Before we get to the BYU going independent nonsense, I'd just like to congratulate my English Premier League team Arsenal. The Gunners put a whooping on Blackpool 6-0. I watched this game on ESPN2 and from the start it was clear that Arsenal is twice the team that Blackpool is. I don't even know that much about football (or as us Americans call it soccer). But with Arsenal's crisp passing, playing most of the game in Blackpool's half and their aggressive style Arsenal dominated.
Two weeks from today BYU plays Washington at LES at 5:00pm. By then this whole BYU going independent nonsense should be over. As a humongous BYU fan, I can't see what good would come from BYU going independent in football. It's probably partially a response to Utah joining the Pac 10. If that plays into it, that's lame. BYU, or anyone else for that matter, shouldn't be a follower. It makes BYU look pathetic, especially if they take a step down to the WAC. Utah is taking a step up allegedly to the Pac 10.
(On a side rant: are they really taking a step up? In money they are and we all know that's the bottom line in this corporate America driven culture we live in. However I would say if BYU stays in the MWC, that the MWC will be a better football conference. Next year TCU and BSU, two BCS teams last year, will be in the MWC. They will also have the tough AFA, Fresno State (who won their bowl game last year) teams. The other teams in the MWC battling to improve. They also may or may not have BYU. Most of those teams are clearly superior to the sisters of the poor that make up most of the WAC. The Pac 10 will have Utah, USC and resurgent Washington and Stanford teams. Also one of the Oregon teams is usually decent. However USC will still be under the penalties from the Pete Carrol regime. They can't even play in the postseason for the next two years. UCLA may be better, but I don't ever see them breaking out of USC's shadow. Then there are Colorado, Cal and Washington State, when was the last time those three teams last made a true impact? The Arizona teams like to show a lot of promise early and but then usually fade.)
Wait a second, where was I? So yeah I'm calling BYU pathetic if they are trying to respond to Utah this way. All the MWC teams only get $1.3 million from the MTN Network contract. The MWC just needs to dump the Mountain. BYU's move to go to independent is obviously just a money grab. BYU should stand high above that. I'm afraid what happens after BYU's first rough season as an independent. The pressure is going to be great to get back to a higher level and that's when the temptation steps in. Then it will be highly likely for someone at BYU to start cutting corners to achieve that prominence BYU so desperately wants. (See AD Mike Garret at USC.) The predicted result: BYU will end up in a worse situation, would the MWC even want them back at that point? When greed starts to dictate choices, that's usually when things start getting worse.
Can you imagine the MWC without both the Utes and Cougars? Let's be honest those two teams are the heart of the conference. Usually two of the better teams in football and basketball. Who would be the new heart of the MWC and would I even care anymore? After a couple of years, probably not a whole lot. One would think that BSU and TCU would become the heart of the MWC. While both teams are fantastic in football, BSU is mediocre in basketball and TCU is downright abysmal in basketball. I'm surprised by me writing this but if New Mexico could go back to the Rocky Long glory days, the Lobos could go be the heart of the MWC. This constantly changing football landscape is crazy.
I heard a BYU rep talk about "growing their brand", every time I hear that I throw up in my mouth a bit. I lost respect for Ivanka Trump when she said that. She's still gorgeous though.
themusicaddict humbly suggests for BYU to stay in the MWC and make the best of it. Continue to talk to Conference USA about possibly have a championship game to go to a BCS game. If BYU really wants to do something productive, blow up that piece of crap called the Mountain. The MWC took a step back when they formed that. Go back to ESPN. Independence in football has a big upside, but the downside is much greater.
themusicaddict
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