OT: BYU Discussing Leaving MWC
According to ESPN BYU is close to leaving the MWC to become an independent in 2011. Perhaps this portends an eventual move to the PAC-__ or a desire to allow it to schedule its way into the BCS should the team be good enough.
Either way, Orrin Hatch just became less interested in developing a playoff system.
August 18th, 2010 at 1:37 PM ^
Looks like the MWC just lost their chance at an auto-qualifying bid.
August 18th, 2010 at 1:37 PM ^
Well, if this happens, that's a huge blow to the MWC goal of getting an automatic BCS bid. Maybe BYU can team up with ND and form the Holy Roller Network.
August 18th, 2010 at 1:47 PM ^
Don't forget that Texas Christian University can join the Holy Roller Network... they can't be far behind BYU in leaving the MWC (if they aren't begging the Big 12 as we speak)
and Southern Methodist University can join to make it a 4 team conference.
NBC has already bought rights to the "H.R.N. Championship Game (Sponsored by Notre Dame)"
August 18th, 2010 at 1:47 PM ^
August 18th, 2010 at 1:51 PM ^
But the difference is that BYU's faith is concentrated in Utah, Colorado, and Arizona, as opposed to Catholics which are well spread nationwide.
I don't think this is going to work: BYU just doesn't have the TV appeal ND does, and convincing teams to play mid-season non-conference games in this era where the number of conference games is growing just doesn't work. There is no recruiting appeal to play in Provo, and these games will never take place.
BYU - conference = big mistake, even if it still means they have 4-6 WAC guaranteed games. These guys need a conference to stay relevant.
August 18th, 2010 at 2:16 PM ^
I agree completely. I think the motives of this is really in retaliation to seeing Utah leave for a BCS conference, and BYU is pissed. They know they won't get to a BCS game from the MWC, so they think they can do it by being independent. The only thing is, they aren't ND, and the BCS isn't likely to make a concession to them which allows them an autobid if they finish in the top 8.
August 18th, 2010 at 1:55 PM ^
I've always liked BYU and a move like this I think would be in their best interests. To be able to schedule all their own games can only help their brand much like it has helped Notre Dame. Also they will be able to ensure that they play Utah every year (Although I doubt they would be prevented from if they remained in the MWC).
How do you think Boise State feels now, jumping ship from the WAC to the MWC only to see themselves in the same situation they were in before. If and when BYU and TCU leave the MWC, I can see the WAC and MWC combining, perhaps to become the first superconference in this new era just out of necessity.
August 18th, 2010 at 1:57 PM ^
They tried that around 10 years ago when the WAC went to 16 teams. The MWC broke off because it didn't like the size of the conference.
August 18th, 2010 at 2:00 PM ^
They already tried that in 1996. The WAC absorbed several teams from the SWC and the Big West Conferences. Most of the original members left to form the MWC in 1999.
August 18th, 2010 at 2:18 PM ^
I know that. What I'm saying is they might have to recombine based on the circumstances college football finds itself in now at this time.
With Superconferences on the fringe of happening, they might have to consider making such a move in order to remain in the picture or else become less than what they already are today.
August 18th, 2010 at 2:02 PM ^
Either way, Orrin Hatch just became less interested in developing a playoff system.
Doubtful. Hatch's interest in the playoff originated from Utah, not BYU.
August 18th, 2010 at 2:06 PM ^
He's still a Senator from Utah. Utah is in an auto-bid conference and BYU may be going on its own. No flagship school = no constituent interest.
August 18th, 2010 at 4:29 PM ^
Utah is in an auto-bid conference and BYU may be going on its own.
Ummm... Utah will be in an auto-bid conference, but they aren't yet. Right now Utah and BYU are in the same non-automatic qualification conference.
August 18th, 2010 at 2:08 PM ^
I almost had a heart attack -- came from a different thread and the "BYU" and "MWC" was cut off due to the embedded YouTube clips so all I see is "Discussing Leaving". Am I that paranoid right now? Yes.
August 18th, 2010 at 3:27 PM ^
As a current BYU student I really like this move. This has been discussed in alumni circles for a year or two now, and I think that it is a good idea. BYU has a good national following, and regularly fills stadiums. A few years ago they played at Boston College, and about half of the stands were BYU fans.
BYU is like Notre Dame in that it has a large following because of the religious institution that it is tied to. Many people believe that the majority of the LDS faith is located in Utah, but that is actually a myth. This allows people, like me, who have grown up on the East Coast to go to more games, and many people will jump at the opportunity to do that
August 18th, 2010 at 3:47 PM ^
Per the Salt Lake Tribune, BYU going independent is now a "Done Deal" - check it out here:
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/50131959-77/byu-football-wac-mountain.html.csp
As someone that did their undergrad studies at Idaho, I am completely in favor of this move for selfish reasons. It raises the profile of the WAC for basketball (and for football if they get the 4-6 games per year against BYU that are rumored), and it screws BSU who are now left with a Mountain West conference that really isn't any better than the WAC they just left.
Awesome.
August 18th, 2010 at 4:11 PM ^
I do wonder if maybe ND is trying to create a de facto conference of "independents" for football where all get to keep their own money, but all have an agreement to schedule each other. If football does end up in superconferences, as it appears to be trending now, ND faces the possibility of being "frozen out" due to superconference scheduling.
If there are eight or nine "strong" independents out there, they could schedule each other on a regular basis but not have to worry about revenue sharing or league standings. For ND, it would be to their advantage if the other teams were "name" teams, but weren't quite as good as they are.
The concept of an idependent "super non-conference" is quite intriguing. It should be interesting to watch the dominoes continue to fall.
August 18th, 2010 at 4:36 PM ^
BYU better not be counting on big revenue from the BYU network as a result of this. Nobody good will ever agree to play them on that network.
August 18th, 2010 at 5:55 PM ^
TheMWC The Mountain West Conference has extended an offer of membership to California State University, Fresno and the University of Nevada, Reno.