Five Conference Titles Lead to Fourth-Place Finish in Commissioner's Cup

Utah State [University] completed one of its most successful athletic seasons in school history during the 2008-09 academic year with five conference championships, which resulted in a fourth-place finish in the seventh annual Western Athletic Conference Commissioner's Cup standings that were announced by the league office on Tuesday [May 26, 2009].

During the 2008-09 academic year, Utah State won WAC titles in men's and women's cross country, women's soccer, men's basketball and men's outdoor track & field. Those five conference championships are the most for USU in its four years in the WAC, and tied for the most in school history. USU also won five Big West Conference team titles in both 1994 and 1998.

 

"We have seen improvement in many of our programs this year thanks to a tireless commitment from our coaches and student-athletes," said USU Director of Athletics Scott Barnes. "Winning five conference championships is a wonderful testament to their efforts."

 

Fresno State won the title with 85.50 points, followed by Nevada (84.75), Boise State (80.50), Utah State (76.50), New Mexico State (67.25), Idaho (66.75), Hawai'i (62.75), Louisiana Tech (60.75) and San Jose State (54.25).

 

The WAC awards its Commissioner's Cup to the school that performs the best in each of the conference's 19 men and women's championships. Points are awarded for first-place, second-place, etc., in every sport. Points are dependent on the number of participating teams in each sport, and those points are then averaged between a team's regular season finish (if applicable) and its WAC championship finish. Ties are not broken, but instead are averaged between the tied teams. Affiliate members are not eligible for the Commissioner's Cup, but their standings are used for determining points.

 

Along with its five conference championships, Utah State also finished second in the WAC in men's indoor track, while men's golf, women's indoor and outdoor track & field, and women's volleyball all finished fourth.

 

In its inaugural season in the WAC, Utah State finished in fourth-place in the Commissioner's Cup standings, followed by a fifth-place finish in 2007 and a sixth-place finish in 2008.

 

 

1. Fresno State (85.50)

2. Nevada (84.75)

3. Boise State (80.50)

4. Utah State (76.50)

5. New Mexico State (67.25)

6. Idaho (66.75)

7. Hawai'i (62.75)

8. Louisiana Tech (60.75)

9. San Jose State (54.25)

 

 

Men — WAC Finish (Record)

 

Basketball — 1st (30-5/14-2/NCAA First Round)

Cross Country — 1st (10th @ Regionals)

Football — 7th (3-9/3-5)

Golf — 4th

Tennis — T-5th (8-13)

Indoor Track — 2nd

Outdoor Track — 1st

 

Women --- WAC Finish (Record)

 

Basketball — T-5th (16-15, 9-7)

Cross Country — 1st (8th @ Regionals)

Gymnastics — 6th (1-19, 0-9)

Indoor Track — 4th

Outdoor Track — 4th

Soccer — 1st (13-8-1, 7-0-0)

Softball — 8th (10-37, 3-17)

Tennis — T-5th (5-20)

Volleyball — 4th (11-17/9-7)