SMU president R. Gerald Turner and athletic director Steve Orsini met with Big East officials on Sunday in Washington D.C. to discuss joining the conference, according to two sources with knowledge of the negotations.
An SMU spokesman declined comment.
SportsDay reported last week that the groups planned to meet soon. Reports Tuesday that West Virginia is leaving the Big East for the Big 12 did not come as a surprise. The Big East is still moving ahead with its plan of adding at least six new members: Houston, Central Florida, Navy, Air Force and Boise State, in addition to SMU. Temple could be a likely replacement for West Virginia.
Boise paper confirms Boise St/BE meeting. I'm guessing BE is OKing leaking/confirming this to various outlets to reinforce that they aren't disappearing w/WVU leaving.
Boise State President Bob Kustra met with Big East officials in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, the school confirmed Tuesday afternoon.
"It was informational in nature and Boise State continues to consider and evaluate its options," university spokesman Frank Zang said.
While uncertainty and instability is the new normal college football, SMU Athletic Director Steve Orsini said he isn't worried seismic shifts in the national landscape will have a negative impact any of the schools being considered for roles in conferences with automatic qualifying BCS bids.
"Any time the target is a moving target, it's a challenge," said Orsini, who previously was UCF's athletic director. "… If the targets weren't moving, then opportunities wouldn't present themselves for us."
