Non-Conference Scheduling rumors

[USUC]

I would like to see more truly neutral fields, though. And maybe even a few that favor BYU. Not sure that is possible, though.

This is why I'm not thrilled by the HHN concept. The neutral game will still be a lot closer to the other team's home base than our own. Its too bad Sam Boyd Stadium isn't a better Venue. INVESCO field isn't exactly close. What would be a neutral site that favors BYU?

[EuropeanFootballMale]

The fewest assumptions case calls for the conclusion that one should rationally think that there is no rivalry between teams that haven't played each other in 50 years. Are you guys serious with this stuff?

Everybody knows that college football was important from 1900-1970. Then it's importance dipped dramatically during the 70's and 80's (with 1984 being the least important college football season ever I mean good God there was no national championship game) only to slowly gain in importance until it reached it's screeching pulsating all-time climax of importance in 2008. Anyone who doesn't understand that doesn't know shit about college football.

[oxcoug]

This is why I'm not thrilled by the HHN concept. The neutral game will still be a lot closer to the other team's home base than our own. Its too bad Sam Boyd Stadium isn't a better Venue. INVESCO field isn't exactly close. What would be a neutral site that favors BYU?

Hear you, but have to say I'm on the other side - I actually kind of am thrilled.

I think Nebraska in Denver is pretty dang near neutral - yes it's a 3-4 hour drive for their fan base and a 7-8 hour drive for our fan base, but BYU has a satellite core of fans in Colorado who will get there and Denver is a simple weekend trip from a lot of areas of the West.

Syracuse at the Meadowlands - 3-4 hour drive for The Orange base and a flight for the Cougar base. But metro NYC isn't the backyard for Syracuse and (a) there are clusters of BYU fans in Boston, NYC and metro DC who will get there - and I think plenty more who will make a weekend trip to NYC out of it.

Allegedly Ohio St in TX - that's one truly neutral site if, in fact, it happens.

Penn St with a neutral in DC - again their base can drive while ours has to fly, but it's far enough from the PSU base that it's a genuine trek.

Of all the alleged scenarios I've heard only Wisconsin in Chicago gives me any pause, but even that isn't a big deal.

For me the kicker is that all of these games are being played in destination cities, big stage cities where there are reasons to go there other than the game and where BYU will show up for the novelty of playing a neutral site game in a different place....that doesn't happen very often and I think it has potential to become a signature BYU thing.

[byu71]

Hear you, but have to say I'm on the other side - I actually kind of am thrilled.

I think Nebraska in Denver is pretty dang near neutral - yes it's a 3-4 hour drive for their fan base and a 7-8 hour drive for our fan base, but BYU has a satellite core of fans in Colorado who will get there and Denver is a simple weekend trip from a lot of areas of the West.

Syracuse at the Meadowlands - 3-4 hour drive for The Orange base and a flight for the Cougar base. But metro NYC isn't the backyard for Syracuse and (a) there are clusters of BYU fans in Boston, NYC and metro DC who will get there - and I think plenty more who will make a weekend trip to NYC out of it.

Allegedly Ohio St in TX - that's one truly neutral site if, in fact, it happens.

Penn St with a neutral in DC - again their base can drive while ours has to fly, but it's far enough from the PSU base that it's a genuine trek.

Of all the alleged scenarios I've heard only Wisconsin in Chicago gives me any pause, but even that isn't a big deal.

For me the kicker is that all of these games are being played in destination cities, big stage cities where there are reasons to go there other than the game and where BYU will show up for the novelty of playing a neutral site game in a different place....that doesn't happen very often and I think it has potential to become a signature BYU thing.

This could work out perfect for me in about 4-5 years. I will buy a motor home and go on the road in the fall. My trusty golf clubs and a casual drive from game to game.

Of course I will be at the age where I will have to find a nice nurse to travel with me.

[pellegrino]

Hear you, but have to say I'm on the other side - I actually kind of am thrilled.

I think Nebraska in Denver is pretty dang near neutral - yes it's a 3-4 hour drive for their fan base and a 7-8 hour drive for our fan base, but BYU has a satellite core of fans in Colorado who will get there and Denver is a simple weekend trip from a lot of areas of the West.

Syracuse at the Meadowlands - 3-4 hour drive for The Orange base and a flight for the Cougar base. But metro NYC isn't the backyard for Syracuse and (a) there are clusters of BYU fans in Boston, NYC and metro DC who will get there - and I think plenty more who will make a weekend trip to NYC out of it.

Allegedly Ohio St in TX - that's one truly neutral site if, in fact, it happens.

Penn St with a neutral in DC - again their base can drive while ours has to fly, but it's far enough from the PSU base that it's a genuine trek.

Of all the alleged scenarios I've heard only Wisconsin in Chicago gives me any pause, but even that isn't a big deal.

For me the kicker is that all of these games are being played in destination cities, big stage cities where there are reasons to go there other than the game and where BYU will show up for the novelty of playing a neutral site game in a different place....that doesn't happen very often and I think it has potential to become a signature BYU thing.

Syracuse at the Meadowlands? That would be awesome. This independence gig might make it possible for me to go to one or two games a year!

[TripletDaddy]

The fewest assumptions case calls for the conclusion that one should rationally think that there is no rivalry between teams that haven't played each other in 50 years. Are you guys serious with this stuff?

I wonder if Colorado is aware of this heated rivalry with Utah?

[LA Ute]

The fewest assumptions case calls for the conclusion that one should rationally think that there is no rivalry between teams that haven't played each other in 50 years. Are you guys serious with this stuff?

The Occam's razor solution is that you were trolling.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

The Occam's razor solution is that you were trolling.

How is it trolling when pointing out that teams aren't rivals if they haven't played each other in 50 years? That's like pointing out that water is wet.

Question: What do you call two teams that haven't played each other in 50 years?

Answer: Not rivals.

[Jeff Lebowski]

And about the Cheetos.

Uh.... no. Cheetos are nasty.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Colorado v. Utah, the new Dan vs. Dave.

[YOUTUBE]yKJkfE1M9wA[/YOUTUBE]

[LA Ute]

How is it trolling when pointing out that teams aren't rivals if they haven't played each other in 50 years? That's like pointing out that water is wet.

Question: What do you call two teams that haven't played each other in 50 years?

Answer: Not rivals.

[DapperDan]

Hear you, but have to say I'm on the other side - I actually kind of am thrilled.

I think Nebraska in Denver is pretty dang near neutral - yes it's a 3-4 hour drive for their fan base and a 7-8 hour drive for our fan base, but BYU has a satellite core of fans in Colorado who will get there and Denver is a simple weekend trip from a lot of areas of the West.

Syracuse at the Meadowlands - 3-4 hour drive for The Orange base and a flight for the Cougar base. But metro NYC isn't the backyard for Syracuse and (a) there are clusters of BYU fans in Boston, NYC and metro DC who will get there - and I think plenty more who will make a weekend trip to NYC out of it.

Allegedly Ohio St in TX - that's one truly neutral site if, in fact, it happens.

Penn St with a neutral in DC - again their base can drive while ours has to fly, but it's far enough from the PSU base that it's a genuine trek.

Of all the alleged scenarios I've heard only Wisconsin in Chicago gives me any pause, but even that isn't a big deal.

For me the kicker is that all of these games are being played in destination cities, big stage cities where there are reasons to go there other than the game and where BYU will show up for the novelty of playing a neutral site game in a different place....that doesn't happen very often and I think it has potential to become a signature BYU thing.

There are a ton of Nebraska fans in Denver/CO. They're almost as numerous as CU fans.

[San Juan Sun]

The only way BYU could join the Big East:

The Big East would have to make a few crucial concessions.

1. BYU keeps their ESPN deal and BYUtv rights. Period.
2. The Big East works around the BYU/ESPN games.
3. The Big East changes it's name.

The BE then creates a 12 team conference form their current 8 team fold. The Western division has BYU, TCU, AFA, SMU/Houston, Cinncinnati, and Louisville. We play 5 games against the Western division, and two games against the East on a round robin basis. Every year, we get 3-4 home games from the BE.

In the years we have 3 home games from the BE, we play Hawaii at home, and get the bonus 13th game (ESPN anyone?).

We have Utah State and Utah every year, with one of those at home. (We now have 5 home games, 10 total.)

We then have 2-3 games to schedule with good BCS teams, maybe one home, one away, and one neutral field.


This gives us a 12-13 game schedule with at least 6 home games and 6 away.
We keep the Hawaii/Utah/Utah State/AFA/TCU rivalry games.
We take care of our November scheduling difficulties.
We still have the ability (although limited for sure) to schedule the big name teams and venues with out partner ESPN.
We retain our TV rights.
We have access to a possible BE championship game.
We have BCS access and are affiliated with the Big East's bowl games.

I'm not sure how I feel about being football only versus a full Big East member. I'm still not sure how I feel about even the scenario I listed above, but I don't think BYU could ever settle for less that this.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

There are a ton of Nebraska fans in Denver/CO. They're almost as numerous as CU fans.

Also, a 3-4 hour drive is nothing for Nebraska fans. They're one of the best traveling teams in the country. Still, I think BYU absolutely needs to schedule that series. I really don't think they'd have much in the way of home field in Denver.

[Paperback Writer]

Hear you, but have to say I'm on the other side - I actually kind of am thrilled.

I think Nebraska in Denver is pretty dang near neutral - yes it's a 3-4 hour drive for their fan base and a 7-8 hour drive for our fan base, but BYU has a satellite core of fans in Colorado who will get there and Denver is a simple weekend trip from a lot of areas of the West.

Syracuse at the Meadowlands - 3-4 hour drive for The Orange base and a flight for the Cougar base. But metro NYC isn't the backyard for Syracuse and (a) there are clusters of BYU fans in Boston, NYC and metro DC who will get there - and I think plenty more who will make a weekend trip to NYC out of it.

Allegedly Ohio St in TX - that's one truly neutral site if, in fact, it happens.

Penn St with a neutral in DC - again their base can drive while ours has to fly, but it's far enough from the PSU base that it's a genuine trek.

Of all the alleged scenarios I've heard only Wisconsin in Chicago gives me any pause, but even that isn't a big deal.

For me the kicker is that all of these games are being played in destination cities, big stage cities where there are reasons to go there other than the game and where BYU will show up for the novelty of playing a neutral site game in a different place....that doesn't happen very often and I think it has potential to become a signature BYU thing.

The viewpoint of the team playing BYU needs to be considered am I'm very familar with Nebraska's viewpoint. In short, BYU fans may want a neutral field in Invesco-Mile High in Denver and many Nebraska fans would like the roadtrip but I have serious doubts that the Nebraska Athletic Department will go for it. The problem is that the Nebraska AD is "greedy" with it's home schedule and insist on 7 home games per season. Nebraska AD's standpoint is that they will sell out Memorial Stadium no matter who the Cornhuskers play. From a revenue standpoint, BYU is just as good as Utah St. So Nebraska loads up with opponents who will not require a return appearence and who won't demand a premium fee like Boise St. That leaves just one OOC game against a "quality" opponent that requires home/home scheduling or a school that will do a 2-for-1 like Southern Miss., Fresno St., or Wyoming. That only leaves one away or neutral game in the Nebraska OOC schedule per season. Nebraska already has committments to play at UCLA in 2012, Southern Miss. in 2013, Fresno St. in 2014, Miami in 2015, and Tennessee in 2017. The Cornhuskers do have an open date: 9/24/2016 so maybe that's a possibility.


Nebraska will not give up a home game to travel to a neutral field unless the revenue will at least equal what Nebraska brings in for a home game - which is substational (Memorial stadium seats 90K+). Maybe ABC/ESPN can make the math work.

I'm not sure if other Big Ten teams are as greedy as Nebraska (Ohio St., Penn St., Wisconsin have all been mentioned). Perhaps they have open dates in their OOC schedule but I question whether any of these schools would give up a home game for a neutral game since they all have huge stadiums and routinely sell out regardless of the opponent. Perhaps their OOC schedule is such that they wouldn't have to give up a home game. Syracuse seems to me a more likely opponent since they might make more at a neutral site against BYU then playing at home against another, lesser opponent.

Personally, I'd love to see a BYU-Nebraska and would travel to Provo, Lincoln, or Denver (or drive the 45 minutes to Cowboys Stadium in Arlington).