Playing In A Conference - Does Add Interest

A few people on the football forum have indicated that the season is meaningless after the first loss because NC and BCS Bowl fly out the window, bowl destination is known, and there is no league title to play for.



That is not true for me - to any significant extent. The opportunity to win every game keeps each one interesting to me. Even the WAC games because I still remember the improbable loss to UTEP un 1985. Even pulling for players, records, margin, shutouts, etc. keep it fun.



But I did notice how general fan interest in BYU basketball perked up from the doldrums when the Zig Zags and The Gaels got upset a couple of times and suddenly we were back in the race with a tiny chance to share the crown and the opportunity to sweep the Zags for sole possession of 2nd popped up with the bye at stake for the WCC tournament. That adds to The Big Dance and related seeding anticipation.



Maybe it means more to many - on the football side of things. Indy works well enough for me as long as we do not overschedule ourselves into obscurity. But conference chase does at something - but only if you are in the hunt.



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It can make things more interesting for fans because you have other specific teams that you pay attention to, but in basketball, it would still be compelling even without a conference because we are still playing for something late, just as the last several football games would still be interesting if we were undefeated going into them.

It's not the conference championship that adds interest, it's what the championship entails.



A WCC championship would help ensure our at-large status and help our odds we win the WCC tourney. Winning gets us something.



Unless a football conference has BCS access or killer tie-ins, the conference standings don't mean as much. It basically establishes where you stand in comparison with regional rivals - which you can still do with decent scheduling.



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