Dick Harmon: BYU's broadcast issues boiling over

The second-best scenario is for BYU to go independent, and make it work. That means finding a solid landing spot in a reorganized WAC or another "concession-giving" conference that allows a similar deal for BYU's non-football sports. This gives BYU an opportunity to partner with ESPN and use its new studios to broadcast sporting events. If BYU has gone a few steps down the road with ESPN, it is a partner you do not walk away from. ESPN has the ability to walk into the BCS boardroom, open a brief case and change the climate instantly. Same with bowl games and schedules.

The third-best situation, in my opinion, is for a "concession-giving" MWC to re-work the TV contract to allow the only team in the league with the capability of creating and using a facility like this one the right to do so; a net gain of exposure for both. If this goes forward and if BYU can influence the agenda, it should insist Utah State become a 12th member.

This third option is what partners would do. If it fails, jealously and name-calling will wreck reconciliation.

What is unacceptable for BYU, in my opinion, is the status quo. And I predict it will not stand.

It is a situation where several schools that have brought very little to the MWC since its inception have an equal vote and the league's broadcast partner has failed to negotiate a remedy despite many requests. Equal votes? That's not the case in the Pac-10 nor the Big 12.

That sounds unfair, some call it arrogant, but that's reality.

Another face to all of this is a possible nova of sorts. If BYU doesn't declare independence by Sept. 1, wouldn't it be worth the research by the country's top non-AQ teams to create a league that could earn AQ status by meeting BCS' tough three-step requirement? To do so, the best of the best would have to stand together.

On their own the MWC, WAC and CUSA can never reach BCS AQ status.

Sorry all you non-BCS dreamers who think AQ can be achieved by "doing well."

Not happening. Even if Utah had stayed, it wouldn't happen with the MWC.

That third step, the average ranking of league teams, is specifically designed by the BCS to keep AQ status from ever happening. It is an open manhole cover. The BCS mafia knows the bottom-feeders in those three leagues — teams that rank 100-plus — kill the qualification computation.

Anyone who thinks otherwise, well, they are delusional.

The current situation does not maximize the interests of BYU nor the MWC, which would benefit from the exposure if BYU were free to retains some broadcast rights for it's BYU-TV platform and a potential audience of at least 50 million.

All of this is a boiling cauldron with BYU, the MWC, WAC and college football in general. Nobody can predict the outcome, but the ball is rolling toward an endgame.

This will be an interesting week, indeed.

e-mail: dharmon@desnews.com