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DENVER -- The Western Athletic Conference has sent both Fresno State and the University of Nevada a "demand for payment" requiring each school to pay $5 million within the next two months for breaking a conference agreement. "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 WAC Commissioner Karl Benson.
The agreement, agreed to earlier in August, called for all schools to remain members of the WAC through June 30, 2016.
Benson also said both schools are required to compete in the WAC during the 2010-11 season and the 2011-12 season since neither school announced their decision to withdraw from the WAC prior to the June 30 deadline.
"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,' said Benson. "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."
If Fresno State and Nevada left after the 2010-2011 season, Benson said the remaining six schools would likely lose more than $2 million dollars each. Both schools were also notified with the "demand for payment" letter on August 27. They have 60 days from that date to make payment.
