The WAC is not backing down from its demand that Fresno State and Nevada each pay $5 million for bolting the WAC for the Mountain West.

Both schools were notified Aug. 27 with a “demand for payment” letter and have 60 days from that date to make payment. The schools are also required to compete in the WAC during the 2010-11 season and the 2011-12 season, because they made their decisions to leave after the June 30 deadline.

WAC schools had agreed to stay together or pay a $5 million exit fee penalty in order to keep the league intact. With BYU nearly in the mix to join as a football independent, Fresno State and Nevada decided to bolt, and now the WAC's future is in doubt.

“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,” WAC commissioner Karl Benson said in his statement. “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 Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, San Jose State and Utah State would incur could exceed as much as $2 million per school.”

Later, Nevada president Milt Glick issued this statement: “We disagree with Commissioner Benson’s interpretation. We will be contacting the WAC directly to resolve these issues, and hope they can be resolved in an expeditious fashion.”