Tag Archives: Independence

by | November 8, 2011 · 12:19 pm

5 Questions: Should BYU join the Big East in football

There have been reports that the Big East is courting BYU. Bronco even mentioned it in his press conference, which seemed really strange after the BYU coaches and administration’s cone of silence in regard to conference realignment talk during discussions with the Big 12. Why did Bronco break this code? Was he going off script? Was he trying to signal to the press and fans that something is imminent? Why? Why?

Before I completely lose it, here are five questions about whether it would be a good idea to join the Big East in football. I am assuming (and this may be completely wrong) that BYU would, like has been reported with Air Force and Boise State, only join for football and not for the other sports.

 1. What does joining the Big East actually do for BYU?
The biggest advantage is easier access to the BCS than independence, membership in the MWC, or membership in a better football league (like the Big 12). The Big East is pretty wide open in football, with the program to watch being Boise State the minute they enter the door. Let me put it this way: I can envision a much better shot at multiple BCS appearances as a member of the Big East than I can if the Cougars joined the Big 12.

The big question about BCS access is whether the Big East will keep its BCS AQ status after 2013 (discussed more below).

2. Would the money be better?
Depends. Some reports show membership in the Big East as being less profitable than independence. I think eventually, yes, especially if conference realignment makes independent scheduling of late-season match-ups harder. But that’s a tough call, especially since we don’t know for sure exactly what BYU is grossing right now.

3. Would TV access be better or worse than independence?
Again, it depends. As we’ve all learned, it’s all about Tier 3 rights, baby! If we’re playing Rutgers in New Jersey, will BYU fans outside of Utah get to see the game?

Using the Big East home games for this weekend as an example, Pittsburgh on the road at Louisville is on several regional networks and online at ESPN3. South Florida at Syracuse is a Friday night game on ESPN2.

I can say this for certain: there would be less nationally televised games on the big ESPN networks (assuming BYU can’t keep its contract with BYU), but access would definitely be better than the MWC. But many fans outside of Utah might still have to jump through hoops to catch all the games.

4. Is the Big East stable?
No, but neither is the Big 12. I think the SEC, Pac12 and Big Ten have solidified their places in the college football landscape, and everyone else is scrambling not to be left out. I don’t believe the Big East is in as bad a mess as some say. The same doomsday scenarios were played when Virginia Tech, Boston College and Miami left the Big East after the 2004 season, and while it made the Big East a mediocre football conference, they kept their card to the big kids’ table.

But can the Big East even keep it’s BCS status after a new deal is negotiated (starting in 2014)? Excellent question, but I think it can and will if BSU officially joins and they can add a handle of decent football programs. But that’s pure conjecture on my part.

5. If BYU doesn’t join a conference soon, are they going to be left out of the Super Conference realignment? Will they become irrelevant?
This is the pivotal question. Are Super Conferences imminent? I don’t think so, but many smart observers do, with a Super Conference playoff the gold at the end of that rainbow. And if you’re not in, you might as well be played FCS.

I know being left out of a Super Conference landscape scares a lot of BYU fans, and I’m sure the administration is keeping that in mind as well. If the entire system changes to the point that independence is no longer viable, the freedom of football independence could become a shackle.

Conclusion: Without, admittedly, knowing all the facts, I think BYU should hold for now. I don’t think the Big East will become any less desperate in next 12-18 months, so there’s no need to jump yet. And if Super Conferences are truly inevitable, there’s no guarantee that the Big East will even be invited to that party.

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by | August 6, 2011 · 1:41 am

Fall Camp 2011 is already better than Fall Camp 2010

by Matt Mangum

matt@loyalcougars.com

on twitter @matt_mangum

Two quarterback systems are so last year. Like, who would ever be seen rotating quarterbacks. Seriously.

There are several reasons, in my opinion, that this Fall Camp is already starting off better than last year. The obvious one is the quarterback situation. A year ago the internet was rife with speculation regarding what would happen at the quarterback position. The prevailing wisdom was that it was only a matter of time before Heaps took the reins. That turned out to be true, however the injury to Nelson was obviously unanticipated and unfortunate for him. The two quarterback system has almost never worked in football and the team will be better off with one starting quarterback. Especially this one. One of the reasons that I love Fall Camp 2011 more than 2010: a single starting quarterback.

