Report: Boise State will stay in Mountain West, not join Big East in 2013

Boise States decision to stay in the MWC was based on the new reality of BCS changing
its championship format.Boise State has beaten Washington, BYU,Utah, Oregon, Oregon State and Utah State.Coach Chris Petersen is one of the best five coaches in the country
yet a few missed field goals have kept them out of the BCS in recent years.AQ Big East looked
good but the landscape changed when super conferences began cherry picking teams.

"ESPN execs are still THRILLED with and BYU continuing to average over 15,000 fans more per game than the Utes."

What in the world is that supposed to mean. Attendance in games doesn't not translate into advertisor dollars... ever.

Lets look at Basketball for example. BYU easily out draws Duke in basketball games by attendance, largely becuase Dukes home court only holds less than 10K. And yet whet adveritors pay to get rights for BYU or Duke games is hugely different.

Its about the quality of the product you put on the court/field. From an excitement and watchability index, BYUs football team was a disaster this year. Some of the most painfully boring games to watch - and I am a BYU fam. That desirablity to watch is going to effect advertisor dollars much more than how many seats are filled.

BYU needs to be real careful next year. They get a pass on this year, but two years in a row... ESPN execs will not be thrilled as you claim them to be.

PAC man,

Do you know how extremely desperate you sound?

LOL!
Boise St. wants San Diego State back in the MWC and not BYU. Apparently other MWC schools are fine with that. None of them are suggesting BYU either.

LOL!

Naval Vet

Another frantic, jealous post from our resident BYU-obsessed hater.

BYU would never even consider returning to the MWC as long as Craig Thompson is still around.

BYU doesn't have to live vicariously through anybody with regards to that one-trick pony program on the hill whose only significant wins since joining the PAC have come against BYU.

Unfortunately for U, one win does not a season make.

2012 BYU(8-5) bowl winner > Utah(5-7) no bowl
2011 BYU(10-3) ranked > Utah(8-5) unranked

The exposure and attendance talk are self-evident with ESPN's exclusive contract with BYU that ESPN execs are still THRILLED with and BYU continuing to average over 15,000 fans more per game than the Utes.

COUGARNATE:

"Let me get this right the MWC is allowing Boiae St. to keep their home football rights, yet they would not let BYU do the same."

You are correct. The MWC most certainly WAS very determined to keep Boise St. in the conference, but not that concerned about keeping the Indy-WACers. Hopefully, the MWC either keeps the Y out, or at the very least, levies a very STEEP membership fee to join.

BigIndyWACer:

"I guess that's how bad it's gotten up on the hill. They no longer focus on winning where it counts, on the field...their fans are now including moral victories, ratings victories and living vicariously through other teams in order to feel better about their season."

Funny I never heard you address this phenomenom whenever Y fans -- aka, the 54-10 loser types -- lived vicariously through the Colorado program after the Buffs upset the Utes at RES last season. And "moral victories"? Isn't that what folks around your part of the country call "Poppinga victories", after former-coug Kelly Poppinga? "Ratings victories"? What about all the "exposure" and "attendance" talk your fans repeat ad nauseum every year? Typical hypocritical coug.

BigCougar,

Yeah, we Ute fans are just horribly embarrassed by missing a bowl game for the first time in 10 years ... and while playing a big boy schedule to boot.
Call us when your team gets to a bowl game after playing a schedule like Utah just played - it might not ever happen. That's okay though, better to go to a bowl game than play a difficult schedule, right?

@Nightillamerica
"The alleged national brand got beat by that little ol' school in Logan. LOL!"

That's funny. I guess that's how bad it's gotten up on the hill. They no longer focus on winning where it counts, on the field. Since those types of victories are getting harder to come by their fans are now including moral victories, ratings victories and living vicariously through other teams in order to feel better about their season.

Oh well, for those ute fans there's always basketba.....oops, never mind, there's always women's gymnastics season to cheer them up.

So even though BSU never played a single down as a member of the Big East, they have to pay a $10 million fine just so that they can remain a member of their current conference! And that, boys and girls, is why you should always read the small print in a contract. The Big East (or more their lawyers) are going to make a nice little payday out of all this before going belly up.

Glad to have Boise stay. The MWC is going to be a great conference for USU. Already looking forward to next fall.

Basketball anyone?

---------
Sure, can't wait for BYU to come to Spokane; and vice versa.

As far as the MWC goes, BYU should only re-join if a BCS bid is issued to the conference. They should give the Big East's bid to the MWC, especially if BYU and Boise State are in the conference.

