Athletics On The Rise

Boise State began a new era in the history of its intercollegiate athletic programs when the university joined the Western Athletic Conference in July 2001. For the previous five years, the university was a member of the Big West Conference.

The Broncos joined Rice, Southern Methodist, Tulsa, Hawaii, Fresno State, San Jose State, Nevada, Texas-El Paso and Louisiana Tech as members of the WAC.

In the WAC, Boise State competes in football; men�s and women�s basketball, golf, cross country, track and field, and tennis; women�s soccer and volleyball. Gymnastics and wrestling compete in other conferences.

In their inaugural WAC season the Broncos finished second in football and advanced to the conference tournament in women�s soccer.

The Broncos were successful in several sports during the last three years in the Big West. The football team won two consecutive league titles and then went on to win two consecutive Crucial.com Humanitarian Bowls, defeating Louisville in 1999 and Texas-El Paso in 2000. Other conference championships were won by the men�s tennis team in 1999; the gymnastics team in 1999 (also in 1997-98); and the women�s tennis team in 2000 and 2001.

The wrestling team, which competes in the Pac-10 Conference, won the conference title in 2000 and placed third in 2001. The 2000 team placed 12th at the NCAA national meet and the 2001 team placed in a 10th-place tie with Wisconsin.

The 1999 men�s basketball team won the Eastern Division and advanced to the conference tournament finals.

Facility improvements include the construction of new women�s soccer fields and locker rooms, installation of a new scoreboard and instant replay screen in Bronco Stadium and the renovation of a medical clinic into the Bronco Football Complex.