. - Second Year for Four-Sport Women's In its second year under the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics the four-sport womens program at Weber State appears to be the best ever. The program is well-funded and has the momentum of excellent coaching and administrative support behind it. Weber State women are presently competing on the _ intercollegiate level in volleyball and gymnastics with basketball and softball waiting in the wings. In early season action, the volleyball team won three of four matches on a long eastward swing. The Weber State women took an early tie for second place in their 14-team conference with the wins. Program Coaching the volleyball team is Joy Wood, an experienced coach and athlete. Her team this year boasts great height and athletic ability. Mrs. Wood also coaches the basketball and softball teams. The gymnastics team coach remains the same in everything but her name as Diane Whiteley became Mrs. Diane Cassidy over the summer. Her girls gymnasts will compete on the beginning and intermediate levels this year and also should have strong talent available. The gymnastics team will not be named until mid-November. They will perform a demonstration during half time at one of the Wildcat basketball games. All-American candidate Jimmie Watts, left, and head basketball coach Neil McCarthy, “can’t wait” to begin season play. One Minute After Midnight, Play Ball! The Wildcats were the first team in the country to begin their basketball season in 1975 as they put the ball on the court before 500 students and townspeople at one minute after midnight on Oct. 15 — the earliest allowable time under NCAA regulations. ‘We didn’t want to wait,” smiled Coach Neil McCarthy who begins his first full year as head of the team. We wanted our fans to know that we are enthusiastic and that we will be doing things differently this season. It was gratifying to _see the terrific response. I know it made the team feel great to have such support at that hour.”’ The practice session was preceded by a gigantic bonfire pep rally complete with band and cheerleaders. One local television announcer said, ‘“‘The whole at- mosphere was reminiscent of the way things were in a college many years ago. It was very refreshing, and surprisingly enough I believe the students enjoyed it.”’ The Wildcats go into action this year with a schedule called the best ever at Weber State. Long road games are kept to a minimum, and fans will be able to Kathy Miller practices for intercollegiate volleyball. game with Brigham Young University. s Only two long road trips other than conference games will call the Cats out of the mountains. In early December the team (and a large number of alumni and fans) travel to Hawaii for four games in the tropics. The Cats will also leave on Christmas Day for Evansville, Indiana, and a holiday tour- nament which they won several years ago. Highly regarded teams visiting Ogden will include Long Beach State, Air Force Academy, and Oral Roberts. The Wildcats are likely candidates to see action in another tournament at season’s end as the © Big Sky Conference championship — will be determined by par- § ticipating among the four top — teams at the end of season play. — The dates will be March 5 and 6, ~ and the site of the tournament will © be on the home floor of the team — with the best record in conference — play. The Wildcats have bright prospects this season as they — return four starters from last — year’s squad as well as two ad-— ditional lettermen. Top returnee see the Wildcats play five games with their in-state rivals. For the first time ever the Wildcats will have home-and-home series with both the University of Utah and is All-American prospect Jimmie Watts, a 6-7 forward who has ear- Utah State. In addition, the Cats travel to Provo for a December 20 McCarthy ned all-conference honors in each of the last two seasons. A wealth of new talent is on hand as Coach has brought in six ex- cellent junior college transfers. —