Northern Pacific Conference (baseball)

Last updated

The Northern Pacific Conference (Nor-Pac) was formed for baseball for the 1975 season and comprised the NCAA programs in the Northwest not in the Pacific-8 Conference. [1] [2] [3] The Big Sky Conference had dropped sponsorship of the sport after the 1974 season, [4] [5] and its three remaining baseball programs (Gonzaga, Idaho, Boise State) joined Portland State, Portland, Seattle U., and Puget Sound. [1] [2] [3] [6] [7] An eighth team, Eastern Washington, was added after the 1979 season. [8] [9] [10]

Idaho and Boise State dropped varsity baseball after the 1980 season, [11] [12] as did Seattle U., and the five-team Nor-Pac played a seventh and final season in 1981. [10] Puget Sound dropped its program and the remaining four (GU, EWU, PSU, UP) joined the Northern division of the Pac-10 (as affiliate members, baseball only) for 1982; [13] [14] [15] Oregon also discontinued baseball after 1981, [16] [17] which had left just three teams (Washington, Washington State, and Oregon State). In the Pac-10, the champion of the seven-team Northern division met the runner-up of the stronger six-team Southern division in a best-of-three series for the conference's second berth in the NCAA tournament.

Eastern Washington dropped baseball in 1990, [18] [19] and Portland State eight years later; after 1995, Gonzaga and Portland moved their baseball to the West Coast Conference (WCC), where their other sports were. [20] Baseball returned at Oregon in 2009, [21] Seattle U. in 2010, and briefly at Boise State for a pandemic-shortened  2020 season before being eliminated a second time due to a budget reduction..

Champions

YearChampionRunner-upMembersNotes
1975 Puget Sound Gonzaga7 [22]
1976 Gonzaga Boise State7 [23]
1977 Portland State Gonzaga7 [24]
1978GonzagaPortland State7 [25]
1979 Portland Portland State7 [26]
1980GonzagaPortland8 [27]
1981Gonzaga (4)E. Washington5 [28] [29]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Sky Conference</span> American collegiate athletic conference

The Big Sky Conference is a collegiate athletic conference, affiliated with the NCAA's Division I with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. As of 2024, ten full member institutions are located in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. Two affiliate members from California are football–only participants.

Rogers Field was an outdoor athletic stadium in the northwest United States, on the campus of Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. It was the home venue of the WSU Cougars football and track teams until severely damaged by a fire in April 1970. Partially demolished in early 1971, Rogers Field was replaced by the concrete Martin Stadium, which was built on the same site and opened in 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idaho Vandals</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of the University of Idaho

The Idaho Vandals are the intercollegiate athletic teams representing the University of Idaho, located in Moscow, Idaho. The Vandals compete at the NCAA Division I level as a member of the Big Sky Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boise State Broncos</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Boise State University

The Boise State Broncos are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Boise State University, located in Boise, Idaho. The Broncos compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as a member of the Mountain West Conference (MW). The Broncos have a successful athletic program overall, winning the WAC commissioner's cup for the 2005–06 and 2009–10 years. On September 12th, 2024, Boise State announced it will be leaving the Mountain West and joining the Pac-12 on July 1, 2026.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Belko</span> American basketball coach (1916–2000)

Stephen Maxmillian Belko was an American college basketball coach at Idaho State College and the University of Oregon. He was later the third commissioner of the Big Sky Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Washington Eagles</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Eastern Washington University

The Eastern Washington Eagles are the intercollegiate varsity athletic teams that represent Eastern Washington University, located in Cheney, southwest of Spokane. A member of the Big Sky Conference, EWU's athletic program comprises five men's sports: basketball, cross country, football, tennis, and track and field, and seven women's sports: basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.

The Washington State Cougars baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate baseball team of Washington State University, located in Pullman, Washington. The Cougars' home venue is Bailey–Brayton Field, first opened 44 years ago for the 1980 season and located on the university's campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gonzaga Bulldogs baseball</span> American college baseball team

The Gonzaga Bulldogs baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate baseball program of Gonzaga University, located in Spokane, Washington, United States. The NCAA Division I program has been a member of the West Coast Conference since 1996 and its home venue is Washington Trust Field and Patterson Baseball Complex, opened on Gonzaga's campus in 2007.

The Idaho Vandals baseball team was the varsity intercollegiate baseball team of the University of Idaho, located in Moscow, Idaho.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1974 Washington State Cougars football team</span> American college football season

The 1974 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) during the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. In their seventh season under head coach Jim Sweeney, the Cougars compiled a 2–9 record, and were outscored 272 to 162.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 Washington State Cougars football team</span> American college football season

The 1980 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their third season under head coach Jim Walden, the Cougars compiled a 4–7 record, and outscored their opponents 287 to 271.

John G. Smith was an American college baseball coach, the head coach at the University of Idaho for fourteen seasons. He also coached football and basketball.

