Devin Rokyta

Go ahead and subtract a few more schools from the ever-shrinking Western Athletic Conference, which appears to be on its last leg and the first casualty of conference realignment.

PULLMAN, Wash. -- After a decade of working with grizzly bears -- especially a hand-raised quartet of females -- at Washington State University's Bear Center, Lynne Nelson admits it's difficult not to view the predators as overgrown, 400-pound lap dogs.

After all, the veterinary cardiologist personally cared for four of them at her home, more or less taking on the role of mother.