If Big 12 came calling...

Now that Colorado is leaving early, not sure much changes for the Big 12 in relation to their previous statements of sticking with 10, but now that WE'VE decided what BYU is going to do, what if the Big 12 came calling now?



I think we're locked in. We gave assurances to the WCC that we weren't going anywhere and I don't see us throwing ESPN under the bus after they got us out of a pretty precarious situation with the MWC (Mostly Wussy Cheaters). Perhaps if ESPN managed to steal the Big 12 network from FOX we'd have a route, but not before.

Bottom line, I think the church is exactly where they want to be. They don't care for the big XII as much as they do the exposure. I don't think BYU would go anywhere if invited right now.

I'm enjoying this independence thing... Maybe the Big XII will take BYU's other sports!

I don't think that joining the Big 12 means that BYU has to abandon their ESPN contract. The Big 12 schools do not want to share another piece of their TV revenue pie with any team. So if they invite BYU and let them keep their independent TV deal then it's a win win for everybody involved. BYU gets into the Big 12 and the Big 12 keeps their money. Win Win.

The idea of having schedule independence has grown on me. Playing teams from across the country just seems much more interesting than being in the Big 12. For one, I don't see them getting more exposure than an independent deal. As far as exposure goes, I think the SEC gets the most, followed by the Big 10 then the Big 12/ACC/Big East. Pac 10 gets the least exposure of all (at least back east).



I am quite happy that BYU is in control of its own fortune for now and would not really want to join a Big 12 that could dissolve at any moment. What we do as independents may be the catalyst for it.



The only conferences that I don't think are in danger are the SEC, Big 10 and Pac 10. Those conferences have too much conference pride to dissolve. The remaining conferences are all marriages of convenience.



BTW, how much would we suck if we turned our back on the WCC when they gave us a place to land our other sports? Now if the BIg 12 wanted to accept us as a football school only but not split it's TV contract where we could maintain our own TV contract, that would be something worth doing. But I can't see any reason they would want to do that (It would be lovely though because ESPN would be salivating for some of those BYU home games and it would increase our bargaining power).

CannonCougar85 wrote:
I don't think that joining the Big 12 means that BYU has to abandon their ESPN contract. The Big 12 schools do not want to share another piece of their TV revenue pie with any team. So if they invite BYU and let them keep their independent TV deal then it's a win win for everybody involved. BYU gets into the Big 12 and the Big 12 keeps their money. Win Win.

It would help the big12 with exposure as well given our contract with espn. I would think fox may have to approve of a move like that??

I don't think this changes anything for BYU. They go independent next season and the BIG12 goes a season or two without a championship game as well as see if they can get 2 teams into BCS games without a 12 team conference. When they see they can't, then they expand and BYU will likely be added.



The WCC knows this is a marriage of convenience for now and will be jilted when a better suitor comes along. And they will be no worse off without BYU than they are now. They are not a football conference.

If we left, we could still give the WCC a lot of OOC games and tv exposure.

Did the phone ring yet? Didn't think so. I like being independent as long as someone doesn't get too carried away scheduling eastern teams on eastern neutral fields.



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Strangely enough, since I was opposed to going Independent to begin with, I'd rather stay Indy than join the BigXII unless there were significant monetary reasons to join.

After reading that article in your post Mars, I'm not sure I would want to be a part of the B-12. And I sincerely hope we are able to sissy whip Texas the next few years!

My only problem now is it's harder for me to chose a side to win or lose in most games. And since having both teams in the game lose won't happen, I guess I will just continue to pull for the underdog in most cases.

If BYU and independence works out I think other teams will try that route so they have made the commitment, still need to give it thier best shot. They could end up being trendsetters not much reason to go to a conference that could fall apart anyway.Did enjoy them playing for the conference championship.

Screamineagle wrote:
If BYU and independence works out I think other teams will try that route so they have made the commitment, still need to give it thier best shot. They could end up being trendsetters not much reason to go to a conference that could fall apart anyway.Did enjoy them playing for the conference championship.

BYU trendsetters? ;)