WAC 'very disappointed' San Jose-Boise dropped by network

Saturday's game between San Jose State and Boise State will not be televised by ESPN in an action deemed punitive by the Western Athletic Conference.

The game was promoted on air beginning last week and was listed on ESPN's website as recently as Monday, a WAC source said. But sources believe that ESPN pulled the plug because of a disagreement over contractual issues.

There apparently is a clause in the WAC-ESPN agreement that allows the cable giant to move the Nov. 25 Boise State-Nevada game to Friday, Nov. 24, if one of the teams is undefeated. Boise State is currently 9-0 and No. 14 in the BCS.

The Fresno State-Louisiana Tech game already will be televised Nov. 24. However, ESPN told the WAC it would drop that game from the schedule if the Boise-Nevada game were moved. The WAC wants both games televised.

The conference was so upset that the San Jose-Boise game was dropped that it issued a press release saying it was, "very disappointed that ESPN has made this decision." Such language is almost unheard of between television partners in any sport.

As a result, both schools this week have had to change preparations. The game was originally scheduled for 3 p.m. PT, then moved to 7 p.m. PT for television, and now is back at 3 p.m. PT.

"San Jose State acted in good faith to move the game to accommodate ESPN," WAC commissioner Karl Benson said in the release. "Coach Dick Tomey and his team deserve much better treatment."

"We are on not on the same page regarding future scheduling," said ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz.