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At any rate, if BYU does leave its hard to see the auto-bid happening, FSU and Nevada have not averaged a top 25 finish like BYU has. Trading a top heavy conf for a deeper but less stellar one just seems like a step sideways at best and probably not even that.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 08:32 AM ET  08.19 by JRM74

Does BYU put enough butts in front of TVs that they can negotiate a financially viable TV deal as an independent? Granted, I don't know a lot about this dynamic, but I'm skeptical.

Think there are around 10 Million mormons in the country, given that over half are not CFB fans not sure if that is enough. Norka has it right in that the opposing teams will have to provide a lot of the star power.

The real trick for BYU is convincing the TV sugar daddy to buy into the premise that BYU will seek out and get good schools to play with week-in and week-out. Utah State and Navy/Army/AFA will not pay much (and the AFA may not even go for a BYU series if the BYU pullout screws them over regarding the MWC TV payouts).

Its really a chicken and egg thing-you have to convence the TV execs that the games will be there and future opponents that the TV deal is there. Not at all sure they will be able to pull this off.

Finally, all this might simply be a strat to pull in more cash from the MWC TV deal just for BYU.

Well...teams would be more likely to go to Provo than to Boise...and much easier to get to via plane and their field is green

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 09:15 AM ET  08.19 by BackRoads

Well...teams would be more likely to go to Provo than to Boise...and much easier to get to via plane and their field is green

The other thing is the BYU stadium is around 65k capacity and they sell it out. Its very possible that this might work out fine for BYU if it ends up the way they go, but its also possible they end up with Navy's schedule.

I was just listening to this on College football live. The one guy was saying BYU should stay because if the conference because BCS, they'd be able to get their bid. (7th conference)
Independents have a much different criteria for auto bids...
And like Man said, they'd have to somehow get the big teams to get the TV exposure, it's not like ND, where for some unknown reasons, people like to watch them anyway.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 09:36 AM ET  08.19 by Ms. G

I was just listening to this on College football live. The one guy was saying BYU should stay because if the conference because BCS, they'd be able to get their bid. (7th conference)Independents have a much different criteria for auto bids...And like Man said, they'd have to somehow get the big teams to get the TV exposure, it's not like ND, where for some unknown reasons, people like to watch them anyway.

Agree #7 I just watched it also, all his points are true though (even the "some teams could avoid BYU just because of the mormon stigmas...")

I have heard some talk about the 40,000 fans that BYU brings to bowl games. They seem to play in the Las Vegas bowl and San Diego ever year. Some of my best friends are Mormons and they have a huge community here. The drive to S.D. is about 4 hours if your trying to save gas.
Not sure how far these 40,000 fans would travel were they to play in a bowl game in Texas or Florida.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 09:36 AM ET  08.19 by Ms. G

I was just listening to this on College football live. The one guy was saying BYU should stay because if the conference because BCS, they'd be able to get their bid. (7th conference)Independents have a much different criteria for auto bids...And like Man said, they'd have to somehow get the big teams to get the TV exposure, it's not like ND, where for some unknown reasons, people like to watch them anyway.

Well the folks that know BYU and are not alum generally dislike the team, so they are kinda like ND in that way... If ESPN gets the BYU contract and hypes them enough they will be fine, but its just as likely that they end up with a lesser contract and have issues getting good teams to play them.

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 11:53 AM ET  08.19 by FOOTBALL REIGNS SUPREME

Agree #7 I just watched it also, all his points are true though (even the "some teams could avoid BYU just because of the mormon stigmas...")

What stigmas are there that would prevent/cause to avoid a game? Other than playing on Sunday....can't date their cheerleaders?

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 08:32 AM ET  08.19 by JRM74

Does BYU put enough butts in front of TVs that they can negotiate a financially viable TV deal as an independent? Granted, I don't know a lot about this dynamic, but I'm skeptical.

It's more than just one school's ability to put butts in front of TV sets. It's about who owns the rights of exclusivity ...
... who gets the exclusive over-the-air rights ...
... who gets the exclusive cable rights ...
... who gets the exclusive regional rights ...
... who gets the exclusive pay-per-view rights ...
... who gets the exclusive electronic web feed rights.

