San Diego State jilts Big East, staying in MWC

San Diego State is staying in the Mountain West and backing out on the Big East - just as Boise State did last month.

University President Elliot Hirshman said Tuesday that the school is pleased to be continuing as a full member of the Mountain West Conference.

San Diego State, a founding member, had committed to join the Big East for football only, with Boise State, starting next season. San Diego State's other teams were going to compete in the Big West.

But recent defections from the Big East caused Boise State to reconsider and strike a deal to stay in the Mountain West. Without a western partner, San Diego State retreated, too.

Unlike Boise State, San Diego State is not on the hooka statement. "We have the deepest respect for our colleagues in the Mountain West, Big East and Big West conferences with whom we have worked collaboratively during the period of conference realignment. We are optimistic about the future of San Diego State University's athletic programs and the prospect of building on our university's rich tradition of intercollegiate athletics."

The move leaves the Big East with only 10 football members for the forthcoming season, instead of the 12 it had planned to have. It also scraps plans to hold a conference title game, and will force the league office to come up with a new schedule. In early December, it had released a schedule with San Diego State and Boise State in a new western division.

The conference has 10 football