September 1, 2010

By Guest Columnist Bret Fitzgerald

BYU's independence is now as real and vivid as a complete double rainbow; what does this mean?!?!

To the casual fan (which, unfortunately, most BYU fans are by the way) it means hardly anything. BYU is still going to be a good team that beats lesser opponents, struggles with more athletic teams, goes to mediocre bowl games and still maintains a solid football reputation.

The casual fan, however, should definitely rethink its position, as being a casual fan at this point is like being a contestant on ABC’s “The Bachelor” because there’s a chance for real love. Just like the poor hopeless romantic on the show the casual fan misses the point completely; the competition is about the money, not the love.

BYU’s potential virtually skyrocketed as soon as ESPN slapped its brand on the deal. Am I saying BYU is BCS bound? No, I’m not. But I would ask when has BYU ever been BCS bound? Never.

So if they’re going to be BCS-less, why not be BCS-less with a ridiculous amount of money in your pocket and a whole lot more exposure? BYU gains a lot by making this move, especially for the super fan and the casual college football fan.

Let's highlight the top three:

1. Footprint

This is the least discussed reason for BYU’s independence, yet potentially the biggest reason it happened. As most know, BYU is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the church’s primary focus for the football team is exposure. More exposure creates more converts.

The church will have its wish as BYU will be to ESPN as The Jonas Brothers are to the Disney Channel. Obviously the eight year deal with ESPN is gigantic. Now ESPN’s fingers are reaching further into the NCAA pot more than ever. ESPN legitimately has a football program where they get to have some say in programming and scheduling. Of course they’ll promote BYU – it’s in ESPN’s best interest to have BYU in the top 25 year-in and year-out.

Additionally, this will mark the end of BYU and Utah in The Mountain Network. Thank goodness.

It must feel good to be distanced from that train wreck.

2. Schedule

I’m not saying that BYU’s schedule will be chuck full of top 25 football programs, and to be honest, I don’t think BYU wants it that way. BYU needs to get to a bowl game, so you’ll have very good teams and some very poor teams.

But, I can tell you that BYU’s home schedule for the 2010 season includes Washington, Nevada, San Diego State, Wyoming, UNLV and New Mexico. BYU’s schedule will never be that bad as an independent.

A new Holy War will be formed with Notre Dame, as already evidenced by the recently announced 6 games series and BYU already has Texas slated for a home and home in the not too distant future. BYU’s schedule will improve dramatically with just one of those teams coming to town every year.

3. Money

This is after all what it’s all about, correct? Honestly, I’m not even going into the math – what’s the point? It’s clear to see that BYU’s deal with ESPN, even without going to a bowl game, will guarantee a boatload more money then what they could potentially make with the Mountain West. It’s like Paris Hilton challenging Meryl Streep for acting credibility. It’s no contest.

And maybe, just maybe BYU will find its true love, a BCS Title. Then again, maybe not – but 50 million bucks over five years in your pocket isn’t bad as a consolation prize, now is it?

Brigham Young announced its football independence Wednesday afternoon and also disclosed it has a new eight-year contract with ESPN to broadcast home football games.

ESPN has agreed that any BYU games it doesn't select can be televised live on BYUtv, the school's nationwide television network. Thus, beginning next season, every BYU home football game will be televised to a live national audience, either on one of the ESPN networks or BYUtv.

Some of the ESPN games will not be on Saturdays, athletics director Tom Holmoe said.

The contract includes an annual minimum of three games on ESPN, ABC or ESPN2, including telecasts on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and an annual minimum of one game on ESPNU,

BYU also announced a six-year football series with Notre Dame, one of the other three independent schools in major college football. Army and Navy are the other two. In a transitional period over the next two years, the Cougars will play several games against Western Athletic Conference teams, athletics director Tom Holmoe said. The Notre Dame series will run through 2020.

The Cougars, who are joining the West Coast Conference in most other sports, are leaving the Mountain West Conference after the current academic year. Nearly 60% of BYU alumni live in states where the WCC schools are located.

With the school operated by the Mormon Church, BYU's teams will continue not to play games on Sundays. In addition, the other WCC are private, faith-based institutions. Basketball powers in the WCC include Gonzaga and St. Mary's.

Holmoe said BYU has been considering a move to football independence for about five years. The move now was spurred, he said, by rival Utah's recent jump to the Pacific 10 Conference.

"That opened up opportunities we would not have seriously looked at if they were still in the (Mountain West) conference," Holmoe said. "Avenues did open that allowed us to take a straighter path to where we are today.

"One thing that helps us is we are a national school,There are many schools we've played in the past and will play in the future who realize when we play a game on the road, (BYU) fans will be there."

Bret Fitzgerald is VP of Marketing for the Utah Based Company Clearlink

 

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