Big West-WAC Might Join Forces for Some Sports

A Big West-Western Athletic Conference merger of several Olympic sports is awaiting approval only from the WAC before the plan can be put into action, according to Jim Haney, Big West commissioner.

WAC athletic directors met last month in Los Angeles with all but two of their counterparts from the Big West--Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Long Beach--to discuss merging several Olympic sports into what is currently being called the Big Western Conference. The goal is to split into tighter geographical divisions, which would cut expenses and reduce missed class time.

Sports that will be included in the merger are men’s volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s gymnastics, men’s and women’s indoor track, men’s water polo, women’s golf and wrestling.

The merger already has been been approved by the Big West Conference, Haney said. The next WAC meetings are scheduled for January at the NCAA meetings in Anaheim.

“We feel it is a good way to go to,” Haney said. “It’s going to help our Olympic sports in terms of expenses and class time.”

Such an agreement would not take place before the 1992-93 athletic season, Haney said, and could take longer.

WAC Commissioner Joe Kearney supports the idea.

“I think it has some merit and has something we need to give serious consideration to,” Kearney said. “As the dollar gets tighter and schools look for ways and means to offer more sports to young people, you’ve got to get creative.”

Said Gary Cunningham, Fresno State athletic director: “I’m very supportive of it. It’s a good idea because it preserves those sports in terms of having more schools to compete against. In many of those sports, there are barely enough schools to preserve a league.”

Representatives from the WAC-Big West group also have talked with the Pac-10 about joining their Olympic sports merger and intend to speak with athletic directors from the West Coast and Big Sky conferences. Haney said the Pac-10 already has been some interest.

“This is an evolving concept,” Haney said. “Often times, it takes two parties to get together and then others look and see things they like.”

Pac-10 Commissioner Tom Hansen could not be reached for comment.