December 18th 2024.
The dispute between Colorado State and Utah State and the Mountain West Conference has taken a legal turn, with the two schools filing a lawsuit against the conference. According to the lawsuit, the Mountain West has been taking actions that are not authorized by their bylaws, specifically targeting the five schools that have announced their plans to leave the conference and join the Pac-12 in 2026. The lawsuit, which was filed in a Colorado state court on Monday, claims that the conference and its commissioner, Gloria Nevarez, have been unfairly punishing these schools in an attempt to prevent further departures.
The complaint highlights some specific ways in which the Mountain West has been targeting the departing schools. This includes threatening to withhold millions of dollars that are owed to them, as well as refusing to reimburse them for expenses related to postseason football games. According to the plaintiffs, the conference's actions go against their bylaws and also violate Colorado law. This is not the first time the Mountain West has been accused of disregarding their own rules in an effort to control their members' decisions.
The lawsuit also brings up the issue of exit fees, which the Mountain West is seeking to impose on the departing schools. These fees are said to be equal to three or six times the average distribution that the conference paid to its members in the previous year, which could amount to millions of dollars per school. The plaintiffs argue that these fees are not justified and are simply a way for the Mountain West to punish schools for choosing to leave the conference.
The law firm representing Colorado State and Utah State, O'Melveny, has accused the Mountain West and Nevarez of operating in secrecy and violating the rights of the departing schools. They claim that the conference has made side agreements with the remaining seven schools, promising them money that rightfully belongs to the five departing schools. The conference has also been accused of withholding important documents, such as board minutes, which is a violation of Colorado law.
The breakup of the Mountain West conference began after the Pac-12 experienced some major changes, with most of its schools leaving to join other conferences. As the Pac-12 tried to rebuild, they turned to schools from the Mountain West to fill their ranks. However, this has caused tension and resentment among the remaining Mountain West schools, as they feel that they are being abandoned by their former conference mates.
The seven schools that have committed to staying in the Mountain West are Air Force, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV, Wyoming, and Hawaii. It remains to be seen how this legal battle will affect the dynamics between these schools and the departing schools. For now, the lawsuit serves as a reminder that the world of college sports is not just about games and championships, but also about business and politics. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