The 1940 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1940 college football season. The Vandals were led by sixth-year head coach Ted Bank, and were members of the Pacific Coast Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gonzaga–Idaho football rivalry</span> American college sports rivalry

The Gonzaga–Idaho rivalry was the football game between Gonzaga University and the University of Idaho. The respective campuses, in Spokane, Washington, and Moscow, Idaho, are approximately ninety miles (145 km) apart.

The 1913 Idaho football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1913 college football season. Idaho was led by ninth-year head coach John G. Griffith. The two home games were played in Moscow, but off campus; the new MacLean Field opened the following season.

The 1982–83 Idaho Vandals men's basketball team represented the University of Idaho during the 1982–83 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The two-time defending champions of the Big Sky Conference, Vandals were led by fifth-year head coach Don Monson and played their home games on campus at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho.

The 1979–80 Idaho Vandals men's basketball team represented the University of Idaho during the 1979–80 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Vandals were led by second-year head coach Don Monson and played their home games on campus at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho.

The 1983–84 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University of Spokane, Washington, in the 1983–84 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by third-year head coach Jay Hillock, the Bulldogs managed a 17–11 (.607) overall record (6–6 in WCAC, 4th), and played their home games on campus at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Pavilion.

The 1978–79 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University during the 1978–79 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Members of the Big Sky Conference, the Bulldogs were led by first-year head coach Dan Fitzgerald and played their home games on campus at Kennedy Pavilion in Spokane, Washington. They were 16–10 overall and 7–7 in conference play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980–81 Boise State Broncos men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1980–81 Boise State Broncos men's basketball team represented Boise State University during the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Broncos were led by first-year head coach Dave Leach and played their home games on campus at Bronco Gymnasium in Boise, Idaho.

References

  1. 1 2 "Idaho, Gonzaga join new baseball circuit". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. June 24, 1974. p. 16.
  2. 1 2 "Portland State, Portland to play in baseball league". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). Associated Press. June 24, 1974. p. 12.
  3. 1 2 Jordan, Jeff (January 19, 1975). "Idea's time has arrived". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 3, sports.
  4. ↑ "Idaho off probation, loop titles dwindle". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). May 5, 1974. p. 13.
  5. ↑ "Baseball axed in Big Sky". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). May 29, 1974. p. 15.
  6. ↑ "Vandals boast vets for baseball season". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). March 12, 1975. p. 13.
  7. ↑ "Baseball: College - Northern Pacific". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). May 1, 1979. p. 25.
  8. ↑ "EWU baseball team joins Nor-Pac league". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). June 6, 1979. p. 1B.
  9. ↑ "Baseball: College - NorPac standings". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). May 7, 1980. p. B5.
  10. 1 2 "Baseball: Northern Pacific". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). (standings). May 16, 1981. p. 13.
  11. ↑ "Boise State drops baseball program". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. May 6, 1980. p. C1.
  12. ↑ Goodwin, Dale (May 13, 1980). "Baseball's 'out' at Idaho". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 19.
  13. ↑ Van Sickel, Charlie (May 30, 1981). "Nor-Pac League dead; schools to join Pac-10". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 12.
  14. ↑ "Pac-10 merger confirmed". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). August 14, 1981. p. 24.
  15. ↑ Rodman, Bob (August 14, 1981). "Expanded ND baseball appears ready to roll". Eugene-Register Guard. (Oregon). p. 3B.
  16. ↑ Rodman, Bob (May 7, 1981). "A gloomy day for Ducks' oldest program". Eugene-Register Guard. (Oregon). p. 1C.
  17. ↑ "UO axes baseball, gymnastics". Eugene-Register Guard. (Oregon). May 7, 1981. p. 1C.
  18. ↑ Boling, Dave (May 31, 1990). "Baseball, wrestling to go at EWU". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). p. C1.
  19. ↑ "EWU cuts two sports; audit ends". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). June 19, 1990. p. C1.
  20. ↑ Bergum, Steve (May 3, 1995). "Gonzaga leaving Pac-10 North". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. C3.
  21. ↑ "University of Oregon is bringing back baseball". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. (Idaho-Washington). Associated Press. July 14, 2007. p. 1B.
  22. ↑ "WSU, UPs picked for NCAA action". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). May 19, 1975. p. 17.
  23. ↑ "Idaho leaves cellar; Cougs triumph, too". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). May 12, 1976. p. 37.
  24. ↑ "Northern Pacific baseball final standings". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). May 9, 1977. p. 19.
  25. ↑ "Warriors in regionals, Zags gain title". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). May 18, 1978. p. 53.
  26. ↑ "Northern Pacific standings". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, California). May 10, 1979. p. 42.
  27. ↑ "Zags, Cougs, Bucs first". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). May 12, 1980. p. 21.
  28. ↑ "Zags bucking big odds tonight". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). May 22, 1981. p. 21.
  29. ↑ "Northern Pacific final standings". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). May 19, 1981. p. 19.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.