Reaction to three proposed names for the new conference
being formed by the eight WAC "defectors" has been
"underwhelming" after "a couple of weeks of test-marketing
by a national advertising firm," according to Jeff Call of
the DESERET NEWS. Of the three names -- American West
Conference, Great West Conference and Mountain West
Conference -- "no consensus favorite has emerged" and
"preference is evenly split" among all three names. But
Mountain West "probably has the edge at this point," with an
announcement likely by the end of September. A search
committee has "compiled a list of eight candidates" for
possible commissioner, with interviews "expected" over the
next two weeks. The headquarters site is also undecided, as
proposals have been received from Salt Lake City, Las Vegas,
Phoenix and Albuquerque, with Salt Lake City and Las Vegas
"the best bets" (Jeff Call, DESERET NEWS, 9/17).
NCAA FORMS STUDY GROUP: The NCAA announced it will form
a 27-member "ad hoc working group" that will meet six times
next year and use money generated by student-athletes "to
examine the problems in college basketball," according to
Wendell Barnhouse of the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. Two of
the issues it will focus on will be summer recruiting and
freshman eligibility (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 9/17).
