BYU perspective
Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 2:13 pmpretty good post on killerfrogs by BYU fan: notes that this is a temporary move so that BYU can join Big 12 in 2011
http://www.killerfrogs.com/msgboard/index.php?showtopic=119187
Some facts:
- BYU (and Utah and TCU) have been hurt big-time by the lack of exposure the last several years. The mtn. network just plain sucks - I know it and you know it. Yeah, it's been good to have our own channel in some regards, but NOBODY outside of the MWC footprint has access to this. And even within the MWC footprint, the casual non-MWC fan never thinks to flip the the mtn. to see what's playing. The lack of exposure hurts not only national prestige, but it plays directly to recruiting also, which has been a major hurdle for BYU.
- BYU has made less money under the current TV deal than they were making 10 years ago with local priveleges and the 3-4 ESPN/Network deals. For the good of the conference, BYU reluctantly took the mtn. deal, but it has been for less money and less exposure.
- BYU has also made valiant efforts to increase the strength of the MWC by leading a campaign to add additional schools (BSU) that would increase pressure on the BCS and increase national prestige. Every year the schools took a vote, and every year it was shot down 6-3. You know who voted yes? BYU, Utah, TCU. The bottom feeders were 1) content to ride the coat-tails of "The Big 3"; and 2) scared to have a "big 4".
- If what I'm hearing is true, BYU will once again have an ESPN/ABC contract, and will also retain the rights to produce their own games (BYU currently finalized a state-of-the-art broadcasting facility right on campus, and now has the infrastructure and capability to produce sports programming in HD. Money-wise I'm sure it will be a positive move for BYU, otherwise it wouldn't be a consideration. Exposure-wise, it's head-and-shoulders better than the mtn. Will BYU be playing on Tue/Wed nights? But I'm sure BYU (and TCU for that matter) is a much more appealing Saturday game than, say CSU or UNLV.
- BYU will be a member of the WAC in all sports except football. Contractually, they will play 4 WAC teams a year in football, which competitively will be no worse than playing UNLV, UNM, SDSU, Wyoming, CSU. Add in Utah plus 3-4 other "BCS" teams, and the schedule is similar, strength-wise, to what it is currently.
- From everything I'm hearing, this is a temporary move. BYU has grown very cozy with Texas over the past few years and is poised to make a move to the Big12 as soon as some of the dust settles. The BYU/Texas game scheduled for '11 is much more than just a single game, as was the BYU/OU game last year. Leaving the MWC prior to Sept. 1, 2010 allows for BYU to join the Big12 in 2011 without breaching any contracts.
Again - this post is not intended as anything but informitive. I certainly understand BYU's place in the 'big picture', and I realize we aren't Notre Dame . We are a pretty big private school, however, with a decent national following and a lot of assets that some schools don't have. I believe, and I think the administration believes, that BYU deserves better than what we've had recently. Personally, I'd love to elevate the MWC, but I think we've ridden with most of those jackasses long enough to realize they aren't thoroughbreds, and we're tired of trying. That goes for TCU also - you deserve much better than UNM and UNLV.
http://www.killerfrogs.com/msgboard/index.php?showtopic=119187
Some facts:
- BYU (and Utah and TCU) have been hurt big-time by the lack of exposure the last several years. The mtn. network just plain sucks - I know it and you know it. Yeah, it's been good to have our own channel in some regards, but NOBODY outside of the MWC footprint has access to this. And even within the MWC footprint, the casual non-MWC fan never thinks to flip the the mtn. to see what's playing. The lack of exposure hurts not only national prestige, but it plays directly to recruiting also, which has been a major hurdle for BYU.
- BYU has made less money under the current TV deal than they were making 10 years ago with local priveleges and the 3-4 ESPN/Network deals. For the good of the conference, BYU reluctantly took the mtn. deal, but it has been for less money and less exposure.
- BYU has also made valiant efforts to increase the strength of the MWC by leading a campaign to add additional schools (BSU) that would increase pressure on the BCS and increase national prestige. Every year the schools took a vote, and every year it was shot down 6-3. You know who voted yes? BYU, Utah, TCU. The bottom feeders were 1) content to ride the coat-tails of "The Big 3"; and 2) scared to have a "big 4".
- If what I'm hearing is true, BYU will once again have an ESPN/ABC contract, and will also retain the rights to produce their own games (BYU currently finalized a state-of-the-art broadcasting facility right on campus, and now has the infrastructure and capability to produce sports programming in HD. Money-wise I'm sure it will be a positive move for BYU, otherwise it wouldn't be a consideration. Exposure-wise, it's head-and-shoulders better than the mtn. Will BYU be playing on Tue/Wed nights? But I'm sure BYU (and TCU for that matter) is a much more appealing Saturday game than, say CSU or UNLV.
- BYU will be a member of the WAC in all sports except football. Contractually, they will play 4 WAC teams a year in football, which competitively will be no worse than playing UNLV, UNM, SDSU, Wyoming, CSU. Add in Utah plus 3-4 other "BCS" teams, and the schedule is similar, strength-wise, to what it is currently.
- From everything I'm hearing, this is a temporary move. BYU has grown very cozy with Texas over the past few years and is poised to make a move to the Big12 as soon as some of the dust settles. The BYU/Texas game scheduled for '11 is much more than just a single game, as was the BYU/OU game last year. Leaving the MWC prior to Sept. 1, 2010 allows for BYU to join the Big12 in 2011 without breaching any contracts.
Again - this post is not intended as anything but informitive. I certainly understand BYU's place in the 'big picture', and I realize we aren't Notre Dame . We are a pretty big private school, however, with a decent national following and a lot of assets that some schools don't have. I believe, and I think the administration believes, that BYU deserves better than what we've had recently. Personally, I'd love to elevate the MWC, but I think we've ridden with most of those jackasses long enough to realize they aren't thoroughbreds, and we're tired of trying. That goes for TCU also - you deserve much better than UNM and UNLV.
