The Western Athletic Conference has countered the Mountain West’s negotiations with  the University of Hawaii and offered the Warriors a football-only membership, WAC commissioner Karl Benson said today.

Benson said the offer was made to both Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw and athletic director Jim Donovan.

There was no immediate comment from UH.

"The WAC has informed (Hinshaw and Donovan) that if Hawaii wants to be a football-only member of the WAC, that we are ready and willing to accept Hawaii as a football-only member," Benson told the Star-Advertiser.

UH announced last night it is negotiating with the Mountain West to join the conference as a football-only member while placing its other sports in the Big West.

The move, when approved, would end a 32-year association with the WAC where UH is the longest current member.