The BYU rumors are flying everywhere around the internet. I thought that the Salt Lake area papers would have most of the news, but I have been surprised at the National Intrigue in this whole affair. Everyone is reporting on facts that have not been released By the Cougars, and I have read them all. Here then is a run down of the collective details.
BYU is seeking for more National exposure. LDS Church exposure and not BCS exposure is the purpose of the TV deals. Dick Harmon and Greg Wrubel have written about this and Tom Holmoe was quoted on Thursday as saying such.http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700058675/BYU-football-Y-ponders-options-to-bolster-national-profile.
BYU desires to have the rights to broadcast their respective games, and to use BYUtv (and its 60 million homes).
BYU seeks more money in TV broadcast rights. www.deepshadesofblue.com reports that ESPN has offered 1 million dollars a game to broadcast 4 home games a year. Other sites list the number to be closer to 2 million. ESPN would help the scheduling of top notch teams for the four games, which is where the announced games with Texas come into play.
The WAC would take in the Olympic sports for Conference play and help with the scheduling of four to six games a year. This may become 6 if the conference is left with six football institutions. Utah State has been the biggest supporter of the cougars in making this transition. In fact USU turned down the MWC invite they were extended, before FSU and UNR received invites.
The WCC conference has also invited the cougars to have the Olympic sports play in their conference. The biggest drawback is that this conference would help the Basketball team stay relevant, but does not participate in three sports. Women's Softball and Swimming and Diving. Men's Volleyball has its own league as does Gymnastics.
It has been reported that the MWC and the CUSA are trying to form a super league with the champion receiving an automatic bid to the BCS. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/os-college-football-expansion-20100819,0,4134695.story
If the Cougars follow through with the WAC, look for the conference to add UC Davis, UT San Antonio, UTEP and Montana. The conference will most likely lose La Tech to the CUSA.
The new WAC would then include the following teams. Hawaii, UTEP, BYU, Idaho, Utah State, UT San Antonio, Sacramento State, Cal Poly, Texas State,UC Davis, San Jose State, New Mexico State, and Montana. Those in bold most likely to join, those not have lesser chance in my opinion.
For Basketball scheduling purposes: UT San Antonio and UTEP are 1 set of travel partners. San Jose State and UC Davis are #2, Idaho and Montana are #3, Hawaii and NMSU are #4, and USU and BYU are # 5.
BYU will not likely have greater access to the BCS, but there is an outside chance that the ESPN connection could net them a top ten invite, instead of #14 and higher eligible status.