The hype and expectations sorrounding Jake Heaps are a little intense. There is part of me that would advise Cougar Nation to tone down the expectations a little bit. There is another part of me that loves the excitement and the confidence in a sophomore who is yet to start a full season and is under the wing of a brand new, first time offensive coordinator. This type of excitement is much better than what we were looking at last year. It turned out that the coaches had a difficult time selecting a starter because neither of the top two guys were ready to take the job full time. But after a strong finish to the season and an offseason as the number one guy under his belt, Jake Heaps is as ready as he is going to be. This is more preparation than Max Hall had before his 2007 campaign. In 2011 we should expect a more finished product. Do I think he’ll get better every year? Of course. But I think that 2011 will be the tell tale sign of exactly who this kid is and what he can really do.  

The coaching staff has a much different look as well. It turned out that some of the excitement from last year’s staff was a smokescreen to cover for sideline and coach box tension. Bronco Mendenhall finally had the window of opportunity to put together a coaching staff that is aligned under a single philosophy and was really hand picked for the team and the program. Surprisingly enough, I am not going to go into any long diatribe about how I am more excited about Doman this year than I was about Anae last year. Mostly because that is an obvious point. But leaving Anae aside, Doman as the offensive coordinator has me excited. On the Rise and Shout Podcast counting down Adam’s quarterback rankings, Adam and I discussed the concept of QBs as coaches on the field. Two of the great BYU quarterbacks that fit this description are Steve Sarkisian and Brandon Doman. I think Sark was born to be a coach. I feel the same way about Brandon Doman. Everybody close to him feels that he will be a head coach somewhere someday. There is reason to be excited about this guy right now.

Overall I think this part of the season can be boiled down to a single word for BYU fans. Expectations. Last year felt like the great unknown. 2011 right now is a season full of promise. That is the best part of this Fall Camp. It’s all about the expectations. While there are issues to be worked out at this time of year, they appear less obvious and less extreme than they were a year ago. And the team appears better prepared to handle them. That is why Fall Camp 2011 is already better than 2010.  

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by | July 1, 2011 · 11:33 pm

Dear BYU Fans, Be Cool.

by Matt Mangum

Dear Fellow BYU Fans,

Today is a special day. A day to be celebrated. Today is full of optimism and hope. BYU Football is free from the chains of the MWC. BYU’s other sports have found a home in the WCC and the WAC. Tom Holmoe successfully navigated a minefield of problems and appears to have lead us to the promised land. For that we are all grateful. Mr. Holmoe, we have never met. But I feel compelled to tell you, I love you man. I think we all do.

But a few words of advice for the BYU Fans of 2011.

First, be good to the WCC. The West Coast Conference looks to be a great place for BYU Hoops and other sports. Did you see the video on their website or the new logo today? I think that they are genuinely excited to have us and I think it is going to be a great fit. Show up to their arenas all up and down the west coast in order to support the Cougars when they come to your town. Purchase tickets, food and other concessions. Most importantly, be cool. Especially this year. Make a good first impression. Be nice to their fans. Be respectful of their institutions and their beliefs. We are guests in their arenas, even if there are a bajillion BYU fans in attendance. We are the new kids in the conference. Don’t be poor winners when we win and don’t be soursports when we lose. Build good healthy rivalries with new opponents. Most importantly, make BYU feel at home when they are on the road. Cheer like a crazy person. This whole thing is a new beginning, let’s do it right.

Second, today is not about BYU vs. Utah. We both got what we wanted. Move on.

Third, right now everything is super shiny and new. This feeling is going to wear off at some point. Something is going to happen and you are going to feel irked or jilted. It may be a football scheduling issue. You may get booed at a road game. The MWC will get an automatic bid (okay that last one is never going to happen). But when that bad thing does happen, remember this day. Remember how exciting this is. This is a great situation for BYU and given the current landscape this will continue to be a great situation for BYU. When the newness starts to wear off, think big picture. Access and Exposure.

Fourth, be patient. Football scheduling is going to be hard. Bowl affiliations are going to be in flux. These things will be sorted out over a matter of years instead of months. Mr. Holmoe and the rest of the BYU Administration have done a good job so far. Be patient when things are not perfect. Going independent was a move years in the making. It is going to take some time to smooth everything out.

