New Mexico State, Utah State Join the WAC in 2005

DENVER – The Western Athletic Conference today announced that invitations for membership have been issued to and accepted by New Mexico State University and Utah State University to join the conference effective July 1, 2005.

The announcement was made by the chair of the WAC Board of Directors and University of Texas at El Paso President Dr. Diana Natalicio and WAC Commissioner Karl Benson after the Board unanimously voted to issue the invitations earlier this morning.

“The Board of Directors is extremely dedicated to the long-term stability and growth of the Western Athletic Conference," said Natalicio. "These two exceptional universities will support the WAC in its goals to excel in all aspects of collegiate athletics."

"Both New Mexico State and Utah State have outstanding athletic programs and facilities that will add to the foundation of the WAC," said Benson. "The current teams and fans in the WAC are already familiar with these new additions as these schools already have developed rivalries within the conference."

New Mexico State, currently a member of the Sun Belt conference, has an enrollment of 16,158 and is located in Las Cruces, N.M. The Aggies play their home football games in the 30,343-seat Aggie Memorial Stadium and their home basketball games in the 13,071-seat Pan American Center.

Utah State is a member of the Big West Conference in most sports except football where it competes in the Sun Belt Conference. The Aggies have an enrollment of 21,490. Romney Stadium seats 30,257 for football and the Smith Spectrum seats 10,270 for basketball. Last year, the men’s basketball team advanced to the NCAA Tournament after putting together a 24-9 season.

Benson added that based on the possibility of more membership changes in other conferences, the WAC will continue to explore the possibility of adding additional members to the league.

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Opening statement from WAC Commissioner Karl Benson's teleconference on Thursday afternoon:

On behalf of the Western Athletic Conference Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce that New Mexico State and Utah State have accepted invitations to join the WAC, effective July 1, 2005.

The addition of these two outstanding universities begins yet another new era for the WAC. Over the past 40 years, the WAC has been able to successfully overcome membership changes – from Arizona and Arizona State in 1978; to the eight schools that departed the WAC in 1998 and to TCU’s departure in 1999 – each time the WAC has been able to add schools that have ultimately allowed the WAC to continue to be a nationally recognized, credible and valuable league. And with the addition of New Mexico State and Utah State, I expect the same to hold true for the WAC as these two schools take their place with the remaining WAC schools to continue to build upon the storied history of the WAC.

This was an easy decision for the WAC – New Mexico State and Utah State are natural fits for the WAC, both academically and athletically. I appreciate very much the fact that both schools have been patient – building their respective programs while at the same time investing in the future – throughout the years as they have waited to join the WAC. I am confident that their patience will be rewarded by the benefits they will receive from the WAC and vise versa, the WAC will be rewarded by the anticipated success both schools will have under the WAC banner.

Today’s announcement of New Mexico State and Utah State clearly outweighs the disappointment of last Friday’s announcement of the potential loss of Rice, SMU and Tulsa and sets the stage for a bright future for the WAC.

I look forward to working with Presidents Hall and Flores and Athletics Directors Brian Faison and Rance Pugmire and all the staff, coaches, student-athletes and friends and fans of New Mexico State and Utah State. It is easy to say that today is truly “Aggie Day” in the WAC.