BYU would go back to the MWC under certain conditions but I don't see those conditions ever coming to pass. Staying Indy for now is the best option.

I love the Ute smack talk about ratings of bowl games.

I'm dying to hear the 'couch potato bowl' ratings.

I'm ecstatic for USU's ratings, they deserved them even after BYU beat them.

It's sad that some Ute fans are having a hard time dealing with their disappointing season. Somebody please remind them about their 'participation trophies, they are called PAC12 lightpole banners.

USU (WAC) paddled my Utes---

"Yet here they are clinging to an ESPN contract and looking for a better conference deal for more money."

Can you verify that? I didn't think so.

I think the real untold story is how Utah should give money back to PAC10 original teams for breach of contract... impersonating as a football and basketball power house.

And back to the real story...

Tom Holmoe's in the driver's seat on the big BYU bus. He sure avoided that B.E. pot hole didn't he?

While the kids from 'the hill' in the 'short bus' look at the fading PAC12 banners and look at the pretty lights downtown SLC... it was a sad holiday post-season and a longer winter to Spring camp.

Basketball anyone?

LOL

Snack PAC,

It's you that's delusional if you think ESPN would say anything other than what was said by Ilan Ben-Hananthat. What are they going to do, publicly step all over a team they still have a contract with to continue broadcasting? That doesn't make much sense now does it?
By the way, I never said ESPN wasn't happy with the BYU relationship, I only mentioned the truth, which is that ratings have not been great. For all I know, ESPN may love BYU more than Alabama.
Lastly, you're also delusional if you think I'm jealous of BYU ... that was pretty funny though.

Snack PAC

1. The BYU ratings were not impressive at all.
2. Yes the ESPN exec said that. But what do you expect them to say? it's their money. They are not going to openly say that ratings are not what they expected. You can bet they are talking about it though.
3. Both the Idaho Potato Bowl and the Poinsettia Bowl were on ESPN. As mentioned before, the USU game got a 2.8 rating while BYU was 2.2. The alleged national brand got beat by that little ol' school in Logan. LOL!

So, what concessions were given BSU? They were demanding rebroadcasting rights and I think Home game Broadcasting. I suppose they were granted at least some of that.

As long as Thompson is around, BYU won't be rejoining the MWC.

While jealous BYU-haters like wacpaddled and motorbike cluelessly whine about how "disappointed" ESPN is with BYU, this is what ESPN actually had to say about BYU:

"NOTHING could be further from the truth," said Ilan Ben-Hanan, ESPN’s vice president of programming and acquisitions. "We are THRILLED with our partnership with BYU. And I don’t use that word lightly. We are GENUINELY THRILLED."

Of course, our jealous little friends on the hill like to pretend that they know more than the people who actually write the checks, but what else would you expect from them when reality intrudes on their delusions.

USNGary

"WAC PADDING - Have you seen and heard the ESPN people talking about the ratings BYU brought in throughout the season? A ton better than any pac team brought in, oh yeah, forgot, couldn't see any pac teams play nationally this year."
_____

"Talking about the ratings" versus what the ratings actually are, must be two very different things in this case. The fact is, BYU game ratings on ESPN this year were disappointing. And then there's this:

The BYU/San Diego State Poinsettia Bowl drew 2.2 million viewers on ESPN, down 29% from TCU/Louisiana Tech last year (3.1M), and down 38% from San Diego State/Navy in 2010 (3.6M). The game ranks as the least-viewed Poinsettia Bowl since at least 2006 (viewership prior to 2007 was not available).

Perhaps the lowest rated Poinsettia Bowl ever ... OUCH!!

And by the way, if you couldn't see any PAC-12 teams playing nationally this year, you must be living under a rock.

I think taxpayers of Idaho should be angry if one red cent to pay off the Big East came from the school or even athletic program. Colleges and universities are there to first and foremost to educate, not make to make BCS bowls...

Let me get this right the MWC is allowing Boiae St. to keep their home football rights, yet they would not let BYU do the same. The MWC is very desperate now. BYU has a bigger fan base, bigger tv market and a its own tv network, and the MWC is catering to Boise St. What would they allow BYU to do now, just about anything probably.

I agree BYU will not return to the MWC. They will instead pave the way to excellence as the best managed intramural school in the country. Schools will flock to BYU to see how to get of the BCS treadmill and focus on educating students while providing quality physical fitness for more students. BYU and intramural sports, a match made in heaven.

