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Boise State renews push for Big West admission

Ferd Lewis

Boise State’s pursuit of a place in the Big West Conference for its teams in sports other than football has taken on urgency, people familiar with the process said.

“We have visited with the Big West about the future of our non-football programs and it is in their hands,” Boise State spokesman Max Corbet said in referring questions to the Big West.

Conference president Dennis Farrell said, “To be honest I can’t really comment on that right now. That’s our policy right now until the issue gets resolved.”

Boise State is believed to be seeking a determination by June 30 so it can advise the Mountain West of its withdrawal in time for the 2013-’14 school year as regulations require.  

Boise State will spend the 2012-13 academic year in the MWC. But to go through with the announced move of their football team to the Big East in 2013, the Broncos need a conference home for their other teams and the instability of the Western Athletic Conference has caused Boise State to make several approaches to the Big West.

Hawaii joins the Big West on July 1st in sports other than football, which will be in the MWC. UH will have a vote on whether Boise State gets admitted. Approval of at least eight of the 10 Big West members is required for membership.

In December Big West members turned thumbs down on the Broncos’ overtures. But San Diego State, which hopes to accompany Boise State to the Big East in football in 2013 and is moving its other sports into the Big West in 2013, has lobbied hard in favor of the Broncos.

At last month’s Big West Board of directors meeting in Los Angeles SDSU President Elliot Hirshman encouraged members to reconsider Boise State.

“Our president and director of athletics are actively monitoring the changing landscape in college athletics and remain committed to making the best long-term decisions for Boise State,” Corbet said. 

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