If in fact BYU has a TV network infrastructure in place they may be forging new ground here. More power to them if they can pull it off.

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 01:04 PM ET  08.19 by Armpit

Well the folks that know BYU and are not alum generally dislike the team, so they are kinda like ND in that way... If ESPN gets the BYU contract and hypes them enough they will be fine, but its just as likely that they end up with a lesser contract and have issues getting good teams to play them.

what's the deal with that? Why the dislike for BYU? I hope it's not because they are Mormons, because that seems silly. NOw, if they are Morons...

QUOTE(#13):

Originally posted 02:16 PM ET  08.19 by Ms. G

what's the deal with that? Why the dislike for BYU? I hope it's not because they are Mormons, because that seems silly. NOw, if they are Morons...

Its not religion per-se, its how the players and fans tend to act, which may be in part due to religion.

They are rather arrogant and they play dirty (and rub it in your face when they beat you more so than most). In the past they were also like the old school SEC, you didn't see a whole lot of diversity on the team. Add it all up and they are certainly the most disliked school in the MWC. SI even did an article about it a few years back. The AFA also plays pretty dirty ball, but at least they are friendly before and after games.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 08:32 AM ET  08.19 by JRM74

Does BYU put enough butts in front of TVs that they can negotiate a financially viable TV deal as an independent? Granted, I don't know a lot about this dynamic, but I'm skeptical.

BYU AD, Tom Holmoe, said that playing football as an independent was an option given the school's national fan base.

I'm not sure just how 'national' that fan base is though.

For instance - I see USC, Ohio State and ND t-shirts/bumper stickers all the time here in TX. But I can't remember the last time I saw one from BYU.

QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 12:32 AM ET  08.20 by Crazy Rabbit

I'm not sure just how 'national' that fan base is though.For instance - I see USC, Ohio State and ND t-shirts/bumper stickers all the time here in TX. But I can't remember the last time I saw one from BYU.

They are the stealth shirts....so you can't see them, just know that they are there...

The WAC doesn't make sense anyway. How can you have a team like Louisiana Tech in the WAC?

The rest of the remaining WAC teams (Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, San Jose State and Utah State) should try and hook up with Conference USA.

QUOTE:

Originally posted by

1. I think the reward is much greater than the risk in this option for BYU to go independent because...2. a schedule like Navy's is probably fairly comparable to the MWC schedule anyway.Last winter after the season ended, Andy Staples wrote an article on what these BCS Busters need to do to crack the BCS bubble (short of joining a BCS conference) and it was all about scheduling quality opponents at every opportunity, no matter the cost. This bold move by the Cougars reminds me of that article.Also, what this might do for BYU, it might make them a more attractive choice if and when the next round of conference realignment happens.And this musical chairs scenario between the MWC and the WAC makes me think that one of these two conferences might not survive much longer. Boise State must be feeling some 'buyers remorse' for joining the MWC that seems to crumbling around them.

Navy's schedule is probably about the same as a MWC schedule when they have a few harder teams on it (WF, ND, tOSU, etc..) in addition to the Delawares and JMUs of the world. However, BYU already plays that same schedule so why bother to do the move they are making, in particular since they may be turning down a huge pay increase if the MWC were to gain AQ status?

And the WAC is in doubt-even if the Cougars leave the MWC will start 2011 with 1 more team then they had in 2009. The WAC will have lost 3 teams (and probably the 3 best teams), and maybe gained Montana if they move to 1-A.

QUOTE:

Originally posted by

1. Lot$ of reasons, it's a power play and if they (BYU) pull it off, well, that's why!2. That is part of the risk. No risk, no reward. The MWC getting an auto bid isn't a done deal, not yet.Good thread Armpit!

Thanks Norka. A bit ironic isn't it (that the LDS church sponsored school is the one taking a big gamble though-given its history of bashing gambling)?

Maybe this has been addressed already, but is there a chance they are trying to get better terms from the MWC? Sort of like the Texas situation in the Big whatever it is.