Getty ImagesEarlier this month, Boise State confirmed via an open records request that the school’s general counsel had conducted “correspondence and discussions with the Mountain West” about remaining in the league.
One week ahead of a “deadline” to officially notify the MWC of its intent to move its football program to the Big East in 2013, it appears the university is still straddling the conference fence.
According to a report from CBSSports.com‘s Brett McMurphy that appears to have gotten lost amidst the Jerry Sandusky guilty verdict, Boise State has yet to officially withdraw from the MWC. Conference bylaws state that Boise State has until July 1 to officially withdraw from the conference or else face a stiffer financial penalty — at least $7.5 million in a post-July 1 move compared to roughly $2.5 million for notification prior to the one-year deadline.
The “at least” part is key here as the financial penalty could ultimately be eight figures for Boise State if they withdraw from the MWC after the first of next month:
That’s because Mountain West by-laws indicate if a school leaves with less than one year’s notice — which would happen if Boise State waits to officially withdraw after July 1 — the school must forfeit its final year of league revenue plus pay an additional $5 million or double its final year of league revenue, whichever amount is larger. In that scenario, Boise State would lose a minimum of $7.5 million.
However, that number could triple if the Mountain West receives an exemption as a BCS automatic qualifying conference for the 2012 season. If the league receives the AQ exemption and Boise State wins the MWC in 2012 and earns the BCS bowl berth, it would forfeit a minimum of $8 million in league revenue and have to pay $16 million to the league, losing a total of about $24 million.
Perhaps most disconcerting, at least from the Big East’s perspective, is the fact that McMurphy writes that “the Broncos… remain in discussions with the MWC about staying in that league.” This comes nearly a month after Boise State supposedly reaffirmed its intent to move its football program to the Big East.
A home for its other sports programs, however, continues to be one of, if not the, overriding factor in Boise’s conference future. If the school leaves the MWC in football, that conference will not allow the Broncos’ other sports to remain in that league. While Boise State has an agreement with the WAC to house its non-football programs, that conference is on the verge of extinction. The Broncos have also engaged in talks — with the help of San Diego State — with the Big West if the WAC is, as it appears, not a viable option.
If the WAC folds… if the Big West continues to rebuff Boise State’s efforts to join that conference in non-football sports… the Broncos may have no other choice but to remain in the MWC. And pay the Big East a $5 million exit fee, although that would be the least of that conference’s worries if it ever got to the point of losing what would’ve instantly been the league’s flagship football program.
Looks like the MWC has Boise between a rock and a hard place.
Stay. The 2000 mile road trips aren’t worth it.
Stay put Boise. Being in the minor leagues is just that. Better to be close to home. Any financial gain will be lost in travel.
I don’t have a dog in this hunt, but the Big (L)east seems like a waste of time for Boise to me, given the way that league is coming apart at the seams. Sometimes, the best move is the one you don’t make.
I feel sorry for both the Big East and Boise St. I hope both come out as well as possible. I do remember many good games between the Mountaineers and many in the Big East. Could never wish harm to any of them.
They are just plain afraid toplay Temple. Ooooh, fear the Owls.
Just make a decision and stick by it!!! BSU goes from conference to conference to conference and now they can’t decide what they want to do. Unbelievable!!!!
Stay.. Regional rivalries in MWC will be a whole lot better than traveling east.. rather go to Honolulu, Vegas and Laramie. As compared to Philly, Cincinnati and NJ…
If all things are equal, Boise should stay in the MWC. Unfortunately, we don’t know if all things are equal, because the committee keeps dragging thier feet on the BCS exemption for the MWC. The academic/athletic year starts July 1st – all matters for that year should be figured out before the year starts. That includes the ruling, one way or another, on the BCS exemption. It is not fair to anybody for this to drag any longer – not fair for Boise, not fair for the Big 10 and SEC (who essentially stand to lose 1 at large spot between the two of them) and not fair for the rest of the bowls (that I personally don’t feel bad for, but its a valid concern)
The problem is, they can stay, go undefeated and still hear the ‘you didn’t beat anyone’ cries. They are almost forced to either put some better teams on their non conference schedule or join a real conference.
Find me this “real conference” that they can just sign up and join…you know as well as I do that it doesn’t work that way.
In the games that they have a choice in scheduling (non conf), they do as good of job as possible -Georgia, Va Tech, Oregon in the past, a long series about to start with BYU, Mich St this year, Ole Miss in the future, etc. Its not going to work with scheduling every school – too many possible opponents and Boise just can’t seem to agree on the money. (and even when its not about the money….its about the money)
And they’ll still hear the “you didn’t beat anybody” in the new Big East also, so thats really the least of thier concerns.
If Boise stays in the MWC they will never go anywhere. The Big East is the best they can do at this time.
Maybe in a couple years they will be able to go elsewhere. But they will go nowhere if they stay. The Big East may not even invite them again.
No one knows the future, but staying nowhere should not be an option.
If they join the Big East and all the teams schedule as tough non conference teams as they can, just maybe the Big East will come back.
Is Boise State the first domino in the disappearance of the Big East. Will Notre Dame stay in the Big East for its olympic sports when the best of the competition is exiting? This doesn’t help the Big 12 either. Their “other” sports generally don’t exist (lacrosse) or live at a clearly lower level (basketball) than the Big East. Is ND in secret talks with the ACC? Will the ACC take them without football?
Unless ND wants to entirely join a conference, I hope they stay where they are. Every good conference should tell them, it is all or nothing.
who cares.. they suck
What is the overall benefit of them joining the Big East now. On paper in comparison, MWC is probably a better overall conference. Why fly across the country, if AQ status doesn’t matter anymore. Stay Boise and schedule some tough non conference teams.