BYU from the Mountain West to the Mountain Top

[SMU89]

http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/0 ... or00000003

[Water Pony]

http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/09/01/byus-move-to-independence-takes-it-from-mountain-west-to-mounta/?ncid=edlinkusspor00000003

The Cougars worked the process to perfection and didn't have to go to the WAC to make it happen. If it wasn't for their enrollment and size, TCU could consider this move. Hawai'i might make the same move, but their geograhic situation is very unique. Lastly, I would love partner with Army and Navy, but their independnce works for them. This BYU recap below says it all.

BYU's Independence Day announcement Wednesday included the following perks:

• An eight-year contract to have each BYU home football game televised on ESPN's family of networks or BYUtv.

• A six-year series with Notre Dame through 2020.

• WAC teams will provide BYU with five games in 2011 and four games in 2012, basically answering the biggest question: How will BYU find 12 games next season?

• And it never has to play in the Las Vegas Bowl again. Actually, that one I just made up. But after five consecutive trips to the desert, the Cougars deserve a new postseason location.

[Water Pony]

The Salt Lake Tribune

ESPN, Notre Dame will get BYU noticed in a hurry
By Kurt Kragthorpe, Tribune Columnist

Updated Sep 2, 2010 12:31AM
Provo

Nobody welcomed the BYU Cougars with a bouquet of roses Wednesday.

Yet even if no dignitaries from a major bowl game came to LaVell Edwards Stadium to symbolize the possibilities now available to BYU, names that need no introduction spiced the news conference.

Notre Dame and ESPN.

That should get everybody’s attention.

In many ways, the unknown and the undefined distinguish BYU’s independent power play from Utah’s arrival in the Pac-10, which offers Rose Bowl access. BYU’s football goals are less easily articulated, without a conference as a frame of reference.

The tradeoff is more than worthwhile, though. An eight-year deal with ESPN and a six-game series with Notre Dame justify BYU’s efforts.

Would the Cougars have accepted a Pac-10 or Big 12 invitation in June? Of course. But what emerged from Wednesday’s rather low-key announcement, compared with Utah’s celebration, gives BYU a draw with the Utes for the adventurous summer of 2010 as both schools prepare to launch farewell tours of the Mountain West Conference.