Commissioner Says No Plans To Bring Aggies Into League

LAS CRUCES — At this point, it would seem that New Mexico State needs the Sun Belt Conference more than the Sun Belt Conference needs the Aggies.

That, at least, could be interpreted during a conference call Wednesday involving Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson, announcing that Texas State would be leaving the Western Athletic Conference for the Sun Belt after the 2013 academic year.

Benson said he was aware of what the Aggies and fellow WAC football member Idaho are facing in light of conference realignment, but he also said no plan was in place to bring them into the fold.

“Right now it’s premature to talk about either Idaho or New Mexico State in terms of where they might fit,” Benson said. “Until we know for sure what the end result is for the Sun Belt and what our membership will be comprised of …. (we) probably have not given a lot of attention or time looking west right now.”

Utah State and San Jose State are jumping from the WAC to the Mountain West in 2013 for football. The move will be formally announced today, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Utah State is making the move to the MWC in all sports. A few of San Jose State’s sports programs will not be affected.

Louisiana Tech and Texas-San Antonio are expected to announce their moves from the WAC to Conference USA today.

Meanwhile, Charlotte (Atlantic 10) and North Texas (Sun Belt) also are expected to announce today they are joining C-USA.
— This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal