The Independent Expansion Groundswell

[CardiacCoug]

Not in my wildest dreams did I imagine a day when we would be looking at joining forces with the WCC as a positive step. I had to google the WCC a few hours ago just to get the acronym right.

BYU is the Notre Dame of the West.

The West Coast Conference is the Big East Conference of the West.

Makes perfect sense to me.

[SoonerCoug]

The only alternative interpretation is that BYU will remain in the MWC but be independent for football.

[YOhio]

Independence will mean serious $$$ for BYU. Multiples of what they get now. I don't need convincing. It's as plain as day. This is a good thing.

You keep pounding this drum. I'm curious as to how the serious $$$ will help BYU win more football games (or any sport for that matter). It's not like they'll pay the coaches more. They already have excellent facilities. They've never not recruited a player because it wasn't in the budget. Maybe I'm being naive here, but I see this $$$ play being thrown around as if a fan should care. Just what will the extra money mean for BYU athletics in terms of wins/losses?

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

You keep pounding this drum. I'm curious as to how the serious $$$ will help BYU win more football games (or any sport for that matter). It's not like they'll pay the coaches more. They already have excellent facilities. They've never not recruited a player because it wasn't in the budget. Maybe I'm being naive here, but I see this $$$ play being thrown around as if a fan should care. Just what will the extra money mean for BYU athletics in terms of wins/losses?

Look what money has done for Indiana football? They have been part of the chosen club since the beginning. BYU can one day be as good as Indiana with our new found ESPN Wednesday night football money! Oh and we will be playing New Mexico State!

[statman]

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. One of the arguments the pro-Mtn crowd made against not going back to ESPN a few years ago.

For $1 - $2 million a game, does it really matter? Plus, I actually like weekday games on ESPN...

[Moliere]

For $1 - $2 million a game, does it really matter? Plus, I actually like weekday games on ESPN...

Yep, it frees up Saturday so we can get ready for Sunday!

[Jarid in Cedar]

You keep pounding this drum. I'm curious as to how the serious $$$ will help BYU win more football games (or any sport for that matter). It's not like they'll pay the coaches more. They already have excellent facilities. They've never not recruited a player because it wasn't in the budget. Maybe I'm being naive here, but I see this $$$ play being thrown around as if a fan should care. Just what will the extra money mean for BYU athletics in terms of wins/losses?

Because when the only tool you have left is a hammer.....er.....a drum, you pound away like it is 1999

[YOhio]

Look what money has done for Indiana football? They have been part of the chosen club since the beginning. BYU can one day be as good as Indiana with our new found ESPN Wednesday night football money! Oh and we will be playing New Mexico State!

Or Michigan football for that matter. They've been unstoppable the past couple of years. Sure the fans would like to see a few more W's here and there, but I'm sure they take solace in knowing how much money their program is bringing in (millions a game!).

[statman]

You keep pounding this drum. I'm curious as to how the serious $$$ will help BYU win more football games (or any sport for that matter). It's not like they'll pay the coaches more. They already have excellent facilities. They've never not recruited a player because it wasn't in the budget. Maybe I'm being naive here, but I see this $$$ play being thrown around as if a fan should care. Just what will the extra money mean for BYU athletics in terms of wins/losses?

At the very least, it lets you buy opponents that you want. More home games. Fewer 1-for-2 series and more 2-for-1s. I'd expect 7 home games to be the standard for BYU going forward.

[landpoke]

Or Michigan football for that matter. They've been unstoppable the past couple of years. Sure the fans would like to see a few more W's here and there, but I'm sure they take solace in knowing how much money their program is bringing in (millions a game!).

Just think, you could buy every recruit a jet pack. What four star recruit doesn't want a jet pack? And to play 2 for ones with NMSU?

[Donuthole]

Just think, you could buy every recruit a jet pack. What four star recruit doesn't want a jet pack?

We were promised jetpacks.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

For $1 - $2 million a game, does it really matter? Plus, I actually like weekday games on ESPN...

LOL. At least nobody will ever accuse you of not going with the party line.

[CardiacCoug]

The vote was unanimous among MWC members to invite Nevada-Reno and Fresno State into the conference.

There you have it. Survival of the WAC was irrelevant to BYU.

So you're saying that BYU knows they will never play in the WAC (2010 MWC, 2011 Big 12) so they don't care what happens to it?

Sounds like either BYU has an offer from the Big 12 in hand or Craig Thompson is full of shit when he implies BYU voted to add Nevada and FSU to the MWC. Probably the latter.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

At the very least, it lets you buy opponents that you want. More home games. Fewer 1-for-2 series and more 2-for-1s. I'd expect 7 home games to be the standard for BYU going forward.

7? If we have all this money and ESPN gift wrapping games for us why not 8? Or even 9 in some years, Notre Dame has 9 home games this year. Think of all the money BYU will be making from 9 home games!

[YOhio]

At the very least, it lets you buy opponents that you want. More home games. Fewer 1-for-2 series and more 2-for-1s. I'd expect 7 home games to be the standard for BYU going forward.

If that's the very least, what's the very most?

Not that it wouldn't be cool to get some good opponents in the LES, I just don't think that reason alone would be worth it to make the indie jump.