gym doesnt give off a lesser impression than seeing a big time school with a packed gym? I still remember my neighbor came over last year and I was watching a game. He is not LDS and knows little about BYU other than we beat his Huskers last year on the hail mary........he looked at the game and just laughed, thought it was an exhibition game. I think it matters it definitely can matter in recruiting if it looks and feels like we are Juco.....
I think we have lived off the Lone Peak connection for awhile now, and hasnt hurt us but once that fades I think perception will matter a lot more.