The Independent Expansion Groundswell

[statman]

So basically BYU's strategy is to be the easy lay?

They've been the easy lay since the inception of the MWC.

BYU is responsible for about 50% of the money in the MWC TV contract. Utah, about 35% of it. Everyone else, about 15% combined (I know, I know, what about TCU? TCU, although very deserving on the field, simply doesn't have a following. They have a couple HUGE donors, but not a very big fanbase. Too much Big 12 noise in Ft Worth for anyone to care).

[BlueHair]

I think the really difficult part would be the schedule for the next 4 years. Schedules are made well in advance. Dropping out of the conference would leave them looking for some games in a hurry.

[statman]

I think the really difficult part would be the schedule for the next 4 years. Schedules are made well in advance. Dropping out of the conference would leave them looking for some games in a hurry.

After the Mountain debacle, BYU isn'tgoing to do ANYTHING without getting it all nailed down in advance. If they announce a move to indy, I'm sure it will be with scheduling nailed down for the next couple years at least.

But to make things more complicated, I'm also sure that they're likely telling future opponents that we're trying to get into the Big 12 as well. IF, that is, they're actually trying to get into the Big 12. And IF they're actually really trying ot go independent.

One things for sure, though. The MWC isn't doing anything for anyone that's left in it. MWC will not be an AQ conference, and as a group, there just isn't TV money. BYU makes more on its own than with Wyoming and NM dragging it down...

[landpoke]

After the Mountain debacle, BYU isn'tgoing to do ANYTHING without getting it all nailed down in advance. If they announce a move to indy, I'm sure it will be with scheduling nailed down for the next couple years at least.

But to make things more complicated, I'm also sure that they're likely telling future opponents that we're trying to get into the Big 12 as well. IF, that is, they're actually trying to get into the Big 12. And IF they're actually really trying ot go independent.

One things for sure, though. The MWC isn't doing anything for anyone that's left in it. MWC will not be an AQ conference, and as a group, there just isn't TV money. BYU makes more on its own than with Wyoming and NM dragging it down...

Sounds like someone has some consultants whispering sweet nothings in its ear. Maybe BYU makes more on its own, but I doubt they make anywhere near what you're throwing out here.

Well, let me be the first to say adios. Or vaya con dios, whichever you prefer.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

With the divide the BCS created between BCS and non-BCS, BYU has slowly lost footing with top LDS recruits over the last 15 years. When I say divide, I don't mean revenue divide, because the BCS didn't create that. I mean the divide where a recruit that chooses Oregon over BYU says "I wanted to play for a BCS team". Over the next 20 years, this slow erosion of our top recruits will speed up, as our biggest competitor just moved into the BCS. Something has to be done. I don't know if independence is the answer, but something has to happen or BYU athletics will drop to a top 40ish tier.

There is some backwards logic in your thinking. Many of the things you are talking about happened more in the early 2000s than they do now, and from 1999-2006 we were a 40ish or lower ranked team. Now we are a top 25 team.

If the slope were as slippery as you claim we wouldn't have climbed back up the hill and started getting recruits that had BCS offers and back into the top 25. We would have faded into bolivian.

[jay santos]

There is some backwards logic in your thinking. Many of the things you are talking about happened more in the early 2000s than they do now, and from 1999-2006 we were a 40ish or lower ranked team. Now we are a top 25 team.

If the slope were as slippery as you claim we wouldn't have climbed back up the hill and started getting recruits that had BCS offers and back into the top 25. We would have faded into bolivian.

I'm looking at macro trends. A bad coaching hire, a good coaching hire, a couple star players, some good or bad luck, and you will stray from the trend. The LDS talent available also has gotten better during that time period. If BYU were in the Pac 10 and hadn't gone through the Crowton period, maybe we would have been consistently top 10 through the 00's. Even though we've been in the top 25, the # of top LDS who choose BCS conferences over BYU continues to increase.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I'm looking at macro trends. A bad coaching hire, a good coaching hire, a couple star players, some good or bad luck, and you will stray from the trend. The LDS talent available also has gotten better during that time period. If BYU were in the Pac 10 and hadn't gone through the Crowton period, maybe we would have been consistently top 10 through the 00's. Even though we've been in the top 25, the # of top LDS who choose BCS conferences over BYU continues to increase.

I am not sure the LDS talent available has gotten all that much better over the last 20 years. I remember an email chain on C-Net talking about all the LDS players at different schools all over the country and if BYU had them all we would be a top 10 team.

BYU is never going to get all the LDS talent, not every LDS dreams of going to college at BYU.

[Indy Coug]

Santos is of the opinion that if Kevin Costner can build a big enough field in his corn all the top LDS prospects will come.

[Mormon Red Death]

If byu went independent they could easily make a deal with the Veg or Poinsettia bowls that would be their bowl game if they are eligible.

[jay santos]

Santos is of the opinion that if Kevin Costner can build a big enough field in his corn all the top LDS prospects will come.

Of course not. But 70% compared to 50% or 30% is a big deal.

[Donuthole]

If byu went independent they could easily make a deal with the Veg or Poinsettia bowls that would be their bowl game if they are eligible.

[Mormon Red Death]

If Navy and Army could do it. So could byu

[Top Ute]

Assuming BYU is independent in football only, I would think they could round up some home and homes pretty easily. They would probably need about 16 teams that they had home and homes with every single year.

I've yet to hear one good, compelling argument from a BYU fan in favor of another conference allowing BYU to be a member, but retain independent status for football.

BYU fans are aware (and agree upon) the inequity caused by BCS/non-BCS status. Why would any conference agree to essentially create a similar gap among its current members? With the exception of basketball (where it would still field a very strong team in most years), BYU would flat-out crush leagues like the WCC or the Big West in the Olympic sports.

Bigger leagues like the WAC or (shudder) C-USA would demand BYU be a member for football, and BYU would hold no cards in that debate. It's a downgrade in conference affiliation, and everyone knows it.

This is the one example where BYU fans could claim fear of playing them as a legitimate excuse for exclusion. You're simply too good, with too much money and too many resources not to dominate smaller leagues.

Going independent in football is one thing, because it makes for fun debate. But the assumption that conference affiliation is a given for the rest of your sports is where many BYU fans don't realize that such a scenario is the real pie-in-the-sky mindset.

[Top Ute]

We would have faded into bolivian.

I love it when someone channels Mike Tyson. Just capitalize the 'B' next time, and it'll be perfect.

[CJF]

I've yet to hear one good, compelling argument from a BYU fan in favor of another conference allowing BYU to be a member, but retain independent status for football.

BYU fans are aware (and agree upon) the inequity caused by BCS/non-BCS status. Why would any conference agree to essentially create a similar gap among its current members? With the exception of basketball (where it would still field a very strong team in most years), BYU would flat-out crush leagues like the WCC or the Big West in the Olympic sports.

Bigger leagues like the WAC or (shudder) C-USA would demand BYU be a member for football, and BYU would hold no cards in that debate. It's a downgrade in conference affiliation, and everyone knows it.

This is the one example where BYU fans could claim fear of playing them as a legitimate excuse for exclusion. You're simply too good, with too much money and too many resources not to dominate smaller leagues.

Going independent in football is one thing, because it makes for fun debate. But the assumption that conference affiliation is a given for the rest of your sports is where many BYU fans don't realize that such a scenario is the real pie-in-the-sky mindset.

Karl Benson is on record as saying that he and the WAC would welcome BYU with open arms for all sports but football.