Comments about ‘BYU athletic department remains quiet on conference affiliation, everybody else talks’

Creating a PR vacuum is dangerous since vacuums are not natural. Mother Nature works relentlessly to fill a vacuum. The same has happened here, media sources have created a media blitz that is outside of Provo's ability to control which ironically, according to Mr. Harmon, is exactly what they wanted to achieve, in the first place, control of their own brand! In this case silence is not golden, especially when you have a lot of explaining to do!

There has not been a PR vacuum. There has been official statements by BYU officials that they are pursuing every available option which is the appropriate statement to make and about the only one BYU can make.

The leaks are coming from other institutions. Info leaks for a purpose. Either to help or hinder one of the parties or change the terms.

It is far worse to use the media as a negotiation tool. Then you have no control. BYU is in firm control of what they are going to do.

Nobody controls the speculation of the media.

If BYU were to announce they were talking to the Big 12 or Big East or trying to create a new conference elements would immediate attempt to interfere and they would still get bashed by a segment of the media. They would likely get a less than optimum deal. Further, if it did not work out then the media would pile on about how BYU failed.

TX had the media running in circles but in the end TX did what they wanted to do.

BYU will do likewise.

BYU has done things right, by not doing its business in the media. It seems that USU was the source of the information about the "done deal" and a chain of events that ended up making things difficult for the Aggies. They should learn not to do business in the media, as well.

Speculation. Rumor. Hearsay. Conjecture. Have you EVER been asked to keep confidences, to hold your tongue and your pen, to not speak even when spoken to? Have you been able to do what was asked of you even when being name called, ridiculed, teased, scorned?

So what? So there is a vacuum. So people want and deserve to know? So?

It's great. Everyone is talking BYU. It worked. All eyes are focused. BYU has said nothing but have become EF HUTTON. Wait for it.

It reminds me of the opening scene of PLAINS TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES. The CEO is comparing the samples, the prototypes; wait; he is making a decision; he is opening his mouth; I think he is going to say something; no, he shifted in his seat; he is looking again; what is that; oh look at the time; will he decide or what; wait; here it comes; he says...

When the dust settles BYU will have merely flexed, observed, and proven to itself that it does and can control the airwaves. Next year, it will not be merely a drill, not experimental. It will be jugular.

Utefan

But it is natural to see a Ute comment first on a BYU article.

There is no explaining to do. Period. BYU is exploring its best options which may include leaving the conference. Utes did the same and left. Stop with the innuendo and non-sense.

Just because western culture media falls all over themselves when they aren't told everything immediately, it does not create an onus on BYU's part to feed them. BYU isn't obligated to control the media. Where are you getting that bull from??

BYU is wisely choosing to do their business outside of direct media pressure.

rehash, two articles today that say the same things that have been said all week. no news is good news but this is just no news.

took the poll on the website at the time there were interesting. About 200 see that independence is a wreck waiting to happen especially if they want to join a BCS conference. The rest see that the money and exposure are their for the present as an independent.

I wonder if it was not for Vai's blog would the numbers have been different. He has provided the only news this week. starting QB, go independence great insight good reporting. Dick Harmon's job should be in danger.

having said that I hope he is wrong on both accounts. I like Heaps he is more of the BYU style QB a real accurate passer. I think that BYU will be better served staying with the MWC If they can be grated better exposure for games against BCS Conferences teams. this would result in a better situation for the non football teams.

independence means sharing flags with Utah State, San Jose st, Idaho and increased travel to Hawaii and LA Tec. what exposure.

I think that September 1 will come and go with no press conference from BYU. The party line will be " we have looked, and will continue to look, at all avenues to improve our program." Since they flexed and the MWC called the bluff, they will remain in the MWC and as such nothing has changed so they don't need to announce anything.

Hopefully, there will be a press conference in Logan.

Just goes to show that the old war adage of “loose lips, sink ships” is still meaningful. One could easily surmise that without the leak to the media and resultant firestorm, the deal could have been signed, sealed and delivered as planned.

Re: Bugoff,

That is one of the best comments I have seen in a long time.

Why can't the majority of the commentators on here be similarly intelligent?

Yes, utefan, nature abhors a vacuum, but since BYU owes an explanation to NOBODY, they're doing the smart thing to decline comment until they have the plan finalized. Thanks for your concern, but go ahead and move along, have fun with your new friends, we'll be fine.

BYU will not do what they wanted to do.
BYU wanted to go to the WAC, but because of Nevada and Fresno State there is no WAC worth playing for.

