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PROVO — Even before it was made official that Boise State would remain in the Mountain West Conference, social media began speculating that BYU would be interested in joining the Broncos.
Not a chance.
For the foreseeable future, BYU administrators appear content — and some would say, in love — with the football program’s status as an independent. They don’t need back in the MWC.
And they certainly aren’t interested in the depleted Big East. BYU's decision to stay away from that conference deserves commendation in the face of criticism. For much of the last two years, naysayers claimed BYU couldn’t survive as an independent, pointing to the lousy November schedules.
Don’t doubt Tom Holmoe.
BYU’s athletic director called his shot the day BYU announced it was going independent, saying he needed two years to beef up the football schedule. Sure enough, he delivered.
Give Holmoe and his bosses credit for knowing to reject every Big East invitation, unlike Boise State, San Diego State, Texas Christian and all the other seemingly dozens of schools that jumped at the chance to score fool’s gold.
Boise State, which announced Monday it will stay in the MWC instead of joining the Big East as scheduled, is responsible to pay an exit fee that could cost millions of dollars. Remember that San Diego State athletic administrator who wrote in an email to a Big 12 representative that BYU was hard to get along with? She would have been better served to talk the athletic department out of such a misguided decision.
For now, BYU football needs to stay put.
As it stands, the college football industry is not close to stability. BYU is wise to sit tight and let the landscape shake out more.
For argument’s sake, the top two reasons for BYU to join a conference are (1) financial and (2) greater access to BCS bowls, or whatever they will be called once the new playoff format takes effect. Neither, at this time, is good enough to forego being an independent.
BYU isn't going to give up the right to schedule 12 games for the potential to play in one game. Again, it's the right call.
Fact is, BYU’s decisions aren’t money-based. While the football budget has increased in recent years, for decades the Cougars have managed to compete despite not paying the going rate for coaching salaries, etc.
Even if a high-roller booster wanted in, BYU administrators aren’t likely to be beholden to a wealthy donor the way Oregon is with Nike boss Phil Knight. Anyway, judging by the modern facilities, BYU doesn’t lack for the necessary cash. The leadership long ago jumped in big time once ground was broken on the football building and indoor practice facility.
The greater BCS access is an interesting proposition.
As foolish as it sounds, coach Bronco Mendenhall openly states his goal is to compete for national championships. Good for him, even if it’s a long shot. Without the possibility of a conference championship, BYU might as well shoot for the moon.
Mendenhall has often said his team needs to produce multiple undefeated seasons in order to receive consideration to play in the national championship game. A 25-game winning streak isn’t likely.
As we know, BYU in 1984 was the last team from a non-BCS conference to win the national championship. It’s safe to say the powers that be won’t repeat the same perceived mistake.
So it boils down to this: Should BYU join a conference merely for the opportunity to play in the Fiesta Bowl or the like? No.
BYU isn’t going to give up the right to schedule 12 games for the potential to play in one game. Again, it’s the right call.
Right now, BYU shouldn’t give up scheduling freedom and all the other benefits of being an independent for a chance that may never come. Until the lousy offense improves, the Cougars need to worry about becoming bowl eligible instead of qualifying for some fancy bowl.
A secondary argument for joining a conference is better kickoff times. The problem with that line of thinking is the 1980s are gone forever.
With the college game becoming a gigantic business, networks need football programming during the week and all day Saturdays. Once the Wasatch Front became “the place” for BYU, football games were destined to start at 8 p.m. on Saturdays in November. As the University of Utah has learned in the Pac-12, Saturday afternoon games are mostly a charming relic.
The Big East, in whatever form or name it’s called, will always be there. Same goes for the Mountain West. BYU was the big dog in the old WAC-turned-MWC for years, and it would be again if the two ever reunite.
As an independent, the Cougars are in a great spot. All they need now is to take whatever means necessary to join the Big 12.
