<p>Well waddaya know, Brigham Young University has just decided to leave the athletic conference it helped create, the Mountain West Conference. It will follow the path long established by the U of Notre Dame; it will become an independent in football and join the West Coast Conference (think 'Gonzaga') for all other sports.</p>
<p>From the opinions I've read from sportswriters thus far, this will be a step down in competition for BYU. So of course, once again this conference-shifting is all about money (i.e. football). Pundits say that BYU will bring much additional media exposure to the WCC. Gonzaga basketball is already a national media darling and a power on the court.</p>
<p>As for BYU football, I've not made up my mind. BYU has never been well-liked among its peers because of a perception of vigorous self-interest to the detriment of its collegues and a sense that it exploits and bends NCAA rules by using older athletes returning from Mormon missions. I'd like to see how much $$$ BYU hopes to gain by being an independent. I'm sure their fan/alumni base in Utah are super supporters of the university's teams. And with the significant Mormon and BYU alumni communities throughout California, Washington, Oregon and Idaho, maybe a new BYU TV package or network would be more lucrative than the school's current share of MWC money.</p>
<p>So what's the impact on the BCS calculations?</p>
<p>^^Funny how schools only whine about the returned Mormon missionaries on the BYU team when they lose to them. When BYU was perpetually lousy at football prior to the hiring of coach LaVell Edwards or when it has an off year these days, suddenly having former missionaries on the team is no longer an issue. Besides, using returned missionaries is not bending the rules. It’s perfectly legal under the rules and is a path open to all schools. BYU does not have a lock on those guys and many have gone to other schools. The Univ. of Utah football team has a whole bunch of these missionaries too. Yet somehow for them it’s not an issue.</p>
<p>Oh of course it’s sour grapes when the complaints come after a thorough drubbing by the BYU Cougars on the football field. Although I think some of the criticism about BYU’s self-interest is valid. Even Notre Dame received substantial criticism when they said no to the NCAA TV rights package and signed the independent NBC TV deal years ago. And boy did U of Texas take a lot of heat this spring and summer for throwing its weight around with its proposed TV network. Texas essentially broke up the Big 12 this summer pursuing its own interests.</p>
<p>I agree that BYU is watching out for its own financial skin here at the expense of the Mountain West conference. But I blame Utah and the Pac 10 for starting this particular exodus. BYU and Utah have been big rivals since forever. Utah, in following its own interest at the expense of others and turning its back on more than a century of rivalry with BYU, jumped to the Pac 10 leaving BYU behind. That was pulling of the plug on the Mountain West bathtub from BYU’s point of view.</p>
<p>But once again, whether it’s having missionaries on the team or jumping out of the conference to chase greater opportunities, in the sports press when Univ. of Utah does it it’s a savvy move. When BYU does something similar it’s villianous self-interest.</p>
<p>Can’t argue with you about Utah. They followed the $$ also. But remember, the PAC-10 invited them. The money situation in college football and basketball is scandalous.</p>
<p>I’m talking about the modern era, Erin; since the full implementation of Title IX and since Penn State joined the Big Ten, i.e. the 1990s.</p>
<p>Notre Dame was courted by the Big Ten the and by the Big East subsequently. Notre Dame used it’s lucrative new NBC TV contract to maintain its status as a football independent when a lot of other independents began to join conferences. For example, there was no MWC, no Conference USA, no Sunbelt Conference, no America East etc. back then.</p>
<p>In terms of football and TV , BYU certainly is attempting to “do a Notre Dame.”</p>
<p>^ ND tried to join the Big 10 in the 30s or 40s. They were rejected by the Big 10 because they viewed catholic universities as inferior to Big 10 schools. I beleive that ND tried to join again in the 50s or 60s, but were Michigan didn’t want ND to join. ND wanted no part with the Big 10 from then on and ended up doing pretty well without them because of the NBC deal. </p>
<p>If BYU thinks that they’re going to get a deal that allows them to get an automatic BCS berth, then they’re downright stupid. But as a ND fan, I love having BYU as an independent.</p>
<p>Its about bowl games and national television exposure for football. MONEY. Being independent, BYU can schedule whom they want and get bids, they hope, to big bowls like Notre Dame. They are sick and tired of being relegated to the Mountain West contract in the San Diego Bowl or Poinsettia Bowl or whatever it is. Their choice.</p>
<p>Anyone who thinks college football is about academics is full of beans. Its about money, NFL drafting and marketing the college name on television.</p>
<p>The problem w/ that is w/ all the bowl tie-ins, ND likely doesn’t get to see a good bowl game unless they they finish w/ a 9-10 win season; and w/ the B10 going to a 9 game conf. schedule (and the Pac10 likely to follow suit), it will become harder for independent programs to schedule tougher opponents/</p>
<p>As for academics, yes, it’s not nearly as impt. as $$ and other considerations, but for certain schools, it definitely is a factor.</p>
<p>For instance, Texas, if they ever decided to leave what’s left of the B12, would likely consider joining the Pac10 or B10 over the SEC for academic reasons (remember, academics, as in research grants, make the $$ brought in by college FB, look like peanuts).</p>