National Perspectives on BYU's Independence
The dust has settled a bit on BYU’s announcement that its football program will rid itself of conference affiliation, with many of its other sports joining the West Coast Conference. From support to hatred to ambivalence, BYU’s decision is eliciting a variety of opinions and emotions from around the country. Here are a few links to various articles (along with a sentence or two from each) that sound off on BYU’s departure to independent waters.
“It’s not often in life any individual gets every single item gift-wrapped on a wish list. BYU got all that and more Wednesday with its move to football independence.”
“Considering the ill feelings held by many University of Wyoming sports fans toward Brigham Young University, there’s little disappointment in the Cowboy State at the news that BYU is bolting from the Mountain West Conference. In fact, the overriding reaction seems to be ‘good riddance,’ in part because of the feeling that BYU has long thought it is superior to its longtime Rocky Mountain rivals, including the Pokes.”
“The school’s decision was first and foremost about television — specifically, escaping the shackles of the Mountain West’s restrictive, low-rent contracts in search of more money and more exposure. I don’t doubt the Cougars will achieve both.”
“BYU has been a national power for decades. It is a true football factory. Used to be Quarterback U. Lavell Edwards, Steve Young, Robbie Bosco, all that. It did win that national championship in ’84.”
“So let me get this straight: The Utah Utes are headed for the Pac-10 Conference. And BYU is going to the WCC? The WCC, the West Coast Conference — predominately Catholic, undeniably invisible.”
“How long before BYU moves on to the Big 12? That one question hung thick like a cumulus cloud over Wednesday’s otherwise sunshiny news conference here officially announcing and addressing BYU’s declaration of independence in football and move to the West Coast Conference in basketball and other sports.”
“After BYU made its formal announcement, officials from Saint Mary’s, Santa Clara and USF said the WCC’s first expansion in more than 30 years significantly bolsters the conference’s national appeal and is a perfect match from a competitive, philosophical and academic standpoint.”
“The Cougars already have a six-game series worked out with Notre Dame through 2020. They have WAC games on its schedule for 2011 and 2012. They have Boise State and Texas upcoming on their schedule in previously announced deals. Holmoe said the rivalry game with Utah would continue. But there are risks, and plenty of unknowns.”
“It’s a small world, after all, the space inhabited by football independents in the college football galaxy. But BYU is more than welcome in that small group, according to Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick, and probably better positioned than most to thrive in it as well.”
“With BYU football leaving the Mountain West Conference and becoming independent, UNLV Rebel sports will lack high-profile games against its rival, the Cougars.”