The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Flystripper]

I see this as BYU trying to be like the big boys. The first couple games of the season with cupcakes for the easy win.

I think Ole Miss made a mistake playing BYU the first of the season. Do you think we'll ever see a LSU - OU early game again?

I don't see an annual Weber-like first or second game as a real issue.

I would like to see a much stronger independent schedule, though...

BYU could put Weber anywhere on its schedule. We have learned that BYU can't put even lower tier BCS opponents anywhere but the first half of its schedule. By putting Weber on the first half it is indicating that they could not even fill out the part of the year that is easy to schedule. It is a HUGE red flag IMHO.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

That's very noble of you. You're like a polygamous husband that still keeps his ugly first wife around even after he married the hot 20-year old.

I was talking more about the second wife, but I still mail the alimony check by the 15th of the month just to be fair.

[il Padrino Ute]

As do I. However, this message board is not an average cross cut of your typical fan base. We are, by definition, much more invested in the respective teams. I don't doubt for a second that you would go to all the games you could attend.

But there is a significant portion of every fan base that attends when teams win, not so much when they lose. And you will see the market react to that. Without winning, you aren't going to be hearing as much of the "we are in, that is all that matters..." tripe. And in acknowledging that, we are acknowledging that being in never was what mattered to begin with. The current excitement level among Utes is not the association itself....it is the opportunity to win on the larger stage that the association provides. Previously that opportunity was not available. Merely being associated isn't what is driving the enthusiasm. Some Utes may think that is the root of the excitement, but it really isn't. Which is why losing will quickly lead to lost enthusiasm and lower attendance. This happens at every school, regardless of conference affiliation.

The only school I would exempt from this would be Nebraska. They seem to attend every single home and away game regardless of how the team does.

I agree with this. I tend to forget that I'm not who the U is trying to get excited about Utah football, as I understand the difference between the PAC12 and the MWC. Losing will always drive the masses away.

[Coach McGuirk]

I don't know how to answer your question BYU went 11-2 in 2006 the first year they average 100% capacity for a season since 1999 the home schedule was Tulsa, Utah State, Wyoming, San Diego State, UNLV, New Mexico.

If you look at 2004, the games that inflated attendance numbers were Notre Dame and USC.

I guess that is kind of my point. If BYU is winning, they will fill the stadium, regardless of opponent. If they are losing it drops about 5k-10k with MWC talent coming in. Losing with Texas, OU, OSU, TT, KSU, etc coming in, I would submit attendance would remain higher, than losing with the current Independent schedule.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

TV revenue in the Big 12 would likely dwarf lost stadium revenue due to Big 12losses. I doubt it is a money issue. If anything it is just supports that BYU never had an offer. Discussions with the Big12? Yes. Offer? Probably not.

I think there were pointed discussions that everyone thought would lead to an invite. But I imagine some of BYU's demands got in the way, and I doubt it was really over Sunday play. I doubt that the Big 12 got on the horn and said "BYU! Come on Down!" Although with that said, it does appear as if that's exactly what happened with TCU.

Eddie made an interesting point the other day. Perhaps it wasn't about the 72 hour rebroadcast rights, perhaps it was BYU being worried about being relegated constantly to the third tier. I agree that sounds more plausible than the requesting that the games be rebroadcast in conjunction with the BYU BoM McLaughlin Group, but in some ways it's almost as equally stupid. If the concern is about exposure and BYU being relegated to whoever operates the 3rd tier broadcasts, how many times is that realistically going to happen in a given season? Conceivably it happens when BYU plays Iowa State, Baylor, and maybe K-State and Texas Tech. But 2-3 of those teams are on the upswing anyway. How many times in a given year is BYU going to be playing a destitute Big 12 game that either ESPN or Fox will want nothing to do with? In that same given year, how many times will BYU be playing Texas, OU and any other team that is having a good year?

Compare and contrast that with BYU's current situation. If BYU were relegated to some equivalent of the old Sportswest/ESPN+ situation for four games in the Big 12, but played the other 8 games against quality opponents on ESPN, Fox, etc. is that collectively really going to be less exposure than BYU playing some meaningless Friday night game on ESPN against the likes of NMSU and Idaho State?

