Tuesday, Nov. 03, 2009

WAC boss: Boise State struggling to find opponent for 2011

Several high-profile programs have turned down a chance to play a home game against Boise State in 2011, WAC commissioner Karl Benson said Tuesday.

Boise State - with help from ESPN, Benson said - has been shopping for a game to fill out its 2011 schedule.

Benson isn't sure of the exact number of schools that have said no, but figures it is close to 10. The Broncos aren't asking for any games in Boise in return, he said.

"They're running into a situation where nobody will schedule them, nobody will take them," Benson said.

Boise State athletic director Gene Bleymaier wasn't available for comment.

The Broncos have seven home games and five road games scheduled for 2011, but don't have a Bowl Championship Series-conference opponent. Bleymaier wants to add a BCS road game as the 13th game to fix that hole. The other nonconference opponents in 2011 are Utah, Tulsa and Wyoming in Boise and Toledo on the road.

Benson also said the WAC has hired an Idaho public relations firm to do some research and arrange media interviews to help push Boise State's BCS case. The WAC also hired a public-relations firm to push for Hawaii's inclusion in 2007, he said.

"We're trying to establish a message," Benson said.

Chadd Cripe