What if we say "No"?

For all of you who would support a move to the Big 12 (myself included). What would you do if an invite is extended and BYU says No?



I don't mean an invite that we can't live with such as requiring games to be played on Sunday or other obvious reasons for not doing it.



If an offer is made and it pretty much gives us everything we could ask for and for whatever reason we say we are staying independent what then?



Would you not renew your season tickets if our independent home schedule doesn't improve from Idaho, Idaho State, San Jose State etc?



Would you TP Holmoe's house?



Would you write a strongly worded email?



Would it diminish your interest in BYU sports?

I don't think we would ever know the exact reasons why it was turned down, if it were. But that being said, I trust Tom Holmoe and the staff, it would no way negatively impact my fanhood.

If we say "No," we probably won't hear about any invite except via very cloudy rumors. The Big 12 will never admit that they were turned down and BYU won't give us the opportunity to second guess them.

If BYU does not enter, it is because they said no. There is no other way to look at it. Talks are among many fan bases right now that if BYU says no, OU and OSU start looking at the PAC again, and the Big XII will not survive. Believe it or not, smaller schools want BYU really bad because they honestly feel that the survival of that league could depend on it. Which means we are most likely getting a sweetheart deal to enter, that will probably be too good to pass on. We are in a strong position right now--really strong--and we are here for 1 reason--we went Indy last year and proved our worth on the open market. HAd we stayed in the MWC, this probably would not be happening right now.

Lawboy wrote:
If BYU does not enter, it is because they said no. There is no other way to look at it. Talks are among many fan bases right now that if BYU says no, OU and OSU start looking at the PAC again, and the Big XII will not survive. Believe it or not, smaller schools want BYU really bad because they honestly feel that the survival of that league could depend on it. Which means we are most likely getting a sweetheart deal to enter, that will probably be too good to pass on. We are in a strong position right now--really strong--and we are here for 1 reason--we went Indy last year and proved our worth on the open market. HAd we stayed in the MWC, this probably would not be happening right now.

This. And if we have a couple of 7-6 seasons or worse after playing too many good teams on the road and maybe just plain too many good teams - 2014 for example, it may never come about again. Strike while the Cougar is Hot. T-Shirts anyone?



The Cougar is Hot! @Trademark

Cougarbib2 wrote:
The Cougar is Hot! @Trademark

I do not think that means what you think it means... ;)

redneckjedi wrote:

The Cougar is Hot! @Trademark

I do not think that means what you think it means... ;)

anyone want a peanut? :D

Would it make me less of a fan? No. I currently don't buy season tickets, so that isn't an issue for me. I would continue to watch the games, cheer for the team, go to the occasional game, and be generally content. I would not be happy with the home schedule being as terrible as it is 3 out of the first 4 years of independence, but I would still be a fan.



One of the sad things about this, if BYU goes to the Big 12, is that we won't get to see that 2013 schedule. If BYU could schedule like that at home every year, not one out of every 4 years, then it would be much harder to give up Independence.

I would be pretty disapointed, especially if they offered everything that BYU asked for like stated. It wouldn't cause me to quit loving the cougars though.

I would disappointed, but it wouldn't affect my fanhood. I think we could make independence work in football, though I prefer Big XII.



I also think that being in the Big XII could help basketball recruiting and scheduling even more, and baseball would be absolutely awesome. I don't know how many of you follow college baseball, but while there are solid programs in the WCC, they don't compare to Texas, OU, and OSU.

If I somehow knew that we turned down the offer (not sure we will ever really know), I would seriously consider dropping the donations to the athletic department. It would be completely unacceptable. I am excited about independence as it compares to staying in the MWC. However, if BYU turned down a decent offer from the Big XII, then it means BYU (for whatever reason) is not interested in stepping up to the next level.



Losing my donation (I am at the Golden Cougar level) would not kill the program, but it is the only way I could think of to protest in a way that anyone might take notice.

The more I think about it, I think there's about a 5% chance we end up in the Big 12. Either the invite doesn't come, or the Big 12 won't be able to stomach our requirements, or we turn down the invite because Indy/WCC is so awesome and we love our ESPN contract, or the Big 12 just implodes.



I hope this is just me being overly pessimistic due to a lifetime spent on the outside looking in (BYU sports wise). I just can't picture it actually happening.



