Permanent independance?

Just read Brad Rock's column about independence. Basically he's saying that BYU still really wants a conference and that conferences secretly want BYU. BYU's just waiting for the right offer.



I think the folks at BYU would save themselves a lot of heartache and regret by continuing the indy gig they have going on, at least for 5-10 years. If it's working and BYU's getting the church's name out there, then keep it permanently. Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on this issue.



Poll is the same one offered on DESnews, I just wanted to see what the response in this "corner" of the world thinks about it. When you answer the poll state your opinion of why or why not. I'm going to vote yes because it puts BYU squarely in the driver's seat of their own destiny/decision making and the exposure that it gives the LDS church is priceless.

who knows what the next 5-10 years will bring. Well, besides change.

Lawboy wrote:
who knows what the next 5-10 years will bring. Well, besides change.

Which is why independence is such a perfect option I think. college football is going to be changing a lot in the next decade. Staying independent means BYU doesn't join a conference one year and is left out in the cold the next when half the members up and leave for a superconference that doesn't want BYU.

What does any reporter know? I nees to get a job inside BYU admin to get the real story.



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I was actually suprised to find the majority of voters were in favor of independence (so far). I voted yes as well. THE biggest downside to independence is finding schools to fill your schedule. We haven't seemed to have a problem making that happen. The biggest upside is you are in control of your own TV contract (I think we learned a lot from our mistakes--the MWC) and you can schedule any school that YOU want that is willing. No required games with Wyoming, etc. I love not being tied down to a conference affiliation. If the conference looks weak you look weak. When the conference looks strong, you look strong. But when you stand on your own--its all on you. And I like that. It is great to be able to control your own destiny. It also gives you complete freedom to deal with whatever changes are on the horizon (super-conferences, BCS split-off league, etc.).

I choose Other. It hasn't even been a year. Too early to tell at this point. So far, its been a huge success!

indy is fun for now but i suspect we will be in a conference in 3-4 years. assuming there is not some massive reconstruction of conferences, i would assume that once the b12 contract is up for renegotiation in a few years they will add teams and we will likely be one of those teams.



the only reason they are making so much right now with only 10 teams is because they got extra money by those who valued avoiding super conferences and widespread change in college athletics ponied up that money. when its renegotiated the tv deals are going to want more teams.

Cougarfan87 wrote:
I was actually suprised to find the majority of voters were in favor of independence (so far). I voted yes as well. THE biggest downside to independence is finding schools to fill your schedule. We haven't seemed to have a problem making that happen. The biggest upside is you are in control of your own TV contract (I think we learned a lot from our mistakes--the MWC) and you can schedule any school that YOU want that is willing. No required games with Wyoming, etc. I love not being tied down to a conference affiliation. If the conference looks weak you look weak. When the conference looks strong, you look strong. But when you stand on your own--its all on you. And I like that. It is great to be able to control your own destiny. It also gives you complete freedom to deal with whatever changes are on the horizon (super-conferences, BCS split-off league, etc.).

WEll, our poll here is very different from the one the DESNEWS has on it's page. About 66 percent think BYU should join a conference given the chance. I'm guessing a lot of those voters are utes who are starting to realize that the indy thing could turn BYU into a superpower, the likes of which they have never had to deal with... so of course they want to see BYU tethered down to a conference like they are. :evil:

No, If I were a student athlete, I'd much rather be competing for a conference championship than a shot at the armed forces bowl.

Win and win a lot and they will get everything they want respect, exposure, BCS bowls. Lose 3-5 games a year and they can keep playing in lower tier crappy bowls so it will be about like it has been.Independence is worth the gamble. Besides I kind of like not being tethered to a Conference.

Win and win a lot and they will get everything they want respect, exposure, BCS bowls. Lose 3-5 games a year and they can keep playing in lower tier crappy bowls so it will be about like it has been.Independence is worth the gamble. Besides I kind of like not being tethered to a Conference.

Joining a conference only makes sense if BYU is able to immediately compete at the top level in that conference. And it only makes sense to join a conference where it can make at least equal the amount of money as it can as a football independent.



BYU is not prepared to compete at the top level in the Big XII right now. I simply don't see us winning regularly against Texas or Oklahoma. However, after a few years of independence things could be much different. I think the strength and conditioning changes are positive moves that could lead to a level of competition that could win in the top of the Big XII.



Until BYU is as strong, fast, and deep as Texas and Oklahoma it should stick it out as an independent.



On the other hand, I do think that BYU could immediately compete for the top of the Big East and ACC...so I guess it depends.

My answer is "no" as I like conference affiliation. Am I glad that BYU bolted the MWC? Yes, with the current state of affairs mainly involving their TV contract and the fact that BYU had assurances on a hand shake basis that they would be able to do things like rebroadcast games and that didn't happen. It was hard to be irreverent in the nation. I just want a level playing field like basketball has and to get rid of this BCS monopoly. I'd love to have the opportunity to run through a conference schedule like the Big 12, Big Ten, or PAC 12 year-after-year to truly test our level of ability.

I hope so.



BYU likes to march to the beat of its own drum. Independence is the only way to preserve that. No bickering over money. No having to compromise or swallow a hard pill for the greater good of a conference that just resents your presence. Besides, regardless of the conference I still see the same thing happening with everyone in the conference eventually hating or being jealous of BYU. Why put up with that?



We have our own broadcasting capabilities; pretty much any BYU fan in the nation with basic cable can watch BYU. I don't think conference affiliation gets any additional exposure (a big deal to BYU) that we couldn't muster on our own.

Gunk wrote:
I hope so.



BYU likes to march to the beat of its own drum. Independence is the only way to preserve that. No bickering over money. No having to compromise or swallow a hard pill for the greater good of a conference that just resents your presence. Besides, regardless of the conference I still see the same thing happening with everyone in the conference eventually hating or being jealous of BYU. Why put up with that?



We have our own broadcasting capabilities; pretty much any BYU fan in the nation with basic cable can watch BYU. I don't think conference affiliation gets any additional exposure (a big deal to BYU) that we couldn't muster on our own.

I would agree with what you said if we could find a level playing field in scheduling. That's the main caveat that causes me consternation at not being in a conference and going independent. Yes, playing in the MWC wasn't much, but having conference opponents at the end of the season like Air Force, TCU and Utah made the home games more exciting. If we can't get anyone of significance to come to LES past early October, then it will suck in Provo. Other than that issue, as you say, it does fit us to go to the beat of our own drum. We have the exposure that we craved.