BYU Is Leaning Toward Joining The West Coast Conference In Non-Football Sports

by Jeremy Mauss on Aug 31, 2010 10:48 AM PDT in Conference Expansion

The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that BYU is moving away from joining the WAC and now are leaning toward joining the West Coast Conference for their non-football sports:

Sources in Logan familiar with the situation told The Tribune on Monday it appeared the Cougars were now looking elsewhere for a nonfootball affiliation.

That could mean the West Coast Conference - an eight-school league composed of private, faith-based institutions - is now BYU's destination for its other sports. Utah State, which as of two weeks ago was closely tied to BYU's plans, expects details about BYU's intentions of becoming an independent in football to be announced today.

This is a step down from the old WAC but is probably a slightly better league then the new WAC that will not have Fresno State or Nevada.

Basketball wise it is a slap in the face to BYU coach Dave Rose who is leaving a league that just produced four NCAA bids to a league that usually gets one or maybe two. The WCC has some solid basketball programs in Gonzaga, Saint Mary's and San Diego, but that is not the same as playing New Mexico, UNLV, Utah, or San Diego State.

Plus, in joining the WCC four sports do not have a home in swimming, cross country, track, and women's softball. Only women's softball is a real issue in finding a place to play. The other sports can compete as an independent since they are mostly individual sports.

The clock is ticking and we will hear something possibly today according to the Tribune, but do not count on it since there have been prior reports about BYU making an announcement. Tomorrow night this should all be over and we can look forward to the games.

BYU could just be silent and not say anything regarding their move which will indicate that they are staying, but if the decide to stay they should hold a press conference with media availability so that questions can be asked.

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BYU is in a tough spot.

The WAC holds no promise for them anymore. The only benefit would be if the WAC gave BYU the Fresno and Nevada buyouts (whatever they come out to be). But BYU doesn’t even need to bother joining the WAC for scheduling purposes; if the WAC teams have any hope of staying D-1A, they’ll need to schedule high-attendance games close to home for financial and attendance reasons. That means they’ll be scheduling BYU either way.

The WCC is, as you say, better than the WAC. For men’s basketball, that means that BYU could more easily tailor a schedule that gets them to the NCAA tourney more often. But good luck getting fans interested in the middle of the season.

And the MWC: if ever there were to be a marriage of utility over passion, this would be it. BYU in the MWC would enable the MWC to get its best possible TV renegotiation, even if BYU gets their broadcasting rights (which is fine by me). Basketball would benefit tremendously, as well as the sports you mentioned. But the bitterness …

I still think BYU’s best option is to stay with the MWC for the moment and see how the BCS AQ plays out. They can leave anytime they want, and it’ll be easier on them if they can take an offseason and re-think things. Besides, just imagine how much more interest there will be in BYU football games across the conference. That will equal money.

;-)

by David Hooper on Aug 31, 2010 1:19 PM PDT reply actions

BYU is in a tough spot like a guy who can pick his date is in a tough spot

Girl one – The WAC: BYU Convinced a girl (WAC) to make plans around them. The promise that he wanted to be with her. BYU manipulated the WAC and put them in a terrible position.

Girl two – The WCC: When BYU discovered a zit or two on the WAC (Fresno and Nevada leaving) he started eying another girl (WCC). The WCC had shown interest before but not until the WAC had an acne moment did the cougars take them seriously.

Girl tree – The MWC: If BYU decides to break up with its current girlfired hell still be welcome in her bed. She (MWC) has already promised to ‘change’ and ‘try new things’.

The only one in a tough spot is the WAC, the MWC or WCC would be better off with BYU but they would also still be hot without them. The WAC’s pimples make finding any other date pretty hard.

by Tim Riordan on Aug 31, 2010 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

WAC is more than a few zits

more like you found she’s really a man..but she doesn’t know why you don’t love her/him for who she really is on the inside.

Colorado Rockies correspondent at My Team Rivals (www.mtrmedia.com/rockies) and my own site Rockies Reporter (www.rockiesreporter.wordpress.com) and one of the top Rockies writers at the Bleacher Report.

by Redhawk on Aug 31, 2010 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Maybe 'tough' wasn't the best word.

I meant tough as in a decision that’s not easy. There’s not an outstanding reason for BYU to choose or deny any one of the options on the table. (Well, except perhaps the WAC; this is really down to the MWC and WCC at this point, I think.)

;-)

by David Hooper on Aug 31, 2010 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions

It's BYU

Why can’t they have all three girls?

MJR

by MickeyJoe on Aug 31, 2010 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions 5 recs

good point

rec’d

by Redhawk on Aug 31, 2010 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions

they should wait

And see if the BCS comes the way of the MWC and then bolt if they want to, plus that time will give the WAC to add some new teams and try to become more attractive to BYU.

Mountain West Connection The best site for MWC sports!

by Jeremy Mauss on Aug 31, 2010 3:07 PM PDT reply actions