Boise State lobbying for Big West

Boise State’s pursuit of a home in the Big West Conference is back on and 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 timeline 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 ’13, the Broncos need a conference home for their other teams, and the instability of the Western Athletic Conference has caused Boise State to make repeated approaches to the Big West.

"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.

Hawaii joins the Big West on July 1 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 and members said they would reconsider an application by the Broncos.