Finally, All Loyal Cougars everywhere should Rise and Shout. Today is a great day. This is the beginning of something great. Put on some BYU Gear and enjoy it.

-A Fellow BYU Alum and Fan

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by | · 2:14 pm

Dear MWC, It didn’t need to be like this.

by Matt Mangum

Dear Mountain West Conference,

It didn’t need to be like this. On September 16, 1999 I attended a football game in Provo, Utah. The BYU Cougars were hosting the Rams from Colorado State. It was the first game of the Mountain West Conference. There were hats, t-shirts and plenty of optimism to go around. It was a great day. I think the game was
on ESPN. What happened?

By the late 1990’s the Western Athletic Conference had expanded to include 16 teams. Most of the teams that had originally formed the WAC felt it was too big. Travel budgets were going up and the competition was getting watered down. That is why BYU, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming (all original members of the WAC) Colorado State, San Diego State, Air Force and UNLV ended up forming you. This is why you exist. The newly minted leadership in 1999 took little to heart from the events that had led to the birth of the MWC.

One glaring example is the way the TV deals worked out. The Mtn. only worked because of the large fan bases around a couple of schools. BYU, Utah, TCU and maybe Air Force could draw interest from places other than the areas immediately surrounding their stadiums. Those schools have alumni and pockets of fans across the country. BYU never needed the Mtn. in order to get the games out to their fans. Utah and TCU would both become a big enough draw for ESPN that they didn’t need the conference network either. So in an effort to get Wyoming televised from week to week you took BYU, Utah and TCU and hid them from the entire college football world. In 2006, nobody had ever heard of the Mtn. You told me to call DirecTV and do the lobbying for you. The problem was that when I was calling in 2006 the guy who answered the phone at the DirecTV calling center had no clue what I was talking about. None. Neither did the guy at any of the bajillion sports bars and restaurants that I called in order to find a place to watch the game. I rarely found a place by the way. Thanks for nothing.

Over the next few years, you worked so hard not to give BYU, Utah or TCU any special treatment that you completely alienated them. You completely alienated their alumni and fan bases as well. Instead of sending letters to DirecTV, Dish Network and local cable providers they were sending letters to their alma
mater. The schools that created draw for the Mtn. were all unhappy. Like a stubborn child you refused to budge.

So here we are. July 1, 2011 and at high noon BYU will no longer be a member of the MWC. The MWC, which exists as a result of the efforts of BYU, Utah and a couple other schools to maintain a viable athletic conference, will look suspiciously liked the WAC did in 1999. BYU has their own TV deal with ESPN. I
don’t have to call anybody to lobby for games. People at restaurants will know what I mean when I say, “Can you put that TV on ESPN?” BYU can schedule anybody they want and will make more money than the entire conference did last year on the Mtn. (That figure may be a little overblown. But if it is, it’s not by
much)

I’m sorry that it ended this way. It hasn’t been pretty. Your parting shots while BYU was on it’s way out simply confirmed that it was time to go. It isn’t going to get any better for you when TCU leaves for the Big East next year. Utah is off to thePac-12 and there you are. You have a new logo and some new members. There are some decent programs. However, if past performance is any indicator of future success, your leadership will turn them into something else: leftovers. You need something more than a reheated logo to make this thing taste right. The good news for me is that I don’t care anymore. As of today you are no longer my problem. You can’t weigh BYU down any longer. I really don’t mean any ill will. At this point, I am completely detached from you. It feels good. Liberating. I already cancelled my Sports Pack with DirecTV. Just like when I ordered it, I was sure to make clear why I didn’t need it anymore. When I call later on and cancel my entire subscription, I’ll be sure to mention the Mtn. You see, I can get BYUtv and ESPN with just about any provider.

I would close this with “Good Luck”, but it wouldn’t be sincere. I don’t hope that you flounder into obscurity, I’m just glad I don’t have to worry about it.

-A Fan

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by | June 13, 2011 · 9:00 am

BYU, the BCS Exception, and a Year Full of Bowl Games

Much has been made of BYU’s inability to gain an exception to BCS automatic qualifying rules and enable itself easier access to BCS stardom. While an important facet in BYU’s postseason outlook, the idea that BCS access is a make-or-break step to the postseason success overstatement. Critics of BYU’s decision to test the waters of football independence have been quick to point out this, the most recognizable flaw to the plan. Don’t believe it.
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