster College on Tuesday ‘Thereweresomecrucial alls in that game. said Chris Morris, “That offensive fou they called on Rodmanat the t the no: ‘all on Indiana's ReggieMiller, who pushedoff the Bulls’ Michael Jordanbefore making Square Arena? Doesn't I'mnot surprised by anything anymore said Malone Better them than us The Jazzpracticedlightly onTuesday not quite two days after returning triumphant from a foi ne sweep ofthe Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Ce ont ence als. With the B nd Pacers tied at 2-2, the Jazz won't know their Finals opponent until at leas riday That review starts today. San JoseState, T who w ble schools with (mostly) } ong: run. ively competitive budgets. ble value as a that has all television mar- changed in the partuy It’s a leaving the| > to go independent in football a id join the Big West for other sports Thereis also the pos bility bows could end up if they agree to pay travel subsidies to visiting teams, as they used to do in the WAC Thenthere are the WAC's televi sion packages and bowl contr with eight schools’ departures all 1 has postseason football the Holida wl and the owl Mele Kalik’ imaka Classic at Diana Natalicid she diye choo! would do, but analliance of the ing eight WAC schools “i _ficult conferens i Hawaii is already talking about t ve:party at ly that i makeup of any three con nces (WAC 12) is ed, that ¥ ¢ the option gotiate or terminate.” said Holiday Bowl Executive Director John Reid Monson: LONGEST NBA LAYOFFS Utes, Cougs Leave ay Wedon't know what chure is not without risks. The WAC's over in many respects. have accessto colle This week's cover of Sports Illustratedwill be featuring a wrap-upof the Jazz-Lakers series. b ried. Be Fehlberg. in sday. On the short list: longtime WAC hopeful UtahState The Aggies he beentrying to get into the ce ptionin 1962, but have been turne away regularly since because of CacheValley's and the Jaz: ay, ne new panterants I details such as hiring 2 con Still to be determined conference. [Bu re’s lot more te it than just running out and jumping Houston care What about our vast empire Five time zones, 4,000 miles from end to en oday the Vi WAC, tomorrow the 1 could have With Best Friends atter But theydidn't askusto bringa friend not to mention other D sion We're, of cours quiteinterested eeing what scen os play out, said USU interim Ken Peterson. “We s to be consideredin would like to be in all-foc xa, Southem Tulsa join a 16- 1998 — Utah, Brigham Young, Air Force6 Academy, ado State, UNLV, New Mexico, anDiego State, and Wyoming announce they are le saving the WAC to form a new, unnamedconference The Slt Lake Tri ight now help fill th void, alongwith other possit Big West Conf nce candidates such ew MexicoSt late, Boise State and Who might fill it? WAC Commis. sioner Karl Benson named. ‘names isingthe BePat sna t doesn school WAC. the tradition.” said Utah football Coach Ron We're going back to playing all those teams we've played for years. It | bse a good, solidleague. If you're going to make a bold move. this is a bold mc wake of Tuesday tian, Southern fethodist and Rice. id a giant holein the mi ae We'll try to work as much as we¢ an, aid CoachJerry Sloan. “You're kindof « caught between a xck and a hard place in some ways The biggest thin e have to be concernedabout conditioning, andt k on the things we want to dountil wefindou we're playing We'll do what we've always done w vehadextra days,” Sloan added. “We'll ov VAC's 10th 1995 — UNLV, Ri in Jos Methodist, Texas Christian and te Opena Spot for Utah State But THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE the game-winnin Jordan usually gi be Sunday have more interest What now With Tuesday's de! ction of ei schools, the WAC is Tod pague without a heart — and maybe w a future. The departure of eig ginning in the fall of join the WAC r in the final poll elf to some incertainly Alliance spoke n its 16-team stat the WAC was g t ess. Whether that changes, we won't knowuntil thin up But the new conferencedoes loo! aturing eight Stephen We cult. Hawaii has be economic millstonesince it joined the league in UT home of numerous NCAA scandals andperhi ference’s skimpiest athletic budget was a easy choice. It wouldhi been nice to havesome heothers come with us,” said L valos h with UTEP. BY JOE BAIRD topof the key And what phonecalls andfaxes finally led to a meetinglast International Airport. Off from Wyoming endAir Force madetheir final ion, then invited San Diego State, UNLV and New Mexicotojoin. Certainly from our po! t of view, the choice between ‘olks or theother Foree y WACDefections ® Continued from C-1 e leave to join the Diego State joins the flat. ays, Schmidgely Nice @ Continued from C-1 = * wick up, bub Maybewe can still this thing. Look, we have Fresno, San Jose, Rice, UTEP. Ha wali, SMU, TCU, and Tulsa. We could b Bird " 0 Me oO . § Stays Calm Amid Pacers’ Euphoria wher : i fi att “ected varnot @ Continued from C-1 { ta 1 varea dung, M ‘ Hary Hew M ‘ ad ma: ' 0 th i ‘ , ny 1 a an ¢ vt id ap N , nding the hy trom the end the W ls bi sorantek Mor at Seren AmyEeeen Saccenfyeven with prostate Bivens ed AD eel ; y y he to | $8 ur | : | Ne 30 stars and stripes $12.95 | tne AIR LIQUIDE | IMPOTENCE... 94% EFFECTIVE THR” TRANSDERMAL HAIR RESTORATION WO DAKY MARTENANCH NONO SUROKRY IAP CUPWHANORVER OF WAVES \ Free 30 ff DAY TRIAL" a& : aid, and Ronde nee f Dix ; h p +e specralinis State the head, Boss Sa ind dow add Utah State, Nevada, Boise e, Southern Utah a ee ji NBA SUSPENDSROSE yr Y NO Mes BUM NO NO MAT | OPEN HOUSE SALE Wow h Salt Lake City Tel: (801) 972-1700 Fax: (801) 979-6 May 28 for HRD-APOLLO and <e SOUIRE ~“ ia 363-8811 South Temple Si ut 4-(800) 826 05841 ree Brochure wre yaite Com. sauiten PPO'S ANI Rie) pa elkMepis yi Lat SEXUAL Prave Dye ater(e) 1 S Orme Speedglas “eh J)] wren unre ABRASIVES, INC, eae |