Hypothetical BYU scheduling as an independent

[Top Ute]

I think Arizona and ASU's fans would like to also be watching it from the stands. 30 years, 60 chances between the two teams -- one Rose Bowl bid.

Two actually. And ASU was 30 seconds from a national championship in one of them, and won the other one. If that's the best Utah gets over the next 40 years of my football-watching life, I wouldn't feel like the move didn't pay off.

[jay santos]

I'm not really concerned about the first four games as BYU has been able to get decent games for that section of the schedule for the last 20+ years.

If they can pull off a last 4/5 games like you just posted then I would be thrilled.

One caveat I would have is that I would play in Hawaii every year to get the 13th game and make having 8 home games a reality. However I would only agree to play the game in October.

Adding Hawaii doesn't give you any extra home games. It just gives you one more game for free. So you could still have 8 home games and four away games every year with or without Hawaii. The big challenge is maximizing the schedule and number of home games every year. We could do 8 home games pretty easily, but it would include a lot of money games and 2:1's against crappy teams.

[hostile]

Just heard that Chris Hill sent paperwork to BYU today to try and schedule a 5 year agreement with next year's game being the first game of the season. Don't know details about location. We'll see if it pans out.

[Mormon Red Death]

Just heard that Chris Hill sent paperwork to BYU today to try and schedule a 5 year agreement with next year's game being the first game of the season. Don't know details about location. We'll see if it pans out.

I'd like for the game to be on Labor Day night every year. That would be cool.

[DrumNFeather]

Just heard that Chris Hill sent paperwork to BYU today to try and schedule a 5 year agreement with next year's game being the first game of the season. Don't know details about location. We'll see if it pans out.

if the 2011 game is @BYU, Utah is getting out or is already out of the BSU game.

[falafel]

This will be the most interesting thread for me for the foreseeable future. I'm not down on what it does to BB, but if we can put together a great schedule for FB, it could be a great move for the FB program.

I think this is not impossible.


First 4 games:

Texas 1:2 (or other top 10 program)
Oregon or equivalent 1:1
Cal or equivalent 1:1
Texas Tech or equivalent 1:1


Second 4 games:

Iowa or equivalent 1:1
Boise State/TCU 1:1
Wyoming/SDSU/UNLV/New Mexico 2:1
Eastern Washington/Hawaii home (Hawaii or D1 money game in years you have Hawaii away)


Last 4 games:

Utah State 2:1
Notre Dame
Army or Navy
Utah
(Hawaii away every other year)

The key is really getting that last half filled. The first half should be pretty easy. We may have to sacrifice some in the way of offering money or a better than normal split to fill the back half, i.e. home and home with a Wyoming type.

That looks like a very difficult season. You've only got 3 or 4 gimmes, with 2 or 3 very tough wins, and the rest are toss ups. That looks like an 8-4 kind of season, 9-3 if we're lucky.

[creekster]

I'd like for the game to be on Labor Day night every year. That would be cool.

I would prefer to see it at the end of the season, like it is now. That way one or both schools have somethign riding on it and, if neither does, they can still play for bragging rights for the year. It is more meaningful at the end of the year.

[ERCougar]

I'd like for the game to be on Labor Day night every year. That would be cool.

I'd love to play Utah at the beginning of the season.

[creekster]

I'd love to play Utah at the beginning of the season.

WHy?

[ERCougar]

WHy?

Because Utah always seems to play much better at the end of the season.

We don't lose to them in 08 if it's on Labor Day weekend.

[falafel]

I would prefer to see it at the end of the season, like it is now. That way one or both schools have somethign riding on it and, if neither does, they can still play for bragging rights for the year. It is more meaningful at the end of the year.

I agree with this. If we have a crappy start to our season as an indy, there's nothing left to play for - no conference championship, no conference rivalries, no rivalry game. Even when we've sucked, its always easy to get up for the Utah game. If we win, it still feels like we accomplished something.

[UtahDan]

I agree with this. If we have a crappy start to our season as an indy, there's nothing left to play for - no conference championship, no conference rivalries, no rivalry game. Even when we've sucked, its always easy to get up for the Utah game. If we win, it still feels like we accomplished something.

Which is why Utah should not do it. There is no similar incentive for Utah and a much larger downside. If Utah does do it is a huge olive branch and show of friendship to BYU, IMO. I will be very curious to know the details. As Drum said, it is almost inconceivable that we are playing both BYU and BSU on the road next year, so maybe we are out of that BSU game. OR maybe the offer is for the 2011 game to be in SLC. Utah doesn't have much flexibility next year.

[falafel]

Which is why Utah should not do it. There is no similar incentive for Utah and a much larger downside. If Utah does do it is a huge olive branch and show of friendship to BYU, IMO. I will be very curious to know the details. As Drum said, it is almost inconceivable that we are playing both BYU and BSU on the road next year, so maybe we are out of that BSU game. OR maybe the offer is for the 2011 game to be in SLC. Utah doesn't have much flexibility next year.

I will agree with you there. It doesn't make much sense for Utah, or than tradition. But it *could* be the same for Utah some years. If Utah is out of the running due to early losses and BYU is in the running for a BCS bowl, I imagine it would be fun to dash BYU's hopes.

C'mon, just do it in November. For us.

[ERCougar]

Which is why Utah should not do it. There is no similar incentive for Utah and a much larger downside. If Utah does do it is a huge olive branch and show of friendship to BYU, IMO. I will be very curious to know the details. As Drum said, it is almost inconceivable that we are playing both BYU and BSU on the road next year, so maybe we are out of that BSU game. OR maybe the offer is for the 2011 game to be in SLC. Utah doesn't have much flexibility next year.

Huh? You're going to turn down a sellout game and the tv money from a big ratings draw because you don't like the comparative lack of incentive?

Olive branch...right.

[UtahDan]

I will agree with you there. It doesn't make much sense for Utah, or than tradition. But it *could* be the same for Utah some years. If Utah is out of the running due to early losses and BYU is in the running for a BCS bowl, I imagine it would be fun to dash BYU's hopes.

C'mon, just do it in November. For us.

I have been saying over and over that one of the huge problems for BYU is that after the first loss you have nothing to play for. I think that could have a very detrimental affect on the morale of the team and the fans, be bad for recruiting etc. So in the most Machiavellian sense, Utah should help that to happen. But my sense is that the brass at the U does feel a kinship to BYU and won't go that route.

As an aside, my partner who is a VaTech booster was asking me about independence for BYU the other day. He reminded me that VaTech had been independent in football until it joined the Big East in 1991. His comment, was essentially, that independence had big downsides for them in that it was always hard to get a decent schedule and that "kids like to have championships to play for at the end of the year and that really hurt recruiting." I know it is not an apples to apples comparison but it is interesting. Maybe BYU can avoid some of those problems in scheduling.