Page 8 December 1978 Comment — ‘*! kind of expect they’Il be gunning for us.”’ Three freshmen, including the San Diego CIF Player-of-theYear, have been recruited, and they will be joined by a transfer and a returning letterman rom =. two years ago who took a break to | serve an LDS Church mission. on Although the team is diverse in the team is Senior Kurt - New to the scene this year are a pair of assistant coaches hired during the off-season. The two, Dick Hunsaker and Riley Wimberley, are season should be Bruce Collins — ARTHUR R. JONES has received a doctor of leisure studies degree from the University of Utah. He is a 1968 graduate of WSC and earned his master of science degree from in 1970. He is employed by USU as assistant state 4-H leader. His wife is the former Calleen Woolsey. They have three children. JERRY torate of Arizona. - from WSC L. ZAUGG has received a docentomology from the University of He received his bachelor’s degree anda master’s of entomology from the University of Arizona. He and his wife, the former Charlotte Baur, served as peace corps volunteers in Ghana, spent several years Medical Corps. West in the Africa U.S. and could be played right here he Army “Hi-C” — one of the most talented and exciting players on the collegiate circuit. Just a junior this season, Collins will become the alltime scoring leader at the school, possible before this current season ends. The Rock Springs, Wyoming, native earned MVP honors at the Big Sky Championship Tournament last Spring, beating out a player who was later the fourth athlete taken in the NBA draft. He can jump, shoot, rebound, and handle the ball with the best of them. He may be one of the most exciting players in the long and illustrous history of theschool. in the Mediterranean Cruise 1 12, 1979 Approximate Cost Y weeks-between ports on a eruise ship in the Beautiful Mediterranean VISIT: GREECE, TURKEY , ISRAEL, EGYPT = a Big Sky Conference this year.”’ The Wildcat’s plan is to be involved with their share of it. John Peterson to find coaches is a mark of the maturity of a program, the Wildcats have truly come of age. Cornerstone of the team this Class Notes University come along. I do believe that some of the best basketball in the country former Weber State athletes, and bring a continuity to the program. If the ability to go into your own ranks Quarterback guard Mark Mattos is a captain of the squad again this year. Illinois you never know how the rest will fone. ol Conference on paper there are any of four teams that could be listed right up at the front of the pack, but again Ge mati “Besides the excellent talent either returning or recruited at the schools, there are five new coaches in the ranks, and that tends to make a lot of question marks when you are figuring things out. Looking at the is better than last season, the ex- perience factor is higher, and the Squad boasts excellent maturity. In sum, the 1978-79 outlook is bright for the Wildcats. The prospects are especially pleasing for Coach McCarthy who has faced each of the last three Seasons with patched-up lineups and youngsters galore. Although no specific team goals have been mentioned, the ‘cats want to be in better Shape than their opponents, they want to play hard, and play together. The team agrees that these are the keys to a successful Season. Ge “Old 2 Moore. Southern talented. Overall size and quickness * isn’t balance in all the seven years I have been associated with it,” He says. background, they are extremely _@ Championship automatic. It will take a lot of hard work. _ “The Conference has the best Seer _ sophomores and a junior throughout the year last season. The lack of experience was a liability then. The experience gained has turned into an asset this year. Further ference a a es may beable to play immediately. The Wildcats started four champ and act as hosts to the affair. McCarthy is quick to point out, however, that the ticket to the Con- a news from Ogden. To complement the returners, the Wildcats have enjoyed an excellent recruiting effort that has brought some outstanding players to the school, some of whom around Sky Conference Championship Tournament, and naturally they would like to be the regular season a marked team, there is more good — or bad, depending on your vantage point — City es Meee es ed winners. Oklahoma * fidence that comes with having been in Christmas time, and also make a first-ever swing through Alaska, where they will play two games each in Anchorage and Fairbanks. In the back of their minds, of course, will be to get into the Big Lh as good experience and the con- The Wildcats return their first six players from the team that captured the Big Sky Conference championship. While that alone would be ment . them. The Weber State team this yes, while still on the young side, That could be an understatement. them If the especially in adverse circumstances, the China trip should have erased physically, and tended to overlook us. This yéar, though, I kind of expect that they’ll be gunning for us.” to make rules. Wildcats still harbored any doubts about their abilities to win, young and not especially imposing enough International Coach McCarthy sees the schedule fairly comparable to last season, when the ‘cats put together a 19-10 mark. There are more road games, as the Wildcats stayed home more last season to play in their new Events Center. This season the ‘cats will check in at the All-College Tour- five other SR Ms a where they played six of the best amateur teams in the nation under are OS mer visit to the Republic of China, : “Last year we kind of surprised people, I believe,” he says with a smile. “They would look at our lineup and see that we were very Coilins returning lettermen two _ seniors and three other juniors. Guards Mark Mattos and Ben Howland are hard-working, hard playing, hardnosed team leaders; while frontcourters David Johnson, Kurt Moore and Richard Smith are ail proven performers who can score, Pebaand and play the rugged Wildcat defense. The ‘cats picked up two junior college transfers, one a first-team All-American, and they are also capable of making immediate contributions to theteam. ff about the upcoming season. Joining helping the team in the experience department was a sum- Weber State coach Neil McCarthy optimistic, but still cautious, For Information Contact: WEBER STATE COLLEGE ALUMNI OFFICE 626-6571 Weber State College| % is