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Posted Mar. 17, 2009-Chuck from Kimberly, Idaho asks:
When will the WAC release the 2009 Football Schedule?
COMMISSIONER BENSON: We are currently working with ESPN to determine the dates and pairings of 10 or 11 televised games. Once those games are set we will schedule the remainder of the season and release the information to WAC fans. It is difficult to provide a release date other than to say that it will be within the next few weeks. Logon to WACSports.com for the most up-to-date information regarding WAC Sports.
Posted Mar. 17, 2009-Doug from Moscow, Idaho asks:
You were asked about football officiating earlier in the year. Could you expound on both men's and women's basketball officials and how they are 'graded'?
COMMISSIONER BENSON: I have received multiple questions regarding our basketball officiating in particular the guidelines set to become a WAC official and how we determine whether or not to retain an official following the season.
The following are requirements put in place by the WAC and WAC Supervisor of Officials.
In order to become a WAC men's or women's basketball official the individual must have prior experience and success as an official in one of the following: D-1, D-2, D-3, NAIM or Junior College.
Skill Set for WAC Officials:
-Thorough knowledge of NCAA men's or women's basketball rules and interpretations.
-Ability to apply rules in game situations.
-Understanding of how D-1 men's / women's basketball games are played.
-Ability to officiate games at the highest level of competition.
-Must have game awareness / game management understanding.
-Outstanding communication skills.
-Good physical condition and excellent vision.
-Possesses poise and quick thinking under pressure.
-Understands the ideals of sportsmanship, courage, discipline and authority.
-Must be observed in an officiating camp environment under game conditions.
-Must be willing to receive constructive criticism.
-Experience as a collegiate athlete is an asset.
Evaluations of officials:
-Both the home and visiting coach submit game reports / evaluations following each game.
-Each game official is provided a DVD of the game just officiated for individual evaluation.
-Referee on each game is required to submit a game report following the conclusion of the game.
-Game officials are required to phone the supervisor after each game when anything unusual occurs during the game.
-Personal observations / evaluations are conducted by the WAC Supervisor of Officials.
-Frequent discussions are held during the season between the head coaches and supervisor of officials.
-Year end evaluations are submitted by the head coaches on each individual game official.
Posted Nov. 18, 2008-Amy from Reno asks:
What are the requirements for a team to be bowl eligible and what criteria is used to determine who will participate in a BCS bowl game?
COMMISSIONER BENSON: Teams must have a minimum record of 6-6; unless they play 13 games and then a team needs to have 7 wins. This occurs when a team plays a game at the University of Hawaii for example this year in the case of the University of Cincinnati -- this is also the case with the University of Hawaii. As for the BCS, 10 teams play in the 5 BCS games. The champions of the ACC, Big East, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 10 and SEC all receive an automatic berth, leaving 4 slots. Notre Dame receives an AQ if it finishes the regular season ranked 8 or better in the BCS poll. A champion from one of the five conferences that does not receive an automatic berth WAC, Mid-American, Mt. West, Conference USA and Sun Belt receives a berth in one of the games if it finishes the regular season ranked in the top 12. The BCS bowls would select the remaining slots from an at large pool of teams having 9 wins or more and ranked in the top 14 of the BCS poll.
Posted Nov. 18, 2008-Jerry from Los Angeles asks:
What is an affiliate member and what do they bring to the conference?
COMMISSIONER BENSON:The list of current affiliate members are:
Cal State Fullerton women’s gymnastics
Northern Arizona swimming and diving
Sacramento State baseball and women's gymnastics
San Diego swimming and diving
Southern Utah women’s gymnastics
Affiliate members provide teams for the WAC in sports where the WAC does not have a full slate of members sponsoring the particular sport. These additional teams make for better regular season scheduling and enhance the WAC championships in which they participate.
Posted Oct. 20, 2008-Mark from Honolulu asks:
What are the chances of the WAC Basketball Tournament moving to a neutral site? If a neutral site is not agreed upon what is the likelihood of having the previous years champion host next year's tournament?
