Winners: Utah, Colorado, Larry Scott (Pac 10), Texas

[creekster]

Conference worthiness smack is so lame.

Indeed.

[Lost Student]

I think you guys are toast after Jimmer leaves, unless you are lucky enough to get another Jimmer. Even Jimmer was kind of a fluke. He wasn't highly rated or heavily recruited. BYU has not shown the ability to consistently recruit at even a high mid-major level. Its recruiting lists are a joke every year, except for a local Utah county hot shot or two, that is basically high to mid mid-major rated. I will say this, Rose seems to be able to pull players who can compete at least in the MWC out of his ear. No one ever heard of Michael Loyd. He was recruited by Big Sky schools. We'll see how long Rose can keep this up. I think BYU's ability to recruit non-LDS kids from the urban basketball hotbeds is almost nil.

Still you to judge progams over 10-20 year periods. BYU really doesn't have a tradition that can hold a candle to Utah's.

Crap, I was going to make fun of your mis-use of "it's" but you edited too quickly. So instead, I'll ask again: What will Utah's record against BYU be next year?

[SeattleUte]

Crap, I was going to make fun of your mis-use of "it's" but you edited too quickly. So instead, I'll ask again: What will Utah's record against BYU be next year?

I expect they'll at least split. BYU won't be as good and uTah will be a lot better. Just a guess.

[PaloAltoCougar]

The author's view of Larry Scott is unusual, if not unique, among the local punditry. It's hard to see how Scott was a winner if, as even the author admitted, Scott's primary objective was soundly rejected and he is now despised outside the conference (not a good foundation for future dealings).

[myboynoah]

"Utah for Boise not an even trade..." Nebraska a loser

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/college...onrealignment/

Wilner's obviously off his game.

He left out his normal, "BYU was never in the discussion."

Definitely off his game.

[SCcoug]

I think you guys are toast after Jimmer leaves, unless you are lucky enough to get another Jimmer. Even Jimmer was kind of a fluke. He wasn't highly rated or heavily recruited.

Lol, you've been on this "once (fill in the blank of BYU's best player) leaves you'll be toast" kick for a while. Hang in there though, one of these years BYU will have a down year and you'll be right.

[jay santos]

"Utah for Boise not an even trade..." Nebraska a loser

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/college...onrealignment/

lol Scott a winner for attempting what SU thought the Pac would gut him for and a loser for not succeeding.

[SeattleUte]

The author's view of Larry Scott is unusual, if not unique, among the local punditry. It's hard to see how Scott was a winner if, as even the author admitted, Scott's primary objective was soundly rejected and he is now despised outside the conference (not a good foundation for future dealings).

The irony is he was never very high on Utah. Now Utah is a great get.

[Blueintheface]

I think you guys are toast after Jimmer leaves, unless you are lucky enough to get another Jimmer. Even Jimmer was kind of a fluke. He wasn't highly rated or heavily recruited. BYU has not shown the ability to consistently recruit at even a high mid-major level. Its recruiting lists are a joke every year, except for a local Utah county hot shot or two, that is basically high to mid mid-major rated. I will say this, Rose seems to be able to pull players who can compete at least in the MWC out of his ear. No one ever heard of Michael Loyd. He was recruited by Big Sky schools. We'll see how long Rose can keep this up. I think BYU's ability to recruit non-LDS kids from the urban basketball hotbeds is almost nil.

Still you to judge progams over 10-20 year periods. BYU really doesn't have a tradition that can hold a candle to Utah's.

It's cute when you try and talk sports. (Stick to forward thinking).

[LA Ute]

The author's view of Larry Scott is unusual, if not unique, among the local punditry. It's hard to see how Scott was a winner if, as even the author admitted, Scott's primary objective was soundly rejected and he is now despised outside the conference (not a good foundation for future dealings).

Do you really think getting Texas et al. was Scott's primary objective?

[Uncle Ted]

"Utah for Boise not an even trade..." Nebraska a loser

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/college...onrealignment/

I agree with him about Nebraska. They may become the Big Ten's Arkansas and never win a conference title again.

As for the Pac-10/Scott being a winner, this may only really be measured when the TV contracts are renewed, IMHO. Also, adding Utah and UC does very little for the Pac-10's recruiting problem in getting the top talent. USC is really the only Pac-10 team that has done consistently well here. Of course, if the NCAA sanctions stick then USC will most likely not be in the top 10 in recruiting in the upcoming years. I suspect the top talent that would have gone to USC will be going to UCLA and other Pac-10 teams instead so it will most likely remain in the family.

[dabrockster]

LOL.. This guy can't be serious.. He talks about PAC 10 as a winner as well as Big 12 and then singles out Nebraska rather than talking about the Big 10 conference..

Didn't realize they gave any idiot a column... One thing is fore sure. Dude is a PAC 10 homer and he wears that badge proudly and openly..

[PaloAltoCougar]

Do you really think getting Texas et al. was Scott's primary objective?

Yes. Your skepticism with the use of "really" is duly noted. So what was his primary objective? Why did he spend so much time trying to induce Texas to move west?

Perhaps we're using "primary" differently. I'm using it in the sense of "preferred" or "most desired." If mere expansion was his primary objective, then you may be right. But expansion (given the deadlock certainty Colorado and Utah would accept instantly) had all the challenge of a one-inch putt, and I don't see that as an objective at all.

[Blueintheface]

Yes. Your skepticism with the use of "really" is duly noted. So what was his primary objective? Why did he spend so much time trying to induce Texas to move west?

Perhaps we're using "primary" differently. I'm using it in the sense of "preferred" or "most desired." If mere expansion was his primary objective, then you may be right. But expansion (given the deadlock certainty Colorado and Utah would accept instantly) had all the challenge of a one-inch putt, and I don't see that as an objective at all.

Well put(t)

In that obvious context the definition of 'primary' could mean only what you suggested.

[LA Ute]

Yes. Your skepticism with the use of "really" is duly noted. So what was his primary objective? Why did he spend so much time trying to induce Texas to move west?

Perhaps we're using "primary" differently. I'm using it in the sense of "preferred" or "most desired." If mere expansion was his primary objective, then you may be right. But expansion (given the deadlock certainty Colorado and Utah would accept instantly) had all the challenge of a one-inch putt, and I don't see that as an objective at all.

I think the most accurate narrative is this: Scott wanted to expand. He got Colorado locked up and Utah had apparently signed something to the effect that they were "in" if the PAC (that other one) offered. Then he went out and "swung for the fences." I doubt he really thought he could pull off the PAC16-apalooza, but he wanted to give it a shot. In the end he shook up the college football world and drove up the TV revenues he can get with his new 12-school conference.

Now, some ardent Cougar fans will dispute that narrative because it is rather benign towards the U. of U., but it seems to be the one that most uninvolved observers accept. I don't think it is all that favorable to Utah - we were still the last school in the door under either scenario - but we are in and we are thrilled about that.

Many BYU fans understandably want to devalue Utah's accomplishment but I don't think it is accurate to describe Utah's PAC10 invitation as any kind of a booby prize - i.e., a disappointed Scott offered Utah when he realized he could not do any better. It's pretty clear Scott has been talking to Hill et al. for many months, apparently as early as the Oregon game last fall.

Anyway, that's my story and I am stickin' to it. If BYU makes the Big 12 (even as the last school in) I promise not to attempt to devalue the accomplishment.