Uteology: "BYU is high quality football? Not according to the SEC and ACC.
As of today, BYU just doesn't bring enough to be invited to a P5 league. As
of today, BYU just isn't good enough earn a major bowl invite."
First off, I had to change my name from DuckOuttaWater to just
DuckInSLC...seemed a lot easier I guess.
Second, don't be so
hard on BYU. They do bring a crowd and fill the stands and it isn't an
accident they have been invited to season inaugural classics as Eric mentioned.
The reasons for exclusion that you listed above are for other things,
specifically not playing on Sundays, and other "baggage" they bring with
them (including a rep for being difficult). It certainly has nothing to do with
quality or fan base.
You also didn't answer his question. I
truly don't know, but has Utah been invited to these games?
LadyMoonCrestucky, FL
July 24, 2014 8:08 p.m.
The ONLY way to debunk the'Conference cold shoulder' and the lack of
Power 5 consideration is simple for BYU: WIN WIN WIN!!
UteologyEast Salt Lake City, Utah
July 24, 2014 5:49 p.m.
@eric2002x
BYU has been invited many times to Pigskin Classic,
Kickoff Classic, Cowboys Classic games on neutral sites in the South and East
due to its ability to draw fans into the stadium, generate good TV audiences,
and high quality football. (Also scheduled at FedEx Field vs. West Virginia in
2016). I remember big upsets like #3 Oklahoma in 2009. Has Utah ever been
invited to a National Kickoff game like these? I don't think so...
-------------
BYU is high quality football? Not according to the
SEC and ACC.
As of today, BYU just doesn't bring enough to be
invited to a P5 league.
As of today, BYU just isn't good
enough earn a major bowl invite.
eric2002xMiami, FL
July 24, 2014 12:42 p.m.
For the uninitiated Ute fans, that Phoenix game is neutral site because of
several factors, including allocation of tickets, revenue splits and TV rights.
And, since it is a higher-capacity NFL stadium, offers more revenue streams
overall to both teams. Win-Win.
The fact it occurs inside the state
of Arizona has no bearing. Texas-Oklahoma is played every single year in Dallas,
TEXAS and is considered a neutral site even though Oklahoma fans have to travel
a little further to a different state. Game tickets are allocated basically
50/50. Exactly the same happens to the annual Florida - Georgia game played
every year in Jacksonville, FLORIDA. Yes, Georgia fans have to travel a little
further, it is a neutral site game.
BYU has been invited many times
to Pigskin Classic, Kickoff Classic, Cowboys Classic games on neutral sites in
the South and East due to its ability to draw fans into the stadium, generate
good TV audiences, and high quality football. (Also scheduled at FedEx Field vs.
West Virginia in 2016). I remember big upsets like #3 Oklahoma in 2009. Has Utah
ever been invited to a National Kickoff game like these? I don't think
so...
Two For FlinchingSalt Lake City, UT
July 24, 2014 8:59 a.m.
@ BigCougar
Utah NEVER publicly begged to get into the PAC-12. We
didn't have to.
Also, having a nationwide religion is not the
same as having a nationwide fan base.
SchneeSalt Lake City, UT
July 23, 2014 4:04 p.m.
@BigCougar "If Utah had a football game at a neutral site which
happened to be in Provo would you expect all of Utah Valley to come out to root
for Utah?!"
I would expect the salt lake valley fans to commute
better than the hypothetical more distant opponent's fans and I would
expect that Provo would still have more Utah alumni than it would Ohio State
alumni (or whatever the hypothetical school is).
BigCougarBountiful, UT
July 22, 2014 6:41 p.m.
@ecute "Spin it any way you want. To the students, season ticket
holders and fans that don't travel... It's 2 for 1"
------------
That's funny, for the very same reasons
you've listed it also qualifies as a 2 for 1 for the AZ students that fall
into that same category. So, spin it any way you want it comes up the same, you
have blue envy and apparently, judging by hyper-focus on BYU by so many ute
fans, it's contagious.
BigCougarBountiful, UT
July 22, 2014 6:36 p.m.
