More Conference Carnage Underway

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

If you haven't been paying attention the last 24 hours:

*BYU is reportedly going to notify the Mountain West by September 1st they plan to rejoin the WAC for all sports and become an independent in football
*If BYU leaves the MWC, Boise State may head back to the WAC
*MWC has reportedly invited Fresno State and Nevada
*WAC may respond in kind and invite San Diego State and UNLV

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5473151

http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2010/08/18/bmurphy/colorado_state_says_twitter_account_hacked_leading_bad_byu_infor

[Brewtown Andy]

If this is all hinging on BYU, then nothing's going to happen.  There is ZERO chance that BYU gets the BCS AQ status that Notre Dame has.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Careful, Robert CanadianDimes will be calling you a drama queen soon.

[GGGG]

If this is all hinging on BYU, then nothing's going to happen.  There is ZERO chance that BYU gets the BCS AQ status that Notre Dame has.

They don't care about that.  The MWC has a crappy television deal that brings in $2M per year.  BYU thinks they can do better making their own deals or running their home games through BYU-TV to their dispersed Mormon audience.  It is a low risk move because if it doesn't work out, they can always rejoin either the WAC or MWC.  BYU is also a fairly good bowl draw and will be just fine on their own.  They won't have to share revenue with a conference either.

[mikem91288]

Superbar?

[goodgreatgrand]

Superbar?

Yes, this is Superbar material for those that think conference shake-ups(where ever they happen) wont effect the BE at some point or another. This is also Superbar material for those that are clueless about the fragility of the BE.

[GGGG]

Actually, I think the BE is going to be fine for at least the short term.  Face it...if the Big Ten wanted any of the schools, they'd have them.

[Marqevans]

Except they the big 10 can't seem to get ND.

[mikem91288]

haha yeah. I'm sure Cottingham is sweating about what BYU is going to do, since it will bring down our program and our conference. Get real.

[goodgreatgrand]

Except they the big 10 can't seem to get ND.

Exactly. The B10 wants ND so badly that if ND was a girl and the B10 was an admirer, the guy would be arrested for stalking. Since ND turned down the offer, the B10 could easily force their hand by taking Rutgers. Im not even sure they need to take two teams. The BE cant even find one team to expand...so they obviously cant find one to replace a school that leaves. Taking two teams would just show the dominance of the B10....and stick it to the morons in Providence (and I think most BE fball school alums are hoping for this to happen). I grew up watching BE football and basketball and its a shame that the conference is what it is nowadays. It wasnt that long ago that I was in h.s. watching Dnab, Vick, Bullock and Da U making the conference interesting.

[GGGG]

Except they the big 10 can't seem to get ND.

I meant football members, but you are correct.  B10 wants ND...but not the other BE teams.

[GGGG]

Exactly. The B10 wants ND so badly that if ND was a girl and the B10 was an admirer, the guy would be arrested for stalking. Since ND turned down the offer, the B10 could easily force their hand by taking Rutgers. Im not even sure they need to take two teams. The BE cant even find one team to expand...so they obviously cant find one to replace a school that leaves. Taking two teams would just show the dominance of the B10....and stick it to the morons in Providence (and I think most BE fball school alums are hoping for this to happen). I grew up watching BE football and basketball and its a shame that the conference is what it is nowadays. It wasnt that long ago that I was in h.s. watching Dnab, Vick, Bullock and Da U making the conference interesting.

Taking two teams, that decrease the per school revenue, would be stupid.  The B10 isn't going to do that.

[goodgreatgrand]

Taking two teams, that decrease the per school revenue, would be stupid.  The B10 isn't going to do that.

I never said they would.

However, when I was growing up, Syracuse was a perennial top 25 team that a lot of people in nyc followed. They suck now. They have sucked for awhile. But, they have the tradition that exceeds or rivals most B10 programs...as a private school. They appear to be working hard to restore their image. I follow the scheduling of BE teams and they just signed a deal with BC that will restore their rivalry (four years, I think). They have a deal with ND. They are playing some of their home games in the future at the Meadowlands and Yankee Stadium. You cant tell me that if Penn State came to Yankee Stadium to play Cuse that it wouldnt sell-out and be widely watched....in the greater NYC area. That means $$$ for the B10 network.

I think its amusing that the B10 is even remotely interested in Rutgers. They have no tradition and they are one of the top 5 programs in history that has played the most FCS programs. In fact, last year, the year some say was a turning point for their program, they played 3 FCS teams.

[Brewtown Andy]

They don't care about that.  The MWC has a crappy television deal that brings in $2M per year.  BYU thinks they can do better making their own deals or running their home games through BYU-TV to their dispersed Mormon audience.  It is a low risk move because if it doesn't work out, they can always rejoin either the WAC or MWC.  BYU is also a fairly good bowl draw and will be just fine on their own.  They won't have to share revenue with a conference either.

