WAC call hints at resolution in dispute with..

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The Western Athletic Conference will hold a teleconference on Thursday morning to "discuss the dispute" with Fresno State University and the University of Nevada, suggesting the sides have reached a resolution in their battle over when the schools can leave the league for the Mountain West Conference.

The league filed a lawsuit against the schools and the Mountain West last month, claiming the schools were bound to remain in the WAC until the summer of 2012 because they had missed a July 1 deadline to notify it of an earlier departure.

The schools had announced plans to leave next summer, in 2011.

ESPN.com reported that the schools have agreed to stay in the WAC until 2012 in exchange for a reduced exit fee. The WAC said each school owed a $5 million fee, for violating a summertime agreement to stay.

Commissioner Karl Benson has not commented on the ongoing mediation in the case — required by state law in Colorado, where the lawsuit was filed — and the league did not comment further Wednesday night.

The WAC also has been working on plans to add Texas State and Texas-San Antonio to replace Nevada and Fresno State in 2012, with Denver and Seattle potential additions in all sports except football.

WAC call hints at resolution in dispute with outgoing members