@utewhatever "A pathetic attempt by Bronco at BYU's "media
day" to state his case for inclusion"
"If BYU fans are
completely honest, they are jealous that Utah has a table and they
don't."
------------
Bronco just borrowed from
the Whitt playbook on that one (Google it). Whitt and Dr Hill did that for years
before the timing was right and the solar systems, stars and planets all
aligned. Begging publicly didn't hurt utah's chances any, they still
had to wait for Texas and half of the Big 12 to decide what they wanted to do
before an invite finally came their way.
As for being supposedly
jealous about not having a table at the Pac12 media day you couldn't be
further from the truth there. I've never attended, listened to, watched or
followed on-line a Pac12 media day before. I barely paid attention to MWC or WAC
media days when BYU was in those conferences because they're all pretty
dull and regurgitating the same stuff I'd read for months and months.
It just doesn't light the lamp and I usually spend this time of
year fishing in Alaska instead.
BlueNtheFaceRancho Cucamonga, CA
July 22, 2014 11:03 a.m.
MyPerspective wrote: "Hmmmm...Bronco also said byu wants to join the Big 12.
Clearly, Bronco doesn't get what he wants and pretending that he does is
silly."
And I'll bet you that Bronco's Cougars get into
the Big 12 eventually. The timing of these articles is on your side right now
because we're not in. We get it. I'd give us 3 years before we have an
invite. We have two opposing opinions, both based off of hope. Your hope is a
little more pathetic than mine though.
"Dr." Hill can ask
for a 2-for-1 if he wishes. That's not what's happening in the series
w/ UofA however. But you know that. If the Cougars and UofU played a Home-Home
and then one at Rio Tinto (but with 3 times the capacity), then we'd be
talking about something similar.
ute4ever: Bronco and most Cougar
fans know how small the chances are that BYU would get an invite to the PAC-12.
So drop the straw man argument.
Go BYU!
WACPaddingOurSchedulepocatello, ID
July 22, 2014 9:53 a.m.
Kralon HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA There are always some interesting tidbits
about BYU if you search for them or get alerts. For example, at the SI website
there is an article about the odds of teams winning the national championship
that was posted 7/10.
BYU is given odds of 150/1 with Florida State
the best at 11/2 all the way down to Rutgers at 1000/1. Unfortunately, only 51
teams are ranked and BYU is the only one from Utah!
____________
Whatever.
Riverton CougarRiverton, UT
July 22, 2014 8:50 a.m.
@ekute,
Maybe some people will perceive it as a 2 for 1, but the fact
remains that it is a neutral site. People have already brought up very good
reasons as to why it may not be as hostile to BYU as one would expect.
Thanks for proving BYU is more relevant than Utah one post at a time.
ute4everWest Jordan, UT
July 22, 2014 8:47 a.m.
Utah will have a table at the PAC12 media days. BYU, their fans, and Bronco
will be outside the fences shouting at the top of their lungs "we
belong....just look at us". A pathetic attempt by Bronco at BYU's
"media day" to state his case for inclusion....all while continuously
getting excluded at the P5 media days.
If BYU fans are completely
honest, they are jealous that Utah has a table and they don't. And if they
are even more honest, they realize they can't even beat the "Wyoming of
the Pac 12" (as Taysom4Heisman put it) so their Win/Loss record would put
them even lower than Wyoming if they actually DID have a seat at the table.
ekuteLayton, UT
July 22, 2014 6:22 a.m.
Spin it any way you want. To the students, season ticket holders and fans that
don't travel... It's 2 for 1.
BigCougarBountiful, UT
July 21, 2014 8:57 p.m.
Dear BYU-intense-dislikers,
Sorry you got your angst in a bunch with
this. I hate to inform you, this will be like a home game for BYU.
Phoenix is ASU country and they're not coming out to root for the
Wildcats. Some UA fans will travel to attend the game for sure as will some BYU
fans coming from Utah.
Phoenix is also Mormon Country. After the
state of Utah and California, AZ has the next largest LDS population with the
heaviest concentration in the Phoenix area. The majority of BYU fans that will
attend the game will come from the heavily concentrated LDS population in the
Phoenix area. There's nearly half a million LDS in the area and they will
be well represented.
