As it stands today, New Mexico State will host Boise State once again in men s basketball during the 2013-14 academic year. Such a scenario could very well change, however, if BSU elects to take their Olympic sports programs to the Big West Conference.
LAS CRUCES - Jeff Hurd said that Boise State doesn't know what the Western Athletic Conference will look like in the future.BSU is not alone in that regard.
Following the Broncos official departure of its successful football program from the Mountain West Conference to the Big East over the weekend, the Broncos' Olympic-sports programs are still tied to the WAC, although loosely, for the 2013 year.
"Boise State has made it public that it is pursuing membership in the Big West and what that means is for the Big West to ultimately decide," said Hurd, the WAC's interim commissioner. "I have had conversations with everyone involved and I could see three to six weeks before it plays itself out."
The Big West presidents are holding a meeting later this summer to likely determine Boise State's inclusion into the league beginning July 1, 2013.
But as it stands currently, the Broncos' Olympic sports are tied to the WAC in 2013. New Mexico State, Idaho, Seattle (non-football) and Denver (non-football) are the others, a configuration that ultimately falls short of membership requirements for a Division I athletics conference.
The situation is even murkier for football, where New Mexico State and Idaho are the lone football-playing schools scheduled to be in the WAC for the 2013-14 campaign. Hurd said expansion talks currently involves football and non-football members, but he would not comment if that means picking up Football Championship Subdivision schools to join
NMSU and Idaho as WAC football teams in 2013.FCS members mentioned in the past connected with the WAC include Georgia Southern, Liberty, Jacksonville State, Montana, Montana State, Eastern Washington, Portland State and Appalachian State.
California State-Bakersfield and Utah Valley University could be added as non-football members.
"The WAC is trying to define its future (while) we are looking at other options," NMSU athletics director McKinley Boston said.
Near the top of NMSU's wish list is the Mountain West expanding from 10 to 12 football schools to replace Boise State and San Diego State.
"Boise State and San Diego State's departure creates opportunity depending on what the Mountain West's intentions are," Boston said. "They are still trying to figure out what gives them the best membership model for competition and television. There have been multiple conversations. The Mountain West understands our interest and there has been a communication strategy with them in place for some time."
Hurd said he has been in communication with Boise State as the WAC struggles to attract new membership.
"It's difficult to make assumptions," Hurd said. "As you pursue expansion options, you keep in mind that Boise State might not be a part of it."
Jason Groves can be reached at (575) 541-5459. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.
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