I'll believe it when I see it, but for now we're just...

bluebrotha wrote:

...Additionally, I think there is a trend in favor of the mid-majors right now. Most people dislike the BCS system and want a playoff,,even BCS members. It's just a matter of time before the MWC will get their due credit and benefits. So, long story short, even if invited to the PAC-10, maybe BYU should stay in the MWC.

BYU has a better chance to run the table and make a BCS bowl game playing in the MWC than in the PAC 10. No doubt. For instance, BYU, with the same '06 and '07 teams that went 16-0 in the MWC probably would not have beat USC either year and would have struggled against Arizona State, Oregon, and California and probably split with UCLA and Arizona (as they did in reality). Instead of 16-0 in MWC with a BCS shot in '08, BYU could have gone 10-8 with little shot at anything beyond the Sun Bowl.

Similar analysis for basketball, but may be even less of a chance to make the Big Dance.

However, there may be more BYU fans/alumnni in California, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington (...including me) that would love to have BYU play closer to home a couple times each year.

Personally, I think the MWC is perfect for BYU especially if the MWC makes the correct expansion decisions, like adding Fresno St or Nevada or Houston or all three.

I truly think the MWC could land a BCS bid within the next three years if BYU plays as advertised. New Mexico, TCU, and Utah are poised to make some noise in OOC play this year. The reality is, the MWC has been here before...this time, we and our MWC brethren need to take care of business. I could see BYU, Utah (with their schedule), and TCU all finishing in the top 25 in '08 with a good shot for BYU (or another) to reach the BCS. A couple of seasons like that and the BCS will be hard-pressed NOT to include the MWC, especially if we have a good showing in the actual BCS game.

If Fresno State and Boise State can show a little sustaining power over the next couple of seasons as well, they could be the perfect pieces to a 12-team MWC that would deserve BCS status.

My biggest concern is that there is a truckload of "IF's" in the above analysis. A couple of losses, like New Mexico to Arizona and TCU to Stanford, could derail the MWC momentum.

rackem wrote:

I'll believe it when I see it, but for now we're just...

Hey that looks like fun.

But seriously what better thing is there to do in the offseason than to speculate. I like the idea of the additional prestige that would come from being in the Pac 12 and I would feel validated, but at the same time, there is a place for Mountain West sports. There is a void between the Big 12 and the Pac 10. How many states have an FBS team but don't have a BCS team? Idaho, Hawaii, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and Wyoming. The MWc covers four of those states, five if we add Boise State, and the other is in the middle of the ocean. So I would want to pass on the validation and instead push for the MWC to fulfil its destiny as the major conference spanning from the Big 12 to the Pac 10.

BYU in a BCS conference = more and more BCS caliber recruits. The team would rise to the challenge over time. Not sure I really want BYU in the PAC-10 though. I'm happy with how things are for now. We still have room to improve where we are right now.

Isola wrote:

But seriously what better thing is there to do in the offseason than to speculate. I like the idea of the additional prestige that would come from being in the Pac 12 and I would feel validated, but at the same time, there is a place for Mountain West sports. There is a void between the Big 12 and the Pac 10. How many states have an FBS team but don't have a BCS team? Idaho, Hawaii, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and Wyoming. The MWc covers four of those states, five if we add Boise State, and the other is in the middle of the ocean. So I would want to pass on the validation and instead push for the MWC to fulfil its destiny as the major conference spanning from the Big 12 to the Pac 10.

I love it! The MWC could fill the void between the Big 12 and the PAC 10. Could it really ever reach the Big 12 and PAC 10 level? The MWC schools' facilities just aren't there. But with time and money, who knows. I would love it if the MWC could land a permanent home at the Fiesta Bowl....In 5-7 years, may be we could even get one of the Arizona schools and Colorado to jump ship....