MWC confirms Boise State reconsidered joining Big East
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Boise State athletic director Mark Coyle said Monday that his school did not have conversations with the Mountain West about remaining in that conference instead of joining the Big East.
"No," said Coyle when asked if he had talks with the Mountain West about staying.
However, Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson, when asked about Coyle's comments Monday afternoon, confirmed the Mountain West and Boise State "had in-depth discussions" in the past two weeks about the Broncos staying in the Mountain West. Thompson and other MWC reps even recently visited Boise State's campus and met with Coyle and other Boise State officials about the Broncos remaining in the Mountain West.
On May 21, CBSSports.com reported that Boise State was reconsidering joining the Big East in 2013 as a football-only member and had discussions with the Mountain West. On Friday, CBSSports.com reported that Boise State had reaffirmed its decision to leave the Mountain West for the Big East.
Coyle's response Monday, from the Big East's spring meetings at the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club, insinuated that both CBSSports.com reports were inaccurate.
Thompson said otherwise.
“We had in-depth discussions with Boise State and made a very favorable proposal," Thompson said. "But Boise State has decided to continue with its plan to move to various other conferences. We are excited about the continued development of our membership configuration going forward and will proceed aggressively with our plans for future success."
Less than two weeks ago, Thompson -- and some MWC athletic directors -- were on Boise State's campus, meeting with Coyle and other Boise State officials about remaining in the Mountain West.
Coyle said Monday Boise State still hasn't decided where it will put its Olympic sports. The Broncos originally planned in 2013 to join the Big East as a football-only member and put their Olympic sports in the Western Athletic Conference. However, that plan is now in limbo as the WAC has been decimated by teams leaving for other conferences, forcing Boise State to try and move its non-football sports to the Big West.
“We still have conversations with them [WAC] and we're just trying to gather information," Coyle said. "It's changing for everybody and we're in a little bit of a unique spot because of the WAC and what they have gone through with some of the transformations that they've had in their conference, we continue to talk with everybody and try to find the best long-term solution for our institution."
"No," said Coyle when asked if he had talks with the Mountain West about staying.
However, Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson, when asked about Coyle's comments Monday afternoon, confirmed the Mountain West and Boise State "had in-depth discussions" in the past two weeks about the Broncos staying in the Mountain West. Thompson and other MWC reps even recently visited Boise State's campus and met with Coyle and other Boise State officials about the Broncos remaining in the Mountain West.
On May 21, CBSSports.com reported that Boise State was reconsidering joining the Big East in 2013 as a football-only member and had discussions with the Mountain West. On Friday, CBSSports.com reported that Boise State had reaffirmed its decision to leave the Mountain West for the Big East.
Coyle's response Monday, from the Big East's spring meetings at the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club, insinuated that both CBSSports.com reports were inaccurate.
Thompson said otherwise.
“We had in-depth discussions with Boise State and made a very favorable proposal," Thompson said. "But Boise State has decided to continue with its plan to move to various other conferences. We are excited about the continued development of our membership configuration going forward and will proceed aggressively with our plans for future success."
Less than two weeks ago, Thompson -- and some MWC athletic directors -- were on Boise State's campus, meeting with Coyle and other Boise State officials about remaining in the Mountain West.
Coyle said Monday Boise State still hasn't decided where it will put its Olympic sports. The Broncos originally planned in 2013 to join the Big East as a football-only member and put their Olympic sports in the Western Athletic Conference. However, that plan is now in limbo as the WAC has been decimated by teams leaving for other conferences, forcing Boise State to try and move its non-football sports to the Big West.
“We still have conversations with them [WAC] and we're just trying to gather information," Coyle said. "It's changing for everybody and we're in a little bit of a unique spot because of the WAC and what they have gone through with some of the transformations that they've had in their conference, we continue to talk with everybody and try to find the best long-term solution for our institution."
