| Nevada Wolf Pack | |
| University | University of Nevada, Reno |
|---|---|
| Conference(s) | Western Athletic Conference (Until 2012) Mountain West Conference (2012–) |
| NCAA | Division I |
| Athletics director | Cary Groth |
| Location | Reno, NV |
| Varsity teams | 16 |
| Football stadium | Mackay Stadium |
| Basketball arena | Lawlor Events Center |
| Mascot | Alphie and Wolfie Jr. |
| Nickname | Wolf Pack |
| Fight song | Hail to our Sturdy Team |
| Colors | Navy Blue and Silver
|
| Homepage | Nevada Wolf Pack |
The Nevada Wolf Pack are the collegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Nevada, Reno, consisting of 16 varsity teams. Though often known as UNR within the state, the university is simply called Nevada for athletics purposes; its sports teams are nicknamed the Wolf Pack (always two words).[1] They participate in the NCAA's Division I (FBS for football) and in the Western Athletic Conference, although they have accepted an invitation to join the Mountain West Conference, along with fellow WAC member Fresno State, beginning in 2012.[2]
Nevada's athletic teams were originally known as the Sagebrushers, named after Nevada's state flower. In the 1921-1922 school year, a local writer described the school's athletic teams as a "pack of wolves." That name stuck and by 1923, the student body designated "Wolves" as the school's mascot.[1]
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The Nevada Men's Basketball program first began in 1913. The program has won 19 conference championships and made six appearances in the NCAA tournament.[3] The team's current coach is Dave Carter.
The men's basketball program has experience some success in recent years. In 2004, the Wolf Pack men's basketball team qualified for the NCAA tournament and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in school history, where they fell to Georgia Tech. The team earned a repeat trip in 2005 and beat Texas in the first round before falling to eventual national runner-up Illinois. The team returned for 2006 as a #5 seed but was upset in the first round by former Big Sky Conference rival Montana.[4] They began the 2006-07 season ranked #24.[5] The Pack's major star during this recent period of success was Nick Fazekas. In 2007, Nevada was ranked #9 in men's basketball, which is the highest ranking that Nevada has ever held.[4] Guards Ramon Sessions and Marcellus Kemp both flirted with leaving as juniors for the NBA draft, however Kemp decided to remain at Nevada while Sessions was drafted 56th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft.[6][7]
Nevada's current head coach is Chris Ault, in his third stint for the Wolf Pack. He is credited with the creation of the Pistol Offense which he implemented at Nevada in 2005. Ault, along with Joe Paterno and John Gagliardi, is one of three active coaches who have also been inducted in to the College Football Hall of Fame. He is also one of five active Football Bowl Subdivision coaches to reach 200 wins.[8]
The football team plays home games at Mackay Stadium. The modern Mackay Stadium was completed in 1965 with a seating capacity of 7,500 but has been expanded several times in the last 15 years and now seats 29,993. Since 2004, the Wolf Pack have a 15-3 record.[9]
The 2008 football team finished with a record of 7-6, losing its bowl game to the University of Maryland 42-35. It was the fourth consecutive year that the team had made a bowl appearance, a first in school history. The team was led by first team All WAC center Dominic Green and running back Vai Taua, who led the conference in rushing yards in addition to WAC offensive player of the year, quarterback Colin Kaepernick.[10]
The Pack celebrated their 500th win in school history with a 52-6 win over New Mexico State on November 20, 2010, at Mackay Stadium.[11] On November 26, 2010, the Nevada Wolf Pack upset Boise State in a historic win at Mackay Stadium. In one round of overtime and 2 missed field goals by the Broncos, one at the end of regulation and one in overtime, Nevada Wolf Pack freshman kicker Anthony Martinez kicked a field goal to put Nevada on top for a final of 34-31. The Wolf Pack's win ended Boise State's 24 game winning streak, then the longest winning streak in the nation. It was also the Wolf Pack's first victory against Boise State after losing 10 straight to the Broncos.[12]
Since the program was reinstated in 2003, the softball team has qualified for the NCAA tournament 3 times (2006, 2008, 2009) and has compiled a record of 3-6 in tournament play. In 2006, Nevada won its first WAC tournament title as Jordan McPherson pitched all 41 innings for Nevada in the WAC tournament, without giving up a single earned run, while striking out 34 on the way to being named tournament MVP.[13]
The 2008 Nevada softball team finished the season ranked in both national Top 25 polls.The Wolf Pack was ranked No. 21 in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll and was No. 20 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. Nevada went 44-18 and won the Western Athletic Conference regular season title. That season, Noelle Micka became the first Nevada softball player to earn second team All American.[14] The Wolf Pack received an at-large bid to the NCAA Regionals and advanced to the championship game of the Los Angeles Regional, where they lost 6-4 to UCLA.[15]
The Wolf Pack's mascot is an anthropomorphized wolf named Alphie, who took over the duties of cheering from his uncle, Wolfie, in 1999. In 2007, Alphie was joined by his younger brother, Wolfie Jr.[1]
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