Peter Fields, like Jim O’Day before him, has denied talking turkey with the Western Athletic Conference in a story by the Bozeman Chronicle’s Will Holden.

Fields, Montana State University’s athletic director, said his conversations with WAC commissioner Karl Benson haven’t included overtures or hints about joining the WAC. In his words:

“Karl and I are friends. I’ve known him a long time, but I haven’t spoken to him about this.”

Last week O’Day, Montana’s AD, said his conversations with the WAC were limited to talks with ADs from that league’s schools, but it seems like Benson would be more proactive than that. Especially now that Hawaii is mulling football independence and membership in either the Big West or the WCC for other sports.

-Fritz Neighbor