Scheduling Nuclear Option

While I like the upside of independence, here's another risk that just occurred to me, given the anti-BYU vitriol in MWC-WAC-land that seems to be increasing daily:



Let's say BYU goes indy, but spurns the WAC-2, going to say the WCC for non-football. In this case, we have successfully shafted both the MWC and WAC in one day. I could easily see both conferences and their teams deciding to get us back by refusing to schedule us (balancing "the high road" vs. loss of revenue). Utah, with their new "superiority," could very easily join in. This would leave us with no regional games, no rivalry games, and no "average" games. Would we be able to construct a viable schedule?

This is when they disband sports at BYU...you guys all remember that rumor of long ago right...then BYUIdaho (Ricks) gave up their sports...

Under your scenario scheduling BYU would become the most valuable ticket in town. Every fan in every stadium in the West would pay double to try to pour beer on BYU fans or watch others doing so on TV. The ADs know that. If the PAC10 ADs had control, BYU would have been invited years ago. It would indeed be a nuclear option but not in the way you think. Every AD in every WAC and MWC school will be racing to the table to schedule an independent BYU football team (even TCU). You can bank on it and so can BYU/ESPN.

They will do what is in their best interest. Sign a money game with BYU on national tv? Faster than FSU said yes to the MWC.

Pat Forde at ESPN just posted and article on BYU, and the MWC/WAC scenario. I still think Indy will happen in football. No way BYU just goes back to the MWC in its same position. No way. That will not happen. Either the MWC capitulates to keep BYU in, or BYU still walks because the money is on the table still, and ESPN is still working to get BYU games.



This is the lead story on ESPN.com right now. Main page.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=5477131" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Lawboy wrote:
Pat Forde at ESPN just posted and article on BYU, and the MWC/WAC scenario. I still think Indy will happen in football. No way BYU just goes back to the MWC in its same position. No way. That will not happen. Either the MWC capitulates to keep BYU in, or BYU still walks because the money is on the table still, and ESPN is still working to get BYU games.



This is the lead story on ESPN.com right now. Main page.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=5477131" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also, where does the money come from with two more mouths to feed? Fear not about the WAC. They are beholden to ESPN and ESPN will MAKE them play BYU if they have to. Don't forget that ESPN has a stake in this too.

Sorry, there's no way that some AD in Vegas or San Diego or Laramie that's butt is on the line to keep his athletic program in the black is going to have this conversation with Holmoe:



Holmoe: "Hey, <random school AD>, how bout a home n home?"

Random School AD: "Uh...no thanks. I promised Hair that I wouldn't schedule you guys. And besides, you're really mean too"



Sorry, not going to happen. CSU, UNLV, SDSU, WYO, AFA, USU, etc, etc, etc will all bend over backwards to schedule us. And even more so now, knowing how bad their fans hate us, they know they'll pack the stadium because of it.