In his weekly column for Nevada Sports Net, Chris Murray discusses the intriguing history of conference realignment involving Nevada and Gonzaga in the late 1970s. The two schools were actually traded for each other due to mismatched conference affiliations, with Nevada as the only WCAC school with football and Gonzaga as the only Big Sky school without the sport. Nevada desired a conference more serious about athletics, leading to a move to the Big Sky in 1979. This transition proved beneficial for both schools, with Nevada becoming an FCS football powerhouse and Gonzaga establishing itself as a basketball powerhouse in the WCAC.
Reflecting on the recent buzz around conference realignment, Murray highlights the historical context of such changes, dating back to the headline “The New Game, Musical Conferences” in the 1978 Nevada State Journal. He also addresses the ongoing speculation regarding Nevada’s conference future and encourages fans to focus more on attending games to support the athletic department financially.
Murray also comments on the Giants promoting Buster Posey to president of baseball operations, drawing comparisons to European soccer’s practice of appointing former stars to managerial roles. He questions the recent high-cost contract negotiated by Posey and expresses skepticism about the move. Additionally, Murray shares his picks for upcoming MW football games, including UNLV vs. Syracuse and Nevada vs. SJSU.
Overall, Murray’s column provides a mix of historical insights, current sports commentary, and predictions, offering a comprehensive look at the world of sports in Northern Nevada.
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Photo credit nevadasportsnet.com
