Benson in eye of storm

Steve Carp

Tuesday, July 28, 1998 | 11:20 a.m.

Looking at the Western Athletic Conference's exterior is sort of like driving by the Bates Motel. It's calm, somewhat serene, a picture of tranquility and harmony.

But step inside the WAC's door and there's trouble lurking down virtually every hallway.

Commissioner Karl Benson would just as soon not play the role of Norman Bates, thank you. But as the keeper of this 16-unit inn for the next 12 months, he's going to need a lot of help to keep the bloodletting to a minimum.

Eight of the WAC's 16 schools, including UNLV, are leaving to form their own league next July. Naturally, that has spurned bad feelings from the eight remaining WAC members, especially Hawaii.

Some of the schools that are remaining don't want any future contact on the field of competition with those who are leaving.

There's talk of lawsuits for breach of contract and loss of revenues. The 16 schools have to amend the league's bylaws so they can do business as separate entities.

And it gets political, too.

Some of the remaining WAC schools want to remove UNLV president Carol Harter from her position on the NCAA Board of Directors. But Harter, whose term on the policy-making board doesn't expire until 2000, has no intention of stepping down.

Obviously, her presence would be important to the yet-to-be-named league, which would love to have representation on the NCAA board.

Meanwhile, the WAC still has a season to play as a 16-team league.

Benson, who has agreed to stay on as the WAC's commissioner, has a thankless task -- keeping things together for the next 11-plus months.

"It is obvious it's going to be an awkward year," Benson said of the WAC's final season as a super-conference. "It will be a difficult year.

"I think there will be some bad feelings. But we remain committed to our 16 member institutions and the emphasis has to be on the student-athletes and the coaches. It's a matter of ensuring that our championships are staged at the same level as in the past."

Today's football media preview at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino is the first official public WAC function since the split was announced in late May. Benson hoped that the talk would center on the upcoming season on the gridiron. But he knows better.

"We can't be naive," he said. "One has to expect the media will focus on the WAC vs. the departing eight.

"But my challenge is to focus on the WAC. The goal is to move forward and not take any steps backward."

The reality is nobody can move forward until all 16 schools sign off on the amendment to the WAC's bylaws, which would allow the two groups to operate as separate entities. It behooves both groups to get the work done because television contracts, bowl tie-ins and scheduling have to be done now.

When asked when that's going to get done, Benson backed off.

"I'm not allowed to discuss any of those details," he said.

But sources say the matter will be voted on today. If the amended bylaws are approved, then it's full steam ahead.

As for the possibility of litigation, that may be several months down the road. There is talk of a $10 million buyout to the WAC, which would avoid going to court. But Benson wouldn't confirm that figure.

There's also a possibility the matter could go to binding arbitration, with a third party deciding what's fair as far as a financial settlement.

However, those matters won't be addressed immediately. In the meantime Benson hopes the WAC can get through the upcoming season with as little friction as possible.

"I'm sure every decision I make will be politically scrutinized," he said. "But there have been athletic directors, coaches and presidents who were in this position with the Southwestern Conference. Once the season began, those issues quieted down and they competed in normalcy.

"I believe we'll have a year of heated competition," Benson added. "But I don't think it will be unhealthy. I think it's natural that both leagues will want to use this year to establish momentum heading into next year."