Yeah. I don't think Zabransky has much of a future in the NFL. I think the CFL is more realistic. (See the modified picture).

Any team that suffers the death penalty like SMU did is doomed to mediocrity. I don't think Boise will be going down that road.

Actually Zabransky is back in boise trying to be a real estate agent. He was cut from the prcatice squad before the Texans first game and has been here ever since.

Houston is a good choice because Houston is the fourth largest city in the U.S. (A+ for marketing) Houston creates a Texas rivalry with TCU.

Hawaii is a bad choice. Hawaii is one of those soon to be forgotten teams. Hawaii makes no geographical sense. Hawaii is too hard for travelling (for teams and for fans). Hawaii creates no MWC rivalry.

Nevada is a solid possiblity. A UNLV/Nevada rivalry would do wonders for the MWC intensity and exposure. Nevada is always atop of the WAC in basketball. Nevada makes geographic sense.

Boise deserves addition regardless of the nay sayers. Boise beat BYU and destroyed Utah the last few years. The last few years every time they've played a MWC opponent they've won. Boise is one of the fastest growing cities with a loyal fan base. Boise basketball is improving.

So it is a slow day at work and I took a very informal poll of the 4 guys here who are big college FB fans. I asked them to name the top 20 teams in the last 25 years. Yes, they all named BYU. No, none of them is a BYU alumnus or fan, or a mormon, and I do not live or work in Utah. But the consensus was that there are not 20 teams in the country who have done what BYU has done. There are 10-12 that jump right out to most knowledgeable fans, but then the list drops way off. There are some flashes in the pan (they all listed Boise as such). But again, there are not 20 teams that have done what BYU has. They of course list:conference dominance (harder than it sounds), NC, Heisman trophy, other national offensive and defensive trophies, Influential coach (Edwards had a huge impact on the game) salient games (like beating number 1 Miami) number of players in the pros (remember that just 2 years ago no other teams west of the Mississippi had more players in the pros than BYU, excepting USC), and finally name recognition. They all remember the Sports Illustrated cover announcing BYU as the most hated school in America.

IMHO Boise comes nowhere close. I remeber going to Weber State for two years (I was raised in North Ogden)in the 80's and Boise was an easy game for the Wildcats!

None of what I said here is meant to take anything away from Boise. Their bowl game last year will alwayus be one of my most memorable. But Boise to the PAC-10 is, as another poster put it, laughable.

craigoscarson wrote:

I think if you asked anyone for the top 20 football programs over the last 30 years, BYU would be one of them. How that doesn't add up to brannd name, I don't know.

There are very few programs in this country that have tne nation wide following of BYU. I could name about 8-10 (florida, michigan, notre dame, ohio state, usc, texas, oklahoma, miami).

No we're not USC or Texas, but we're still a brand name, even if it's regional. BSU isn't a brand name outside of a 100 mile radius from their smurf turf.

Example of brand name: MWC = BYU in the minds of every sports writer in the country outside of Utah

I'd love to see the merchandise sales of BYU versus Notre Dame this year, I'll bet one is peaking while the other took a nosedive. Venture a guess which one?

I was not sure if this was a joke or not, so apologize in advance if it was a TIC post. I think BYU is one of the top 20 programs over the past 30 years, but the MAJORITY of people outside Utah and non-LDS would put BYU in the top 20. They would discuss great offenses but not discuss BYU in the mix. ND, USC, Michigan, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio State, LSU, Penn State, Nebraska, Tennesee, Wisconsin, Alabama, Washington, Georgia Tech, Colorado, Auburn, Virginia Tech...who would you bump for BYU? I could argue a few and agree BYU should be in the top 20, but the majority of the US would not agree with you.

Again it is comical to talk about BYU in the same breath with USC, ND, TX etc when discussing following and brand name. I LOVE BYU but to even talk about BYU in this crowd is hilarious. It is even more hilarious to discuss ND vs BYU when discussing merchandise sales. It is not even close between ND vs BYU. I am sure BYUs sales are up and NDs are down a bit but that is due to the year they had, but NDs is without a doubt multiples ahead of BYU. Remember these top programs have decades and decades of tradition and multiple NC's so one year does not have everyone changing their allegiances like the Utes, last I checked all ND's games were sold out. ND gets a piece of all merchandise sales without paying the NCAA, all other schools have the NCAA trademark and pay the NCAA a piece. Also remember ND has a HUGE following and had so for 100+ years and was on national TV every game but the UCLA game, that was regional on ABC. Sorry for using ND as an example but I know them the best, so easiest to use an example.

Compare BYU vs the other programs mentioned, the following is huge and BYU having a few good years and other programs have down years and the other programs still get more headlines and more news....that is because they are the brand name programs. Look at Michigan, they are having a down year and all we hear about is their program and the coaching search. ND is down, they get time on TV everyweek and get mentioned every week on Gameday. Alabama the same, new coach and they are not good yet get mentioned. BSU has a lot of hype, everyone in NY, Chicago, and TX (places I have spent significant time this year) all rave about watch BSU and no one knows anything about BYU. I hate it but it is true and to talk about BYUs huge brand name is hilarious.

Don't knock another program when BYU is not hugely reconginzed as one of the nations top programs itself. Sure it has pockets of everywhere, but does not have huge followings everywhere like the most recongnized programs. Sometimes it is as if people see things how they want to see them and assume BYU had a good year so nationally they have the tradition of top programs. Compared to the non-BCS schools BYU is a top program but compared to the top programs from BCS conferences BYU is not even close to being as nationally recongized as other programs.

Just to add on to what ND/BYU wrote--

My sense is that most college football fans would put BYU as a fringe top 25 program over the past 30 years. Just my unscientific gut feeling based on personal interactions and fans polls.

Speaking of comparing Notre Dame to BYU, look at the two schools treatment on ESPN. ESPN, with no contract to televise either school's games, has no "shameless plug" reasons to promote either school. Yet when Notre Dame gets airtime on the "worldwide leader," everyone here screams conspiracy. Interestingly enough, when BYU fails to get airtime, everyone here still screams conspiracy. ESPN still has to pay its bills, so it has to attract more viewers in order increase advertising premiums. Apparently, the powers that be at ESPN think showing a 90 second package on why Notre Dame is tanking will attract more viewer (and hence more advertisers) than 15 seconds of highlights from the BYU game. It's business.

I like to think BYU has a national following, but judging from national airplay, BYU's following is not a big as I'd like to think.

Finally, add Georgia, Iowa, and Texas A&M to the list of 20+ schools that people perceive as national football schools.