By John Nestor

Boise, ID

Interim Boise State athletic director Curt Apsey is actively looking at his conference options.

According to a report, Apsey called Big West Conference commissioner Dennis Farrell Wednesday to gauge interest in taking the Broncos' other sports if they join the Big East in football.

ESPN.com reported the call citing a source with direct knowledge of the conversation.

According to the report, Apsey said the Broncos could be in a predicament in looking for a new home for all of its non-football teams. The New York Times reported Boise State was one of a handful of schools that met with Big East officials Sunday to discuss joining the league in football only.

The Big West will have a similar arrangement with Hawaii in 2012-13. The Warriors will join the league for all sports except football, which will be in the Mountain West.

Boise State has not been in contact with the WCC, WAC or Big Sky about taking its non-football sports, ESPN.com confirmed. Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson has said publicly if Boise State football were to leave the conference the school could not keep all of its other sports in the Mountain West.

"In the best interest of Boise State, and without getting specific, we are considering all potential opportunities," Apsey said.

Big East commissioner John Marinatto is expected to meet with Boise State officials Thursday in Boise to lay out why the Broncos and Big East would be a good match in football, multiple sources told the Idaho Statesman.

Marinatto had met with Air Force officials Wednesday on a similar mission, The (Colorado Springs) Gazette first reported.

The source with knowledge of the Farrell-Apsey call told ESPN.com that Farrell told him the Big West is comfortable at 10 schools but would consider expansion if it made the league better in basketball. Boise State hired former Gonzaga assistant Leon Rice as its men's basketball coach a year ago.

 

 

Boise State Exploring Big West Conference Move for Non-Football Sports