revenue. They were:

1) In the right place at the right time;
2) Without direct ties to a religion that stands up for controversial moral issues;
3) In an average media market without P10 representation (playing second fiddle in fanbase no less)
& most importantly to their new found conference, 4) Without real reason for anyone in the old P10 to worry about them doing anything but feed off the bottom. (Only 10 years of reasonably good football resume, with 2 BCS appearances, but no real football history.)

Let's face it, the Yew lucked out--hit the jackpot--won the lottery--{insert your own}

And by the way, I buy gameday shirts for 6 family members each year (others in family buy their own); have had 12-20 season tickets since 1981; and have my cord still intact. I don't think it makes as much of a difference as you think it does.

Its about religion, plain and simple. P10.2 didnt invite BYU because of Prop 8 and other religious bigotry. B12 may or may not have offered a few years back, but BYU is unwilling to play on Sundays and that is an issue with the Olympic sports.

All in all, BYU, like the church, is peculiar and those powers that be on the outside don't understand either of them.