OT: BYU Discussing Leaving MWC

Submitted by Zone Left on

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.

jtmc33

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)"

mgowin

August 18th, 2010 at 1:47 PM ^

I was just about to post this. Its an interesting move to me. All we've heard from the media over the past six months is that super-conferences are the way of the future and everyone must join to stay relevant.

BYU has always been somewhat of an enigma in the MWC, like ND they are more closely associated with a faith than a geographical area. So perhaps just like ND, BYU feels a more national schedule orientation would more clearly reflect their schools ideals and agenda.

Its an interesting move for sure, perhaps its just a marketing tool to help the bike riding kids in white shirts!

jcgold

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.

stankoniaks

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.

Plegerize

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.

Plegerize

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.

icefins26

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.

D.C. Wolverine

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

mi_vandal

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.

Tater

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.