Given how much Tom Holmoe talked about ESPN in the independence press conference last year, I get this impression that the powers that be overrate BYU's relationship with ESPN. It's been clear so far that ESPN will not be able to get us quality 1-1s with BCS programs. But I think it will also become clear that BYU's games with NMSU, etc. will not garner the precious exposure that BYU hopes it will.

[TripletDaddy]

Who is next for the B12? The usual suspects, including BYU

http://www.kansan.com/news/2011/oct/...s-next-big-12/

[Paperback Writer]

All fans expect SEC fans....so maybe stupid was the wrong word

While I agree that winning will fill more seats, there is a program with a sellout streak that will soon reach 50 years and spans losing seasons...and they don't play in the SEC.

If BYU joins the Big 12, they will have their moments where they compete for conference championships. If Missouri, Colorado, Kansas, and Texas Tech can do that, BYU could as well. But I question whether BYU would do what might be necessary to consistenly win in the Big12. Things that might jeopardize its mission and reputation. By staying independent, BYU can still win games and fill LES - and won't have to make any compromises to win consistently on the big stage. Not saying I agree with this course of action as I'd like to see BYU make changes/reforms...a view that isn't shared by the BOT.

[TripletDaddy]

Adios, Mizzou? No problem...bring in West Virginia, Louisville...and BYU

http://isportsweb.com/2011/10/12/big...er-conference/

the media doesnt seem to share the same doom and gloom

[il Padrino Ute]

Who is next for the B12? The usual suspects, including BYU

http://www.kansan.com/news/2011/oct/...s-next-big-12/

You're going to get everyone worked up again.

[beefytee]

BYU could put Weber anywhere on its schedule. We have learned that BYU can't put even lower tier BCS opponents anywhere but the first half of its schedule. By putting Weber on the first half it is indicating that they could not even fill out the part of the year that is easy to schedule. It is a HUGE red flag IMHO.

When the announcement was made, I was pretty excited because I thought it indicated a likelyhood of joining the Big XII for next season as we would want a lighter early schedule before tough conference plan.

Unfortunately that wasn't the case.

[TripletDaddy]

Neinas sez: Mizzou MUST decide......by the end of the academic year

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/12/sp...en-decide.html

[Portland Ute]

This much we know. In Utah's worst season since Ron McBride was fired, they beat us by 44 points. As LAU and others are quick to remind us, Utah has beat BYU 7 out of the 10 times and they've won two BCS bowl games in that period of time. Any objective observer will tell you that Utah has a better football program than BYU. With our refusal to improve our standing in the CFB world, I don't see that changing. Especially if Utah starts to pick off the best local recruits.

Yes. BYU is facing a unique pressure and they have a very pissed off fan base. I think it's also safe to assume that there are two head coaches in the department that are livid at those above them. When the most visible Kool-Aid drinker in Provo, Bronco Mendenhall, is violating marching orders and advocating membership in a BCS conference, it's clear that all is not well in the SAB. Based purely on speculation, rumor and innuendo, Dave Rose, one of the hottest coaching commodities in CBB, isn't happy with a long-term WCC solution. Can BYU prove everybody wrong and demonstrate that Independence/WCC is a better solution than the Big 12? Perhaps, but I doubt it.

[YOhio]

GTFO!

[Portland Ute]

You're like a polygamous husband that still keeps his ugly first wife around even after he married the hot 20-year old.

Is this a common occurance?

[WashingtonCoug]

no I am basing it on the following:

1. Current and projected BCS access. Projection based on BCS response when we petitioned for better access.

2. The 3-5 years of schedules look horrible and recent efforts to schedule have yielded results wich are significantly below expectations even with fellow independent ND. Weber State in the first half of the season? really?

3. Three years of Bowls are scheduled and all three are shit

4. The Big 12 offers more money and it is a fact the once the ESPN contract is over the money in the future is uncertain.

5. Our other sports play in the WCC. The WCC is a joke.

Which is everything that we could get in the first year.