WAC PADDING
Have you seen and heard the ESPN people talking about the ratings BYU brought in throughout the season? A ton better than any pac team brought in, oh yeah, forgot, couldn't see any pac teams play nationally this year.

3grandslams
Iowa City, IA

Utah State was about the only school that defended BYU and told the truth when everyone else was spinning and accusing for more money.

So I'm guessing everyone got what they deserved, BYU has had great success with independence, making a ton of money for itself. Craig Thomspon will have to say sorry and leave his "socialism" model behind and pay BYU what they are worth to a league, if he wants them back. The WCC is thanking BYU for it's HD tv facilities and rabid fan support, and ESPN is thanking BYU for their fan base to (i.e. tv ratings) for each season.

__________________

3grandslams you just struck out. Have you seen BYUs TV ratings this season? Nothing to boast about. USU had a higher bowl game rating than BYU! In addition its humorous to think back to when BYU went indy. BYU supporters were saying that BYU is not about the money. Yet here they are clinging to an ESPN contract and looking for a better conference deal for more money.

I do not think the Cougars should go back to the MWC but who knows anymore. I do like their independence and the idea of a scheduling agreement with the MWC but believe they should only play 3-4 games a year against the MWC and have an additional agreement with the Big 12 for 2 games and the PAC 12 for 2 games. THey already seem to play that type of schedule anyway. Putting it into a contract would make better sense, you simply replace the WAC teams from the 1st 2 years with a few additional MWC teams. They already have BSU and UtSt on their schedule for several years and have talked with UNLV latelty. That is 3 MWC teams. Add a 4th each year and with 2 Big 12 teams and 2 PAC 12 teams you have 8 games scheduled. Play a Div 2 team a Conf USA team and a few other bigger programs in either the SEC or ACC and they are golden for scheduling as an independent.

I do however like BYU Bball back in the MWC. WCC gyms are like playing in HS! Bring back the PIT and UNLV!

Let's see, hmmm will BYU return. The other league members were incredibly (in a hypocritical sort of way) critical of BYU's move, even though in the world of College football it made perfect sense. Craig Thompson is still in charge of the MWC and he was very clear about his feelings towards BYU. Utah State was about the only school that defended BYU and told the truth when everyone else was spinning and accusing for more money.

So I'm guessing everyone got what they deserved, BYU has had great success with independence, making a ton of money for itself. Craig Thomspon will have to say sorry and leave his "socialism" model behind and pay BYU what they are worth to a league, if he wants them back. The WCC is thanking BYU for it's HD tv facilities and rabid fan support, and ESPN is thanking BYU for their fan base to (i.e. tv ratings) for each season.

I'm chuckling with the comments saying that maybe BYU will go back to the MWC too - That bridge was burnt a long time ago and it just ain't gonna happen.

It just perplexes me that people think that BYU would want to re-join the Mountain West. Remember, even with Boise State, the league is still worse than it was before BYU left. TCU is gone, and Utah is gone. It would be a big step backwards. BYU would love to join the Big 12 - under the right conditions - but otherwise the Cougars do just fine as an independent. They certainly don't need anything the Mountain West has to offer.

The MWC has new TV deals, "deal with CBS Sports Network to allow the conference to sell games to other national networks. The deal, which runs through the 2015-16 season, will net a $300,000 bonus for schools that appear on ESPN, ESPN2, NBC, CBS or Fox, with an additional bonus of $200,000 for a Saturday game."

You got to think that MWC is wanting BYU back before they allow SDSU back

What an idiotic comment in the article - "The decision makes sense for Boise State because changes to the Bowl Championship Series requirements will leave the Mountain West and the Big East on equal footing. The champion of the Big East previously received an automatic BCS berth."

This was known before Boise State decided to go to the Big East! The reason Boise State has changed their mind is the problems with the Big East including the basketball schools leaving and no TV contract!

For those who are saying BYU will now return to the MWC, why? It is true the main problem, the TV exposure has changed drastically with the long overdue demise of The Mtn. But, BYU can get better TV exposure (6th most TV exposure last season!), play better teams, recruit better players, make more money and have more control over everything! The only thing the MWC brings is the same every conference brings and that is easier scheduling, but BYU would have to settle for less exposure, less control, less money, less attractive to recruits and an easier schedule. Not really the way to go!

@AntelopeValleyUte

"Last I checked, Boise St was better than BYU in every aspect of football"

Except for packing stadiums and making money for TV networks, which is all that really matters nowadays.

If BYU wants in the MWC (which I hope they don't), Thompson will be gone and they will be in. Similarly, if they decide that they want to form a new conference, BSU will be the first team in line to join them.

