(Times Are Pacific Time)
4:58 p.m.: Fresno State officials are scrambling to put together a news conference for this evening.
In Reno, television station KOLO reports that the Nevada athletic department has confirmed that it's discussing the Mountain West invitation and may be making an announcement tonight.
4:13 p.m.: WAC commissioner Karl Benson declined comment regarding Fresno State leaving the conference for the Mountain West.
3:56 p.m.: Fresno State will announce this evening that it has accepted an invitation to join the Mountain West Conference, sources with knowledge of the situation told The Bee this afternoon.
Fresno State's decision is independent of whether BYU leaves the Mountain West Conference. A source said that BYU is considering playing football as an independent because the Mountain West would not commit to the school over the next five seasons, while also granting the school the right to leave at any time for better opportunities.
3 p.m.: The Mountain West Conference has extended invitations to WAC members Fresno State and Nevada to join the league.
MWC commissioner Craig Thompson is currently traveling and unavailable for comment.
Fresno State President John D. Welty said this afternoon the university could make the jump to the MWC, which formed as a WAC breakaway conference in 1998.
"Fresno State is honored to have received the invitation to join the Mountain West Conference. We are seriously considering the invitation, and do so with the best interests of our Athletics program, our university, our community and Bulldog fans as our top priorities."
Nevada president Milt Glick said his university is also considering the invitation:
"We are honored to have received the invitation to join the Mountain West Conference," Glick said in a news release. "We are seriously considering the invitation, and do so with the best interests of our athletics program, University, community and Wolf Pack fans as our priority."
The invitations were made public on the Mountain West website this afternoon.
12:53 p.m.: Brigham Young University is leaving the Mountain West Conference, going independent in football and rejoining the Western Athletic Conference in all other sports beginning in fall 2011, The Salt Lake Tribune reported today.
Citing an anonymous source in the WAC office, the newspaper said BYU will seek approval from its owner, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, either today or Thursday.
BYU belonged to the WAC before bolting with other WAC teams to form the Mountain West in 1998.
4:58 p.m.: Fresno State officials are scrambling to put together a news conference for this evening.
In Reno, television station KOLO reports that the Nevada athletic department has confirmed that it's discussing the Mountain West invitation and may be making an announcement tonight.
4:13 p.m.: WAC commissioner Karl Benson declined comment regarding Fresno State leaving the conference for the Mountain West.
3:56 p.m.: Fresno State will announce this evening that it has accepted an invitation to join the Mountain West Conference, sources with knowledge of the situation told The Bee this afternoon.
Fresno State's decision is independent of whether BYU leaves the Mountain West Conference. A source said that BYU is considering playing football as an independent because the Mountain West would not commit to the school over the next five seasons, while also granting the school the right to leave at any time for better opportunities.
3 p.m.: The Mountain West Conference has extended invitations to WAC members Fresno State and Nevada to join the league.
MWC commissioner Craig Thompson is currently traveling and unavailable for comment.
Fresno State President John D. Welty said this afternoon the university could make the jump to the MWC, which formed as a WAC breakaway conference in 1998.
"Fresno State is honored to have received the invitation to join the Mountain West Conference. We are seriously considering the invitation, and do so with the best interests of our Athletics program, our university, our community and Bulldog fans as our top priorities."
Nevada president Milt Glick said his university is also considering the invitation:
"We are honored to have received the invitation to join the Mountain West Conference," Glick said in a news release. "We are seriously considering the invitation, and do so with the best interests of our athletics program, University, community and Wolf Pack fans as our priority."
The invitations were made public on the Mountain West website this afternoon.
12:53 p.m.: Brigham Young University is leaving the Mountain West Conference, going independent in football and rejoining the Western Athletic Conference in all other sports beginning in fall 2011, The Salt Lake Tribune reported today.
Citing an anonymous source in the WAC office, the newspaper said BYU will seek approval from its owner, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, either today or Thursday.
BYU belonged to the WAC before bolting with other WAC teams to form the Mountain West in 1998.
