You assume Independence is the reason the recruiting gap has widened. In reality, Independence has nothing to do with it. If we had stayed in the MWC the gap would have been just as big. Our fate was sealed when the PAC-12 grabbed Utah and gave us the finger.
I fail to see a valid reason for blaming BYU for what has transpired. Going independent was the only prayer we had to stay relevant. It didn’t work, but suggesting that staying in that pitiful conference would have kept us competitive with Utah is ludicrous.
Running back to Thompson with our tail between our legs solves nothing, except perhaps getting less money and a worse TV contract than we currently have.