I'm just saying the story I read about BYU moving did say that was part of what they wanted to do.

[GGGG]

I'll believe Syracuse's return to glory when I see it.  Outside of the McNabb years, they have been mostly crappy for the good part of a generation and have completely fallen off the map in terms of college football relevance.  

[goodgreatgrand]

I'll believe Syracuse's return to glory when I see it.  Outside of the McNabb years, they have been mostly crappy for the good part of a generation and have completely fallen off the map in terms of college football relevance.  

Agreed. However, the Pasqualoni (sp?) guy was a decent HC and recruiter and was the end of Syracuse as a football player. Then they hired Greg Robinson who took them to the bottom of D1 football. Their new HC was the offensive coordinator of the Saints and an alum. From what I have heard, they are hoping for a Jim Boeheim for the football program - a guy that sticks around as long as he has. Their top recruiter was also the No.1 recruiter for LSU. They are piling big money into the program because they clearly want either a B10 invite or an ACC invite. I bet they surprise a bit this year (relatively speaking). The faster Cuse rebounds, the better it is for the conference.

[TheTasteofGarlic]

If this is all hinging on BYU, then nothing's going to happen.  There is ZERO chance that BYU gets the BCS AQ status that Notre Dame has.

BYU has killer tailgates. Lots of tequila and green jello. Is there anything more pathetic than an LDS party (besides an LDS party with the Spanish O'Donnells performing?)

[Benny B]

Does anyone else see something fundamentally wrong with this picture, or am I the only one?  In short, this decision isn't being driven by BYU, it's being driven by the LDS.  This would be like the Pope giving orders to Cottingham on who MU can play, on what days, and on what networks (forget the BE Network, just put the games on EWTN).

I understand that this move is about spreading the Mormon faith, and I have no problem with that; however, not everyone who attends BYU is a member of the faith - and certainly not the majority of the football and basketball athletes... if you turn BYU's athletic program into nothing more than a proselytizing arm of LDS, you're going to further isolate the university from non-Mormon students and athletes.  When many of the top Mormon athletes aren't even attending BYU these days, what sort of talent are they hoping to attract under such a plan?

I just don't think this can turn out well for BYU.  LDS, on the other hand, makes out big.

[Brewtown Andy]

BYU has killer tailgates. Lots of tequila and green jello. Is there anything more pathetic than an LDS party (besides an LDS party with the Spanish O'Donnells performing?)

Ain't no party like a LDS party cuz a LDS party don't stop?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Does anyone else see something fundamentally wrong with this picture, or am I the only one?  In short, this decision isn't being driven by BYU, it's being driven by the LDS.  This would be like the Pope giving orders to Cottingham on who MU can play, on what days, and on what networks (forget the BE Network, just put the games on EWTN).

I understand that this move is about spreading the Mormon faith, and I have no problem with that; however, not everyone who attends BYU is a member of the faith - and certainly not the majority of the football and basketball athletes... if you turn BYU's athletic program into nothing more than a proselytizing arm of LDS, you're going to further isolate the university from non-Mormon students and athletes.  When many of the top Mormon athletes aren't even attending BYU these days, what sort of talent are they hoping to attract under such a plan?

I just don't think this can turn out well for BYU.  LDS, on the other hand, makes out big.

Where do you see where the LDS is forcing this move?  I don't see where anyone is saying that.  BYU needs LDS approval, because LDS owns BYU (literally) but I haven't seen anything that suggests they are pushing this.

[TheTasteofGarlic]

Ain't no party like a LDS party cuz a LDS party don't stop?

I want a girl who's wearin' Prairie Panties!

http://mormon-underwear.com/

[Benny B]

Where do you see where the LDS is forcing this move?  I don't see where anyone is saying that.  BYU needs LDS approval, because LDS owns BYU (literally) but I haven't seen anything that suggests they are pushing this.

Seriously, Chicos?  You're the king of the NCAAB media feeds... how did you miss Wetzel's story on this?

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=dw-byu081810

The whole purpose of the proposed move is to spread the Word.  As you've implied previously, there is too much risk involved with starting a network (be that conference or school-specific).  But money isn't the motivator here, and BYU/LDS potentially stands to lose quite a bit of it with such a move... but that makes no difference so long as they're increasing exposure of Mormonism to the masses.  The vaults nestled into the Wasatch can well withstand whatever amount this would cost LDS in the short term.

Again, I have no problem with spreading the faith in a passive way such as this (unless they're strapping people to chairs and forcing them to watch BYU football).  I just don't think that making BYU a guinea pig is the right move.