Big West? Wild West? PCAA May Change Name

The Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. is considering changing its name, and the Big West and the Wild West are among the popular candidates.

A committee of PCAA representatives has been working with a marketing firm on ways to help promote the conference. They enlisted the help of a media council, made up of broadcasters and sportswriters, and came to the conclusion that name recognition was a major problem.

The firm of Parker Holland will make a presentation during the PCAA Council meeting Tuesday at the Airport Park Hotel in Inglewood, and the promotions committee will make a recommendation on the name change. The full council may or may not actually vote on a new name Tuesday.

The official name change probably would not take place until the beginning of football season this year, so the PCAA basketball tournament will still go by that name when it begins Wednesday at the Forum.

The PCAA is also hoping to name a new commissioner this week. The list of finalists includes the PCAA’s acting commissioner Dennis Farrell, Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner Jim Haney and Clemson faculty representative B. J. Skelton, according to a source close to that committee.