No, because that's exact way it's going down. How I'm I covering for BYU when I'm telling you that they very well might be stupid enough to reject a Big 12 offer? It's better for them if you believe what you do and every one else the same. That way that aren't culpable for anything that happens to BYU football in the future in regards to conferences. Then Tom Homole will show up in some newspaper 15-20 years down the road talking about how it really went down and Utah fans will still claim they had no offer.
Independence is fine. Scheduling is improving. Anybody that thought BYU was going to have an out of this world schedule in year 1 is a moron. I don't think you need a conference for multiple more years. So maybe they will have made the best decision for BYU years out into the future because college football as a whole is unsustainable right now.
Try telling that to Dave Rose.
Try telling that to the literally, MILLIONS of BYU/Mormons that would greatly prefer playing the likes of Oklahoma, Texas, and Ok St to Idaho, Idaho St, and San Jose ST.
Even if the schedule "improves" which I doubt it will significantly, since most teams are playing conference games in Oct and Nov, people still want a CHAMPIONSHIP to play for.
Just look at Utah, they STILL have an outside chance of playing for the Rose Bowl. It ain't gonna happen, but there's still a chance.
BYU on the other hand, has nearly NO chance at playing in ANY BCS game as an Independent. Even if they go undefeated. Once they slip up just once, or even twice, they're gone.
Getting into the BIG 12 at nearly any costs is the key. Not only for Football, but hell, for Basketball, track, Baseball, etc.
Just ask David Rose if he'd rather play Texas in an arena of 20k+ or St. Mary's in an arena of 2k?
Ask fans who they'd rather see play.
Problem with Sunday scheduling? Probably wasn't, since that is about the first thing that would have come to discussions.
Problem with BYU wanting their games played on their own network? F-that. Most people will watch the game on ESPN.
Wasted money on the network? All is well. Playing all sports in the Big-12 would have paid for that stupid network in a few years.
Playing on conference weekend in the fall? Who gives a damn? Play at night so only Priesthood session is missed. There's also such a thing called a TIVO. Members, fans, coaches, and players could just watch the missed conference session later. It's not like we're in the 1800's and all members must gather to Zion to hear the prophets. It might surprise some of you, but MOST members of the LDS church don't see conference live. Most (if they are even able to see it) see recorded broadcasts. We, as missionaries, never saw Priesthood session live. It was always the next day. It apparently was ok for our own spirituality. Why not here? TIVO folks TIVO. Internet. ENSIGN magazine.
Afraid that the Big 12 might collapse? It probably isn't. Besides, who cares? does joining the Big-12 prevent you from joining another conference after it dies? Why not join with other former Big 12 schools? What's NOT to gain by playing a few years in a BCS conference? If anything the PAC-12 might become impressed with the way BYU competes in the BIG 12 and ask for them to join. There's absolutely nothing to lose by playing in the BIG-12.
The Holy War, is meaningless as long as BYU is Independent and little brother is in the PAC. However, make it a PAC vs BIG 12 game, and it all of a sudden becomes important again.
Afraid that "the message" might not get out as well as Independence? Ummmm, nothing screams missionary work better, than playing games in the south year after year. Interest in the Mormon church and BYU would increase dramatically. Just think how much MORE attention would have been given to the Jimmer had he been tearing up all those black southern boys instead of poor high school teams like the Utes.
Just think how much less attention he will have received had he played the likes of St. Marys......
The wave of the future is big conferences. BYU might have f-ed up the only thing they could not have.
If that's the case, BYU is going to lose out on recruits, money, all the people that would go through the Provo airport, hotels, restaurants, and ski resorts that would benefit, and quite possibly the #1 important commodity, FANS.
I ain't watching a game against Idaho. I'll watch USC and Oregon. Jazzman and salty, pass me a red shirt please.
Arrogance and lack of vision is what has always held them back. Back in the day, they had the chance to join the Pac-10. They refused, and have since made "wonderful" history in the WAC and MTN West.........
