Big West now considers Boise State--just in time?
Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 10:04 am
By BRIAN MURPHY ? [email protected]
Posted: 12:00am on May 16, 2012--12:26am on May 16, 2012
Boise State may have found a solution to its Big East problem ? just in time.
In order to move its football program to the Big East (and a much-larger TV contract that presumably will come with it), Boise State needs a stable home for its non-football teams. The Broncos were slated to join the WAC, but that league is down to five other members and facing more challenges.
Enter the Big West, a California-based non-football league that is adding Hawaii and San Diego State and was Boise State’s conference home in the late 1990s.
The league will "entertain" adding Boise State and has sent the Broncos the equivalent of a membership application, Commissioner Dennis Farrell said.
"We’re open to at least explore the possibility," he told the Idaho Statesman on Tuesday, one day after the league concluded meetings.
Boise State needs eight votes from the league’s 10 2013-14 members to be accepted into the conference. Those schools are Long Beach State, Cal State Fullerton, UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly, UC Riverside, UC Irvine, Cal State Northridge, UC Davis, San Diego State and Hawaii.
There is no timetable for a decision, but Boise State faces a July 1 deadline to withdraw from the Mountain West.
The Big West was one of the conferences that Boise State considered joining last fall, but the league was not interested. Farrell said there is more "openness" to adding the Broncos now. That could have something to do with San Diego State and its strong basketball program.
The Aztecs are set to join Boise State as football-only members of the Big East next year. However, if the Broncos were to remain in the Mountain West for lack of a good home for its other sports, the Big East could opt not to keep San Diego State, which would push the Aztecs back to the Mountain West in all sports and deprive the Big West of a long-coveted member.
San Diego State Athletic Director Jim Sterk has acknowledged aiding Boise State. Farrell said San Diego State has "some sensitivity to Boise State’s situation."
Hawaii, which is joining the Big West in July when its football program heads to the Mountain West, is paying travel subsidies to offset additional costs for the Big West members. Boise State could do the same or forego league revenues to help gain acceptance.
The Big West does not sponsor three Boise State sports: wrestling, women’s gymnastics and women’s swimming and diving.
Boise State declined comment Tuesday.
Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/05/1 ... rylink=cpy
Posted: 12:00am on May 16, 2012--12:26am on May 16, 2012
Boise State may have found a solution to its Big East problem ? just in time.
In order to move its football program to the Big East (and a much-larger TV contract that presumably will come with it), Boise State needs a stable home for its non-football teams. The Broncos were slated to join the WAC, but that league is down to five other members and facing more challenges.
Enter the Big West, a California-based non-football league that is adding Hawaii and San Diego State and was Boise State’s conference home in the late 1990s.
The league will "entertain" adding Boise State and has sent the Broncos the equivalent of a membership application, Commissioner Dennis Farrell said.
"We’re open to at least explore the possibility," he told the Idaho Statesman on Tuesday, one day after the league concluded meetings.
Boise State needs eight votes from the league’s 10 2013-14 members to be accepted into the conference. Those schools are Long Beach State, Cal State Fullerton, UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly, UC Riverside, UC Irvine, Cal State Northridge, UC Davis, San Diego State and Hawaii.
There is no timetable for a decision, but Boise State faces a July 1 deadline to withdraw from the Mountain West.
The Big West was one of the conferences that Boise State considered joining last fall, but the league was not interested. Farrell said there is more "openness" to adding the Broncos now. That could have something to do with San Diego State and its strong basketball program.
The Aztecs are set to join Boise State as football-only members of the Big East next year. However, if the Broncos were to remain in the Mountain West for lack of a good home for its other sports, the Big East could opt not to keep San Diego State, which would push the Aztecs back to the Mountain West in all sports and deprive the Big West of a long-coveted member.
San Diego State Athletic Director Jim Sterk has acknowledged aiding Boise State. Farrell said San Diego State has "some sensitivity to Boise State’s situation."
Hawaii, which is joining the Big West in July when its football program heads to the Mountain West, is paying travel subsidies to offset additional costs for the Big West members. Boise State could do the same or forego league revenues to help gain acceptance.
The Big West does not sponsor three Boise State sports: wrestling, women’s gymnastics and women’s swimming and diving.
Boise State declined comment Tuesday.
Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/05/1 ... rylink=cpy