WAC: Conference will remain viable

SALT LAKE CITY - Western Athletic Conference officials expressed confidence Tuesday that the league would remain viable despite rumored defections.

Utah State and San Jose State both acknowledged this week they are in discussions with the Mountain West Conference over realignment for 2013.

Conference USA already is set to bring aboard Texas-San Antonio just months before the school was to begin its first season in the WAC.

Louisiana Tech also appears headed to C-USA. Texas State, which is slated to join the WAC this year, and Texas-Arlington, a non-football playing member who is scheduled to join the WAC in 2013, are reportedly headed to the Sun Belt.

If all that happens, by 2013 the WAC would consist of football-playing members Idaho and New Mexico State, and non-football playing members Denver and Seattle. Boise State is also expected to return to the WAC in all sports except football in 2013.

WAC interim commissioner Jeff Hurd subsequently issued a statement Tuesday saying he is aware of the changing landscape in Division I athletics. He said the conference is evaluating membership options but would not speculate on what those might be.

Hurd further said he had confidence the WAC would maintain its more than 50-year history as a "preeminent Division I conference."