Why did Fresno State/Nevada change their minds 4 days after agreeing on a 5 million buyout?

The Money does not add up

The current MWC contract pays 1.5 Million per team, and the WAC deal pays less (not sure what the figure is, but let assume it is $750,000. Once BYU switches Conference those number change. The Fact is that during the negotiation with BYU the WAC teams bent over backwards to accommodate BYU - Clearly the teams in the WAC would have made more money with BYU.

Additionally, UNLV and San Diego State were both considering going to the WAC.

My only guess as too why they left the WAC either Boise State or TCU had conversation with the Big 12 about joining and they believe that BYU will be going to the Big 12 within 4 years. Fresno and Nevada make more money in the WAC with BYU, but after BYU leaves to a BCS conference they will make much less money

Utefan,

BYU doesn't have any explaining to do. Sorry to disappoint. They didn't do anything wrong, they kept private business negotiations private, and the rug got pulled out from under them when it leaked to the media. The actions of Craig Thompson, Nevada, and Fresno St. were far more underhanded than anything BYU did. "sls 7:05" is right. BYU has done things right by not doing its business in the media. Just because the media is making up stories due to a lack of information doesn't mean that BYU owes you or anyone else an explanation. Utah did the same thing with the Pac-10 negotiations. They were denying it up to the day of the announcement. Why? Because it's not anybody's business until deals are finalized and official. It's the right and ethical way to handle business deals.

It seems that USU was the source of the information about the "done deal"

It's being reported now that the leaks were comming from the Carl Benson the WAC commish. Some of the media outlets have email chains to support this.

Utefan = BYU-obsessed BYU hater

Thanks for your concern, but, in the long-run, BYU will do what's best for BYU, just like Utah did what's best for Utah in joining the PAC.

BYU fans are laughing at the Utah trolls who are still fixated on BYU, even after they supposedly "moved on."

BYU not saying a word to the media about BYU's plans is more interesting to the lame Utah trolls, than their own supposed team.

@Parry Interesting, that's an angle that's not even been discussed and one that is certainly possible.

@bugoff Great comments on the subject over the past week.

@Vai You make good points in your blog article, but I'd have to say that BYU cares who its other sports play. Recruiting in those sports could possibly be hurt by uncertainty of opponents or their quality. But then...will that really matter in the bigger picture?

I'd think that independence in football would be temporary with BYU looking to either
1) Create a new conference with an ESPN tie-in and BYU-TV rights of some sort (conference would look like the 1980s WAC) or
2) Wait for dust to clear in the Big12 and accept an invitation after one or two years when the other schools are gone and they're hungry again for a football conference championship game. Texas would probably welcome BYU if for nothing more than to view their BYU-TV setup.

BYU are not dummies, they'll look for the best way to get their brand out there. They'll do the most appropriate thing for the school and its mission.

It will be awesome n'stuff going independent.

This all reinforces my belief that Utah 100% did the right thing by leaving BYU and the MWC behind and joining the elite Conference of Champions.

All the bad memories of the MWC, playing in Laramie, playing in Fort Colins, playing in Albequerque and playing on the Mountain Channel are fading. Now BYU has the big target on their backs from the remaining teams of the MWC.

Bugoff: "BYU is in firm control of what they are going to do."

Not so much, or they'd be in the WAC right now, along with Fresno St and Nevada.

And I disagree with those who feel Thompson, Fresno St and Nevada did anything at all underhanded. Theirs was a defensive move and within the terms of the MOU. BYU's actions were offensive (some would say in all senses of the word).

At the end of the day, BYU and it's fans should actually be very grateful to Fresno St and Nevada. I completely agree with this writer that their moves to the MWC saved BYU from moving ahead with a risky and ill-conceived plan.

Well, BYU fans can look forward to at least another 10-15 years of great football games against UNLV, Wyoming, New Mexico, and now Boise State with is 30,000 seat stadium with the blue, fake turf. Oh, now we also can play high-profile matches against Nevada and Fresno every single year. Don’t forget those nationally important BYU-Colorado State games, and intense rivalry between BYU and TCU. Oh, and let’s not also forget the annual Friday night game against Utah State (75% of the high schools in Texas could beat Utah State in football any given year).

Holmoe previously stated that there were things he could tell, but that they would probably change tomorrow, so no good reason to tell them.

Makes sense to me. Constantly changing status would create even a bigger roller coaster than all the speculation has. Sept. 1 is coming soon.

Great posts Bugoff, Andermart, Arynen, Johnny Triumph.