University Star

Western Athletic Commissioner Karl Benson made a visit Tuesday to Texas State.

Benson’s trip comes after the WAC’s announcement to add Texas State, Texas-San Antonio and Denver beginning in the 2012 season. The commissioner spent the day at Texas State and attended the men’s basketball game against Long Island. He plans to make a visit Wednesday to UTSA’s campus.

Benson said talks between Texas State and the WAC occurred before Boise State announced in June it was leaving the league to join the Mountain West Conference. WAC officials have wanted to expand to a 10-team league for years, according to Benson.

“I’ve always been a proponent of expansion,” Benson said. “I’ve wanted a 10-team league, which has always been my perfect model. Even if Fresno State and Nevada hadn’t (announced they would leave the WAC), we’d still be looking to expand.”

Benson said other schools the WAC considered adding include Montana, Cal Poly and Cal Davis. Montana was in the midst of a case study to determine whether it would make the jump to the Football Bowl Subdivision, but decided last week to stay in the Big Sky Conference.

“I think Montana was always going to be on our radar screen,” Benson said. “Texas State was far more ready to move than Cal Poly and Cal Davis. They’ve (UTSA and Texas State) have had a plan in place (to move) for many years.”

Benson denied allegations that the WAC’s expansion resulted from desperation after Boise State, Nevada and Fresno State announced their departure from the league.

“It was not an act of desperation,” Benson said. “We had options, and we still have some options.”