WAC Is Now Insisting On Nevada And Fresno State Paying $5 Million Exit Penalty

Last week it looked as if the WAC was dead league walking with news that the $5 million buyout was not going to be enforced to Nevada and Fresno State, but now that is not the case. Including the five million dollar buyout clause the WAC is also backing up its claim that Nevada and Fresno State must stay in the league through the 2012 academic year. This is per the WAC offices:

"The WAC fully expects to receive the $5 million from both Fresno State and Nevada and will take legal recourse if necessary to obtain the money," said Benson. "As for the termination date, WAC Bylaws make it very clear that Fresno State and Nevada must remain in the WAC through the 2011-12 season unless the WAC authorizes an 'early out.' Fresno State and Nevada leaving the WAC following the 2010-11 season would cause irreparable financial harm to the remaining WAC members in terms of football scheduling and potential loss of revenue from television and bowl games. The damages that Hawai'i, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, San Jose State and Utah State would incur could exceed as much as $2 million per school."

This sudden change of direction from the WAC could mean that the WAC is going to survive these defections of Nevada and Fresno State, and signs would point toward the league coming to terms to bring in BYU in non-football sports. Plus, the WAC may also have a plan to add more football teams to supplement the loss of Fresno State and Nevada.