Archived Topic

ESPN Exec on BYU and Indy

by jonnylingo · 8/27/2010

jonnylingo

8/27/2010, 7:50:48 PM

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/08/q_a_with_espn_analyst_mike_bur.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Interesting read.

allcoug

8/27/2010, 8:18:07 PM

I can't count how many times I've heard reporters and fans of other universities mock us for trying to be like Notre Dame. And I don't claim that we are, but just read the following Q&A from the interview. I'll take the word of an ESPN exec any day over some envious, jealous reporter or fan.

Q: How difficult would it be for ESPN to help set up enough home-and-home football games for BYU as an independent?

"I think they could have slipped right into our mechanism to fill schedules and word would have spread pretty quickly that they had availability. They have a history of having pretty good teams coming to play in Provo. Texas just did a home-and-home with them. They had Notre Dame there over the years. I presume they'll continue to play Utah. I think it would have been an interesting proposition to have sort of the mountain version of Notre Dame."

If we don't go independent we're crazy. My guess is BYU is just trying to find a solid home for the other sports before they announce it.

CannonCougar85

8/27/2010, 8:32:37 PM

Another interesting aspect of this interview. The interviewer is based out of Alabama, correct? This means that a reporter out of Alabama just spent a large portion of this interview asking about BYU.

Just think about that for a while. :)

Y 4 Ever

8/27/2010, 8:57:44 PM

I think where there's smoke, there's fire. Just like with the 'going independent' buzz last week, turns out there was a forest fire in that case. I can only think that with the current round of stories/rumors, that BYU's going to announce soon that they are staying in the MWC, and that they got some minor TV concessions - like the rights to rebroadcast their games on BYUTV or something lame like that.

Hopefully I'm wrong, but I think that's what we're dealing with.

On the bright side, we'll have some exciting trips to FReno to get excited about! :sick:

EM_Puma

8/27/2010, 9:18:24 PM

I felt somewhat like that reporter this week from the San Jose Mercurio (something like that) that said that even if BYU didn't come to the WCC, that the exposure was good. That was good exposure because it made BYU prominate for an interviewer from Alabama asking that many questions of an ESPN exec related to BYU.

Jumanji

8/27/2010, 9:46:31 PM

If we don't go independent we're crazy. My guess is BYU is just trying to find a solid home for the other sports before they announce it.

I think so too. I think BYU has decided to go independent and is just tying up loose ends before making their intentions known. Probably just to prevent Hair from foiling their plans again.

I also have noticed that BYU has been mentioned almost everyday on the ESPN college football homepage. Today they had posted BYU's dual qb situation as one of the lead stories. I take this as a sign that the deal may be done and that ESPN is just promoting their newest team under contract.

True or not, BYU is getting a lot of attention this summer. I think they are poised to emerge from this being more uniformly recognized as a national Powerhouse (something the rest of us already knew and something we are trying to show the Big XII).

jonnylingo

8/27/2010, 9:58:15 PM

Jumanji wrote:
If we don't go independent we're crazy. My guess is BYU is just trying to find a solid home for the other sports before they announce it.

I think so too. I think BYU has decided to go independent and is just tying up loose ends before making their intentions known. Probably just to prevent Hair from foiling their plans again.

I also have noticed that BYU has been mentioned almost everyday on the ESPN college football homepage. Today they had posted BYU's dual qb situation as one of the lead stories. I take this as a sign that the deal may be done and that ESPN is just promoting their newest team under contract.

True or not, BYU is getting a lot of attention this summer. I think they are poised to emerge from this being more uniformly recognized as a national Powerhouse (something the rest of us already knew and something we are trying to show the Big XII).

I don't think anything is set in stone yet. I think we are still in information gathering stage and it could still change. its all depends on what the mwc offers and how okay byu is having their other sports teams go the wcc. there is also the chance of mwc moving to the way to save the original deal. i wouldn't be suprised if hair and comcast wait until the last minute to tell them their offer to limit byu's ability to accept or deny. then there is scheduling for 2011 if we do go indy given the wac guarnatee is no longer there and we probably wont get any mwc teams to sign up with us that year. i think they will use up every minute and we won't know until just before september 1st what is going to happen.

i think we have no idea basicallly. my prediction however is independent unless MAJOR concessions are made by mwc.

imuakahuku

8/28/2010, 1:21:35 AM

I don't think the scheduling would be a problem and as for the MWC teams, I think they would chomp at the bit to sign on to play. Heck I wouldn't be surprised if we were suddenly doing 2 for 1's with them. Think about that! :D As for the other teams on the schedule, ESPN would help provide very good matchups. If they are paying a boatload of money for BYU's home games, I am sure they are not going to want to just pay for matchups with directional or weak teams. I think we would see a lot more mid to upper level BCS teams or at least ranked teams. It's about the product and making money and ESPN isn't going to stand by doing nothing and paying a lot.

CAFB_04-12

8/28/2010, 2:44:41 AM

I'm thinking that BYU wants to make an EPSN deal announcement along with the independence announcement. I'm also thinking that ESPN can keep business secrets better than MWC university presidents. Funny how that works when real money is at stake.

I also think the announcement will come on Monday, 30 August, or Tuesday, 31 August (one day prior to the MWC deadline). This gives BYU the weekend to finalize any ESPN deal and announce a game-changing move early in the week, giving the press a week to digest, discuss, and promote.

SenorCougar

8/28/2010, 3:25:32 PM

Bridges have been burned. Until something happens, they will just tolerate each other. Will Thompson come to Provo (LES) for any presentations the team might earn (ie, Conference championship, bowl announcement)? Or will he conveniently get ill on that day? Or send the second in command like David Stern did when Stockton broke the assist record? He has to know he would probably be "boo"ed big time at LES..........

Schmoe

8/28/2010, 11:03:26 PM

I wouldn't boo him...I'd throw my coke and cougar tail at him!

Mars

8/29/2010, 4:06:55 AM

Schmoe wrote:
I wouldn't boo him... I'd throw my coke and cougar tail at him!

Throw a coke at him? Sure.

Throw a Cougar Tail? Heck no, I'd eat mine! :)

Those things are like, what, $12?... ;)

Guest

8/29/2010, 5:22:34 PM

Mars wrote:
I wouldn't boo him... I'd throw my coke and cougar tail at him!

Throw a coke at him? Sure.

Throw a Cougar Tail? Heck no, I'd eat mine! :)

Those things are like, what, $12?... ;)

CougarTails are the most delicious item of food sold in Lavell Edwards Stadium.

Jumanji

8/29/2010, 5:34:05 PM

What's a "cougar tail"?

I'm imagining a churro or licorice.

I haven't been to a game at LES for years.

SpiffCoug

8/29/2010, 6:08:27 PM

Jumanji wrote:
What's a "cougar tail"?

I'm imagining a churro or licorice.

I haven't been to a game at LES for years.

They're an 18-inch maple bar. They're great in November when you can wash them down with a nice hot chocolate.

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