NORTHWEST NOTES: July 23, 2020

McCarthey family donates funds

to Gonzaga sports

Gonzaga wove its way into the hearts of the McCarthey family decades ago as students both on campus and in Florence and continues to hold a special place through generations. They’ve been generous benefactors over the years, making a major difference in the way Gonzaga Athletics is able to operate.

And when the novel coronavirus began to change the landscape of college athletics and ultimately cancel the remainder of athletic competitions for the spring semester, the four McCarthey siblings — Phil, Tom, Sarah and Maureen — got together and decided they wanted to continue their legacy of giving in a time of need, not only making a large gift to the Athletic Department, but donating to the University as well.

“We realized how much the coronavirus was going to affect Gonzaga, and this Athletic department has just meant so much to us,” Tom McCarthey said. “We wanted to do what we could to keep the best coaches, the best student-athletes and scholarships intact. We feel very fortunate to be in a position where we could do that.”

With a history of benefaction through donations to capital projects like the McCarthey Athletic Center, our Gonzaga in Florence program, scholarships and much more, the McCartheys are just as special to the University as the University is to them.

“The McCartheys have been game-changers for the University and, very specifically for GU athletics, with their support, and they continue to step up in a big, big way for us,” Athletic Director Mike Roth said. “We are so grateful for them, and this gift will make a big impact on our Athletic Department, and all students at GU, moving forward. We can’t express enough thanks to Sarah, Maureen, Tom and Phil.”

The McCartheys also hope to show other Gonzaga benefactors the path to helping the institution and Athletics maintain its financial position despite the unknowns of the months ahead.

Mazza named to preseason

Groza Award Watch List

A season after being named a finalist, Washington State kicker Blake Mazza was named to the 2020 Lou Groza Award Watch List, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced Wednesday.

Mazza is one of 30 players named to the watch list for the award given to the nation’s top collegiate placekicker. The redshirt-junior was not on last year’s initial watch list but was named a semifinalist and later a finalist, becoming the first kicker in program history to be named a finalist.

Mazza, a Preseason Third-Team All-American by Phil Steele, was a 2019 All-Pac-12 Conference First Team selection after going 20-of-21 on field goal attempts, the highest field goal percentage in WSU single-season history.

The Plano, Texas native connected on his first 18 field goal attempts, the longest consecutive field goal streak in WSU history and most by a kicker in the country without a miss last season.

Idaho sixth, Eastern last in Coaches’ Poll

Idaho was selected to finish sixth, as voted on by the coaches in the annual Big Sky Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

Northern Colorado was the unanimous favorite, taking all 10 possible first place votes. Northern Arizona was the lone other institution to receive a first place vote and finished tied for second with Weber State with 86 points. Montana State (69) and Sacramento State (64) both finished just above Idaho (50).

Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team.

Last season the Vandals finished in a tie for fifth at 9-9 in Big Sky play. Idaho loses just two seniors and returns all-conference performers Nikki Ball and Kennedy Warren.

The regular season has seen some dramatic changes already. The Vandals will play 16 conference games in 2020, two fewer than normal.

The postseason tournament will also look different in 2020. The top four teams will advance to the tournament, held in Greeley, Colo., November 24-25.

The Vandals get the conference season started at home on October 2-3 against Southern Utah. Idaho will also face NAU (Oct. 22-23), Montana State (Nov. 5-6) and Northern Colorado (Nov. 19-20) in Moscow.

BIG SKY CONFERENCE

Preseason Coaches Poll

First-place votes in parentheses

1, Northern Colorado (10) 100. 2 (tie), Northern Arizona (1) 86; Weber State 86. 4, Montana State 69. 5, Sacramento State 64. 6, Idaho 50. 7 (tie), Portland State; Montana 40. 9, Southern Utah 39. 10, Idaho State 19. 11, Eastern Washington 11.

Draguicevich III

named to

Ray Guy Award Watch List

Washington State punter Oscar Draguicevich III was named to the 2020 Ray Guy Award Watch List, the Augusta Sports Council announced Wednesday.

Draguicevich III is one of 19 punters including two from the Pac-12 Conference named to the watch list for the award given to the nation’s top collegiate punter. The redshirt-senior was named to the same list prior to last season.

Draguicevich III, a Preseason All-Pac-12 Third Team selection by Phil Steele, averaged 45.1 yards-per-punt on 30 punts last season, good for second in the league and No. 16 in the country. The redshirt-senior from Hutto, Texas recorded 10 punts for 50+ yards, put 12 inside the 20 and had a long of 62.

Northwest Conference postpones football,

volleyball, soccer

for this fall

The Northwest Conference Presidents’ Council (NWC) postponed competition in football, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s rowing, and women’s volleyball for the fall of 2020, the conference announced. The NWC is working to develop a schedule for competition for these sports in the spring.

Men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, and men’s and women’s tennis will be permitted to play this fall in accordance with local, state and federal health directives. The Presidents’ Council continues to support institutional autonomy regarding the decision to participate in intercollegiate athletics.

The NWC, along with its member institutions including Whitworth University in Spokane, have been working diligently over the past several months to plan for the safe reopening of their campuses this fall while prioritizing the health and well-being of students, faculty, staff and campus communities.

Practice and other athletically related activities for all sports at member institutions’ campuses are permitted in accordance with NCAA Division III rules as well as institutional and state and local health directives.