Good move on BSU's part. Boise St carries some weight due to their BCS successes, and will be a good team for the Mountain West. Like USC, I hope BYU chokes on a chicken bone thinking they are all that and a bag of potato chips acting like their football program is all that. Last I checked, Boise St was better than BYU in every aspect of football. Heck, they have been a top 25 team for nearly a decade now. Unfortunately, Utah and BYU have no consistency when it comes to that.

BYU won't go back to the Mountain West unless Thompson is gone and they get an even better deal than Boise St. Never going to happen...and I'm glad.

A1994
Centerville, UT
Great news! The move to the Big East made sense for about two minutes. As an Aggie fan I am glad that BSU is sticking around. And based off of what is going down with the Big East, Tom Holmoe and BYU are looking pretty smart about now. They may well end up back in the MWC but it will be under vastly different terms.

________________

The only thing that has happened since BYU went indy is that Idaho and New Mexico State are their new "band of brothers." BYU is not Notre Dame, why should a conference give the Cougs preferential treatment to keep their ESPN contract? Secondary rights perhaps like BSU will be doing.

Ooooopppps! Quick----throw this thing into REVERSE!!

Like CougFaninTX I agree that BYU would do well with a scheduling agreement with a conference, but if they can easily pick and choose which MWC schools to schedule (like the 12 year deal they have with BSU) they may opt to seek an agreement with a conference other than the MWC.

It sure does make BYU look all the wiser for not jumping to the Big East last year.

Mtn West will make zero concessions to entice BYU. They didn't during the Mtn network days and they won't now. They obviously believe they can make it to AQ status as is. BYU will have to drop or reduce their expectations or plan on staying independent.. Also no way Mtn West is going to help BYU fill their schedule as an independent. They aren't the WAC. They already have 1 school with an inflated sense of self importance in Boise St, they aren't dying for another in BYU.

Sometimes the best thing is to sit and wait. I agree with A1994 that Holmoe et al. look a lot smarter now. I also can see CougFaninTX's idea happening: MWC for basketball, baseball and olympic sports, five non-conference games for football (as long as they are not UNLV, New Mexico, Wyoming and CSU every year. But a season of Boise State, San Diego State, Utah State and one of the mediocre four could be very good. If Utah State can maintain the level they rose to under Gary Anderson, I would love to seem them as an every-year matchup, both in football and basketball.

CougFaninTx, why would BYU joining the MWC in everything except football be a "win" for the conference?

I don't pretend to have a lot of knowledge on this but it just doesn't make sense to me.

Good to see BSU staying... GO AGGIES!

I was really hoping for a new conference in the West with Boise State, San Diego St, Houston, SMU, BYU and five others. UNLV and UNM have already expressed interest in leaving.

This is likely the death knell for the Big East. I look for Houston and SMU to announce they are leaving the B.E. soon. Will they join the MWC also, or go back to CUSA? And will it be days or weeks before SDSU announces a return?

How much money will the B.E. make from exit fees?

I don't see BYU jumping all the way back into the MWC, but I wonder if there's any opportunity for a Notre Dame / ACC deal? BYU moves all sports back to MWC, except football, and plays 5 football games agaimst MWC teams each year? If Thompson puts his ego aside, this would be a win for the conference.

Great news! The move to the Big East made sense for about two minutes. As an Aggie fan I am glad that BSU is sticking around. And based off of what is going down with the Big East, Tom Holmoe and BYU are looking pretty smart about now. They may well end up back in the MWC but it will be under vastly different terms.

Do ya think that maybe they were just a little too eager to make that Big East move? How embarassing! Nothing like paying a $10 million exit fee (without having ever played a game) for one of the worst conference money-grab decisions ever made.

The West needs another football conference with some form of stability other than the PAC 12. Actually glad to see this happening.

I don't think you will see BYU go back to the MWC as long as Craig Thompson is still the commisioner, and they aren't going to go back unless the MWC concedes on stuff like letting BYU re air on BYUtv for one, and getting better tv contracts with ESPN.

The Big East has become irrelevant and BSU has avoided boarding a sinking ship. There is parity, except for the 2-3 elites in each conference, that conference affiliations are becoming less important,e.g. USC playing Georgia Tech, they must be great, they belong to big time conferences.

I think a return to the MWC is inevitable for the Cougars now. Well, assuming the other schools have gotten over BYU's departure and the way it all went down.
Nothing wrong with rejoining a good MWC that no longer has "The Mountain" TV network to deal with.