On a happier note, it is EXACTLY 3 days til kick off as of the time of this post!

hawkwing wrote:
I don't think we would ever know the exact reasons why it was turned down, if it were. But that being said, I trust Tom Holmoe and the staff, it would no way negatively impact my fanhood.

Ditto. Indy is sweet. Big12 is sweet. I am good either way.

Y 4 Ever wrote:
The more I think about it, I think there's about a 5% chance we end up in the Big 12. Either the invite doesn't come, or the Big 12 won't be able to stomach our requirements, or we turn down the invite because Indy/WCC is so awesome and we love our ESPN contract, or the Big 12 just implodes.



I hope this is just me being overly pessimistic due to a lifetime spent on the outside looking in (BYU sports wise). I just can't picture it actually happening.



On a happier note, it is EXACTLY 3 days til kick off as of the time of this post!

Yeah, I think you are being pessimistic. I think the chances that BYU ends up in the Big 12 are way over 50% if you trust the info that Lawboy has been giving.

I trust BYU and the BoT to do what is best for the school and the Church. The WCC has been very gracious to BYU, and I understand wanting to do right by them.



The Big 12 seems like a good fit for BYU. I like that relationship way more than an invite to the PAC10+2.

frdbtr wrote:

The more I think about it, I think there's about a 5% chance we end up in the Big 12. Either the invite doesn't come, or the Big 12 won't be able to stomach our requirements, or we turn down the invite because Indy/WCC is so awesome and we love our ESPN contract, or the Big 12 just implodes.



I hope this is just me being overly pessimistic due to a lifetime spent on the outside looking in (BYU sports wise). I just can't picture it actually happening.



On a happier note, it is EXACTLY 3 days til kick off as of the time of this post!

Yeah, I think you are being pessimistic. I think the chances that BYU ends up in the Big 12 are way over 50% if you trust the info that Lawboy has been giving.

Even lawboys sources seem to be changing their tune. For my own mental well being, I am going to assume we are stuck Indy playing crappy WAC teams in November until I hear holmoe at a presser say otherwise.



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frdbtr wrote:

The more I think about it, I think there's about a 5% chance we end up in the Big 12. Either the invite doesn't come, or the Big 12 won't be able to stomach our requirements, or we turn down the invite because Indy/WCC is so awesome and we love our ESPN contract, or the Big 12 just implodes.



I hope this is just me being overly pessimistic due to a lifetime spent on the outside looking in (BYU sports wise). I just can't picture it actually happening.



On a happier note, it is EXACTLY 3 days til kick off as of the time of this post!

Yeah, I think you are being pessimistic. I think the chances that BYU ends up in the Big 12 are way over 50% if you trust the info that Lawboy has been giving.

As of a couple of hours ago Lawboy said:

Let me clarify--most of the rumors I am hearing lately are saying we stay Indy.

They were rumors, but not from my 3 sources. My 3 sources have given me nothing in a few days now, so I am as blind as everyone else. Just piecing together the news like everybody is. Last I was told is that talks were happening and looked good. I hope that is still the case, and I think BYU really is option 1 for the Big XII right now. They need BYU, or else they will crumble. No other viable option, which gives BYU solid leverage. I assume it is being used. I still say over 50% chance we go Big XII. Makes too much sense not too. We positioned ourselves for it, and perhaps it came sooner than planned for, but the option has come all the same.



From a practical perspective, BYU has 2 options for BCS inclusions. 1 is PAC, other is Big XII. Chances are pretty good that the PAC will never come for us. Ever. As in when hell freezes over ever. That leaves the Big XII. SEC will not ask. Big 10 will not, ACC will not. And if Big East made overtures as rumored, we declined--as rumored. That leaves the Big XII and only Big XII. No other BCS choice. Timing may not be perfect, but you have to take it when it comes. We are not Notre Dame, and those comparisons are not fair. Notre Dame has a solid yearly schedule with regional rivals of BCS caliber. We have no such luxury. Notre Dame has security we do not have with scheduling, and it is a real issue that can not be ignored. Carpe Diem time.

Byu may not disclose reasons if they say NO. They would not want ot burn future bridges by making contractual deficiencies public.

And life will go on.

Maybe we should worry about offending the Big12 by saying no. A year ago we would have jumped at an invite. Does Indy change it that much?