The Other Nevada in Big West : Wolf Pack: Reno school, trying to emerge from UNLV’s shadow, takes the place of departing Fresno State.

The Big West conference voted unanimously Thursday to accept the University of Nevada into the league, Commissioner Jim Haney said.

Currently a member of the Big Sky conference, Nevada--formerly known as Nevada Reno--fills the spot left vacant when Fresno State announced earlier this year it is leaving the Big West to join the Western Athletic Conference.

Fresno State was the Big West’s strongest football school, and its departure left the conference in need of a member able to compete on a Division I-A level. The Wolf Pack has advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA football playoffs six times and played in the championship in 1990.

“The opportunity to move to a Division I-A football conference, along with the opportunity to provide conference identity for three of our sports that are presently independent . . . were all factors in our acceptance of the Big West’s invitation,” said Chris Ault, Nevada athletic director and football coach.

Nevada’s admission, effective July 1, 1992, gives the Big West eight football-playing members and 10 basketball schools.

“The expansion committee of the conference was very impressed with the institution’s commitment to academics and athletics,” Haney said. “For those reasons, coupled with the community support and the quality athletic facilities, the council believes the university’s athletic program will be an excellent addition to the conference.”

The 24-year-old conference’s other members are Nevada Las Vegas, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Long Beach, San Jose State, New Mexico State, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, Pacific and Utah State.

Nevada President Joe Crowley said the move to the Big West makes sense for the 11,800-student university.

“It is a good move for the university in terms of its athletic program as well as for reasons of geographic identification and alumni relations,” he said. “We have a history that looks to the West and thousands of alumni living in Southern California and Southern Nevada.”