We announced that the Wolf Pack men's golf and rifle teams had received the NCAA Public Recognition Award earlier this summer for having an Academic Progress Rate in the top 10 percent in the nation in their sports, but today we received a nice note of congratulations from NCAA President Mark Emmert to congratulate the teams on their academic achievement:

TO:	Chancellors and Presidents	]
	Directors of Athletics	]	of Institutions Sponsoring
	Faculty Athletics Representatives	]	NCAA Division I Sports
	Senior Compliance Administrators	]
	Senior Woman Administrators	]

FROM:    Mark Emmert 
                NCAA President.
 
SUBJECT:    2011-12 Public Recognition Award Memorandum. 

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate your institution's recipients of the NCAA Public Recognition Award.  This honor is bestowed on teams with an NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports.  The following list notes those teams at your institution that received this distinction.  A letter has been sent to each of the head coaches noted below acknowledging this academic success.

University of Nevada

Men's Golf
Mixed Rifle

Thank you for your leadership and support of the academic reform efforts.  These teams represent intercollegiate athletics at its best.  Once again, I congratulate you, the head coach, team, student-athletes, athletics department and institution for the outstanding academic achievements of these teams. 

We've finally gotten around to adding a feature that several of you have been asking about for quite a while. You can now subscribe to sports schedules in your Outlook or other calendar applications.

Nevada head men's basketball coach David Carter will join Bryan Samudio on Wolf Pack All Access at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday evening.  The show airs following Sunday Night NFL Football on KRNV Channel 4 in Reno.  Tune in to see a preview of the 2012-13 season with coach Carter.

The Wolf Pack returns three starters in Deonte Burton, Malik Story and Jerry Evans, Jr. along with seven additional letterwinners from a squad that posted a 28-7 mark last season.  Last year's team captured the Western Athletic Conference title with a 13-1 mark and reached the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament.  This season will mark the first for the Pack in the Mountain West.

The Pack hosts Oregon Tech on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a free exhibition contest at Lawlor Events Center before traveling to UC Irvine for the regular season opener on Nov. 10.  Three regular season home game follow, Nov. 16-18 in the World Vision Classic.

The University of Nevada soccer team battled Boise State to a 1-0 win in its quarterfinal match at the 2012 Mountain West Soccer tournament last night. Freshman Daisha Jones-Oglesby scored the game winning goal with five minutes left in regulation.

The team is gearing up for its semifinal match on Friday against New Mexico by using the day to recover. The squad spent some time in the pool doing some light training this morning. After lunch, the team will spend some time together at the movies. The three choices of the day are "Argo", "Taken 2", and "Paranormal Activity 4". Film on New Mexico will be broken down later, followed by a team dinner and ice baths before bed.

Check out highlights of the Pack's 1-0 win over Boise State below.

Nevada vs. Boise State Highlights

The University of Nevada men's and women's basketball teams along with the Wolf Pack cheerleaders and Alphie spent a portion of Nevada Day handing out candy to trick-of-treaters at Lawlor Events Center today.  Many of those in attendance dressed in costume to collect candy in hopes of filling up their sacks.

Trick-or-treaters were also able to get autographs on a specially designed poster that was distributed for the event.  Fans took photos with their favorite players, cheerleaders and Alphie on the court.

The women host San Francisco State on Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. in free exhibition contest. The men's free exhibition versus Oregon Tech in scheduled for Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.

Former Wolf Pack coach Keith Loper passed away at his home in Reno on Tuesday. Loper coached baseball, football and wrestling while at the University of Nevada, including a stint as Nevada's head baseball coach from 1972-73. In fact, he gave current head baseball coach Gary Powers his first job as his assistant coach.

Jim Krajewski from the Reno Gazette-Journal wrote a nice tribute to the well-liked Loper.

Powers added this about his mentor: "Keith was one of the most wonderful, loyal, caring people I have had the pleasure to have been associated with. He was a great mentor and and I am so thankful to him for all of the support and guidance he provided to me." 

We will pass along any memorial service information we receive. 

 

University of Nevada guards Deonte Burton and Malik Story have been named to the collegesportsmadness.com preseason Mountain West All-Conference teams.  The backcourt duo led the Wolf Pack to 28-7 record and a conference title last season.

Burton, the 2012 WAC Player of the Year was selected to the first team.  His 14.8 points and 4.2 assists per game topped the Pack a year ago.

The sharp shooting Story was chosen to the fourth team.  He was second on the squad averaging 14.1 points per game and connected on 42 percent of his three-point attempts.

This weekend is Hall of Fame weekend at the University of Nevada and the Wolf Pack will induct its latest group of former stars into the Athletics Hall of Fame at Friday night's dinner and Saturday's football game.

As we prepare to welcome Jennifer Ashcroft (track and field), Nate Burleson (football), Tracey King (women's tennis), Mike Maxwell (football), Don Price (baseball) and Angie Yoon (women's golf), here's a great photo from the archives of the legendary Nevada basketball coach Jake Lawlor from the first Hall of Fame Weekend in 1973:

For a complete list of all of Nevada Hall of Fame inductees, click here.

Tickets are still available for Friday night's Hall of Fame Dinner, which starts at 6 p.m. at the Reno Ballroom. Tickets can be purchased for $50 each by calling (775) 682-6965.

Tickets are also still available for the Hall of Fame Game vs. San Diego State, which kicks off 7:30 p.m. at Mackay Stadium. This year's Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at halftime of the football game. To buy tickets, call (775) 348-PACK or go online at www.NevadaWolfPack.com.

Photos from Brookfield Elementary

Several member of the University of Nevada men's basketball team along with head coach David Carter spent part of Monday afternoon at Brookfield Elementary School in Reno.  Coach Carter and the players spoke with the assembled students about the importance of school and the Wolf Pack basketball program.  The students also had an opportunity to get player autographs during the assembly.

The college football season is at its midpoint and various publications are handing out midseason awards.

Most notable for the Pack was Monday's release of the CBSSports.com Midseason All-America Team, that featured Nevada junior running back Stefphon Jefferson as a first-team All-America selection.

The Wolf Pack also had 16 selections on the Midseason All-Mountain West Team that was produced by Phil Steele's College Football publication.

Khalid Wooten was selected as the top punt returner and a first-team cornerback on the publication's Midseason All-Mountain West team. Nevada had 10 selections - nine players with Wooten on there twice - on the first team with 16 selections overall.

Five members of the Union were honored, including three on the first team in tackle Jeff Nady, guard Chris Barker and tight end Zach Sudfeld. Tackle Joel Bitonio was on the second team and center Matt Galas was named to the third team.

Wide receiver Brandon Wimberly and Stefphon Jefferson were also represented on the first-team offense. Sophomore Brock Hekking joined Wooten and safety Duke Williams on the first-team defense. And kicker Allen Hardison was also selected to the first team.

Joining Bitonio on the second team were quarterback Cody Fajardo and linebacker Albert Rosette.

On the third team along with Galas were defensive end Lenny Jones and linebacker Jeremiah Green.

The complete list is here.