Independence gives us a shot.  Being in the MWC would not give us any shot at anything better. 

We have top attendance in football and basketball - more than the P5 program in the state, and more than the majority of P12 programs.  We have wider coverage than the P5 program in the state.  Students prefer BYU to the UU 82%-18%.  We have value independent of a conference.

Who does joining a conference help?  It helps the bad teams in the conference as they get more coverage and revenue.  It hurts the best teams in the conference, whether they be BYU, Texas, Ohio State, or USC. 

Independence was a bold move, and one that has worked. However, it was pretty clear that we were looking at it as a transition. We now need to work to make independence better.  We need to look at forming a "bowl cooperative" with the AAC and the other independents to better leverage our opportunities (which were always terrible in the MWC).  We also need to look at making a deal with the Holiday bowl or another big bowl that if we are in the top 25, they take us, and if not we go to a lesser bowl.  It would help make their bowl more relevant, as last year they had unranked Minnesota, and unranked Washington St.

The big move to make is to push for inclusion into the P6 auto qualifier pool.  The bowls would support it.  The TV networks would support it.  We need to hire lawyers and take it to court to force the conferences to accept it.  This is a big boy move that would make the G5 conferences angry, but would greatly help us and the other independents.

So, quit whining about indpendence and regressing to the MWC.  Start hammering on the local media and BYU administration to push for inclusion in the P6 auto slot.

Go Cougs!!!!!!!