COMMISSIONER BENSON: We will be exploring neutral sites for the next cycle 2011 and 2012 with Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and Sacramento as possibilities. As for the previous year’s champion hosting the next year’s tournament, that is an interesting suggestion and one I will put in front of the WAC Athletics Directors when they meet next spring. Thanks for the idea.
Posted Oct. 20, 2008-Jason from Walnut Creek, California asks:
With the new ESPN television contract in place, what are the chances of getting some regular-season broadcasts of WAC softball and baseball games added? Is there any possibility of televising the WAC tournaments in either of those sports as well?
COMMISSIONER BENSON: While the contract doesn’t speak specifically to softball or baseball, we are optimistic that there will be exposure for these two sports both regular season and postseason. However, please remember that the new terms for the contract don’t “kick in” until the 2009-10 year so we can’t expect anything this spring.
Posted Oct. 9, 2008
There have been several questions pertaining to football officiating in the WAC.
COMMISSIONER BENSON: Fans disapproving of officials and their in-game calls are nothing new. This is an issue that all collegiate conferences face each year. I think it is important to bring to light the requirements that must be met and what officials must do to be retained for the following year.
In order to be considered for a WAC officiating crew the individual must have 10 years of officiating experience with at least five of those years working in collegiate athletics. Officials must attend a mandatory summer clinic (officials are also encouraged to participate in other clinics throughout the year), complete on off-season exam, and stay in top physical condition.
By Wednesday of each week during the regular season, WAC Supervisor of Football Officials Jim Blackwood has reviewed video tape of all football games played the previous weekend. Specifically, he reviews every penalty that is called during the game, along with other plays that WAC coaches submit for him to review. He determines whether each penalty called is correct or incorrect; and also determines whether there are plays where penalties should have been called. Each official is “graded” on his performance for each game and these grades are then used to determine post season (bowl game) assignments. For example, the highest graded official at each of the seven positions is then assigned to the bowl games where the WAC assigns the officials usually two or three games each year. These grades are also used to determine whether an official is retained for the following season.
Also, it should be noted that each official receives a tape from his previous game and is required to view the tape and assess his own performance. Officials also attend sessions in and around their hometown during the week with officials to study video of other games. And finally, prior to each game either the night before a day game or the morning before a night game the officiating crew conducts a 3 hour meeting where the video of their previous game is viewed. This session is designed to review the previous game and to prepare the officials for the upcoming game. As you can see, an official may spend up to 12 hours a week reviewing his previous performance and preparing for the next game. Needless to say, these officials take their assignments very seriously and are very dedicated. Just like the players and coaches, they expect their performance on the field to be perfect each and every week.
Posted Oct. 8, 2008-Brendan from Manhattan, Kansas asks:
If Boise State runs the table this year and a team like Utah or BYU does the same in the Mountain West, could this possibly lead to the creation of a 6th BCS Bowl Game down the road where the winner of the WAC could be guaranteed a birth?
COMMISSIONER BENSON: The current BCS contract with FOX that calls for the five games has two years remaining. While I would certainly hope that access to the WAC would be expanded in the future, I doubt it will occur.
Posted Oct. 8, 2008-Neal from San Jose, California asks:
Will the WAC ever consider having one of the bowl games which they are affiliated with ever be designated solely for the WAC champion? Of course, if the WAC champion qualifies for a BCS bowl, they would go to that game but in the absence of that scenario, for example, the WAC champ could play in the Hawaii bowl every year. That way, a tradition can be built similar to that with the PAC 10 with the Rose Bowl. Your thoughts?
COMMISSIONER BENSON: Very good question. Yes I am sure we could consider this type of scenario in the future but...that would then mean that the University of Hawai'i would no longer be “guaranteed” a bowl berth as they have now. While the WAC may support this type of arrangement, the owner of the game ESPN and the title sponsor Sheraton may have a different opinion.
Courtesy: WAC
