Western Athletic Conference files lawsuit against Nevada, Fresno State

The Western Athletic Conference has filed a lawsuit to force Nevada and Fresno State to stay in the league through the 2011-12 school year before leaving for the Mountain West Conference.

WAC Commissioner Karl Benson said Tuesday on a conference call that the league filed a complaint last week in Jefferson County District Court in Colorado.

“The damages the WAC could incur if Fresno State and Nevada left early are very, very significant,” Benson said. “That’s what has driven this: to protect the assets of the WAC as a corporate entity.”

Benson said WAC bylaws state a member must inform the conference it is leaving for another league by July 1 or that departing member is obligated to stay through the next two school years.

Nevada and Fresno State announced they had accepted invitations to the MWC on July 18 and both have indicated they would like to leave the WAC and be in their new conference for the 2011 football season.

Benson said he has contacted the leaders of Nevada and Fresno State, seeking assurances that they will remain in the WAC through June 30, 2012. But those assurances have not come, he said.

“I thought the filing of the complaint would initiate some discussion,” Benson said.

But Nevada and Fresno State have still not contacted the commissioner, Benson said.

The WAC also expects Nevada and Fresno State to pay a $5-million exit fee. Benson said the fee is not mentioned in the lawsuit and is a separate issue.

Boise State accepted an invitation from the Mountain West Conference in early June and will leave the WAC after this season.

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Florida receiver Chris Rainey was arrested Tuesday and charged with aggravated stalking, a third-degree felony, for allegedly sending a former girlfriend a threatening text message.

The school did not announce any disciplinary action against the 5-foot-9 junior, but offensive coordinator Steve Addazio said, “Chris Rainey is not a part of our team right now. That’s really all I have to say on that.”

Rainey was released from the Alachua County (Fla.) Jail on his own recognizance and ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim.

The alleged victim also was in court with her mother and sister. The woman told Judge Denise R. Ferrero she does not fear Rainey but was concerned about retribution from the public following all the media attention.

She also asked for the charges to be dropped.

“I did not want to have him arrested,” she said. “When the police came, I signed papers to not press any charges. I don’t fear for my safety. … People all over the country have been calling my cellphone. I’m not afraid of him. I’m more afraid of all the repercussions.”

Florida likely will be without Rainey at Tennessee on Saturday. State Attorney Bill Cervone told Florida Today that no decisions on the case will be made this week.

Rainey, from nearby Lakeland, has six receptions and a touchdown this season. He’s also the team’s primary punt returner. He missed the second half of Saturday’s game against South Florida with a concussion.

Rainey is the 27th player arrested during Urban Meyer’s six seasons as Florida’s coach.

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A district attorney says no more charges will be filed against Tennessee football players in a bar brawl that left an off-duty police officer seriously injured. Sophomore defensive back Darren Myles Jr. and freshman wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers were arrested after the July 9 fight at Bar Knoxville.

Myles pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and public intoxication and was kicked off the team. Rogers’ resisting arrest charge was dropped Tuesday and a disorderly conduct charge is expected to be dropped in October.

Knox County District Attorney Randy Nichols said that there wasn’t enough evidence to bring more charges.

At least a dozen Tennessee players were rumored to be at the crowded bar. The injured Knoxville officer is back at work.

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West Virginia cornerback Brandon Hogan was suspended indefinitely after a drunken driving arrest — his second run-in with police in five months. Hogan, a 2009 All- Big East first-team selection, was arrested about 3:30 a.m. Sunday in Morgantown after he was spotted driving the wrong way on a one-way street, Municipal Court Clerk Joyce Marshall said. … Pittsburgh defensive end Greg Romeus will have surgery Thursday to repair a disk in his lower back and will miss an undetermined number of games. The Big East co-defensive player of the year last season is expected to play again this season, though it is unclear when. … Tulane freshman kicker Cairo Santos has been declared ineligible while the NCAA reviews his high school transcripts and test scores. Tulane spokesman Roger Dunaway says it’s not clear how long the NCAA’s case review will take. The Green Wave has a bye this week, so Santos could conceivably return for Tulane’s next game at Houston on Sept. 25. Santos has handled kickoffs and field goals in Tulane’s first two games. He is 4 for 4 on field goals.