That's what they're talking about when
sportscasters on ESPN, CBS, etc tell you that BYU has a "National
Fanbase". I know it's hard to understand something when you've
never experienced it. Sort of like when you tell us how great it is to finish in
last place every year in the Pac12.
BigCougarBountiful, UT
July 21, 2014 8:37 p.m.
@navel lint "The series with Arizona is a 2-for-1.....Arizona has about
40K students, and the Phoenix metro area consists of about 4.4 million
residents. I'm sure there are a LOT more UA alumni in Phoenix than
cougars"
-------------
Your BYU hatiness is showing
again
Yes, there will obviously be more AZ fans there but not a
"LOT" more. ASU country doesn't love UA. If anything, ASU fans will
show up rooting for them to lose to BYU.
Try to see this w/o the
BYU-hatiness clouding your perspective. If Utah had a football game at a
neutral site which happened to be in Provo would you expect all of Utah Valley
to come out to root for Utah?! Your argument was a little faulty there.
Also, in case you're thinking it, nobody roots for the Pac12 except
Utah so ASU fans won't be coming out to root for the Pac12 (it's not
an actual team or anything).
Any locals that come out will likely be
rooting against AZ (remember, they don't like each other). Also,
Mesa/Gilbert/Peoria/Scottsdale/Tempe, etc are heavily LDS. We'll do fine.
NightOwlAmericaSALEM, OR
July 21, 2014 8:34 p.m.
BlueCoug Orem, UT said:
"SoonerUte
It's
laughable how Utah fans have to twist the facts in order to help them sleep at
night.
BYU scheduled a neutral-home-and-home with Arizona:
First game is in University of Phoenix Stadium - which is in close proximity
to very large BYU fanbases in the Phoenix area, as well as Las Vegas, Southern
California and Southern Utah - don't be too surprised to see at least half
the crowd dressed in blue."
Who cares. The whole crowd could be
dressed in blue, and BYU can still lose. It's not what fans wear. Its how
the game is played on the field.
BigCougarBountiful, UT
July 21, 2014 8:18 p.m.
@myperspective "The next wake up call will come when Chris Hill
schedules another home:away:home with byu...what will you call that?"
I'll call it the same thing I call all the pre-season Pac12 titles
and pre-season Rose Bowl games that ute fans always talk about winning. Lol!
Dr Hill hasn't asked BYU for a 2 for 1 because he's smart
enough to know he wouldn't get it.
ute coaches and
administrators tucked tail and ran away from the rivalry this year and next.
Demanding a 2 for 1 (and of course not getting it) would've been a better
way to tuck tail and run away without actually looking like they were tucking
tail and running away. Then they could've blamed BYU.
estreetshuffleWindow Rock, AZ
July 21, 2014 6:53 p.m.
Power 5 is just a state of mind It doesn't mean anything. Any team can
lose on any game day whether power 5 or not. Just like is a PAC 10 is just a
state of mind.
MyPerspectiveSalt Lake City, UT
July 21, 2014 6:21 p.m.
BlueNtheFace Rancho Cucamonga, CA
"Bronco said that he wants
to showcase the team in various parts of the country and in a neutral stadium
where possible."
Hmmmm...Bronco also said byu wants to join the
Big 12. Clearly, Bronco doesn't get what he wants and pretending that he
does is silly.
Enjoy byu's 2 for 1 in Arizona! The next wake
up call will come when Chris Hill schedules another home:away:home with
byu...what will you call that? LOL!
BlueNtheFaceRancho Cucamonga, CA
July 21, 2014 4:25 p.m.
Naval Vet said: "I'm sure there are a LOT more UA alumni in Phoenix
than cougars. That pretty much amounts to a Home game for the Wildcats; not the
cougars."
Thanks for you opinion, but that's all it is.
It's a true Home-Home-Neutral. Bronco said that he wants to showcase the
team in various parts of the country and in a neutral stadium where possible.
The state of Arizona has a such a stadium where the 2 teams can play in a
neutral stadium. In this case, it's bigger than the UofA stadium by 6K.
Good luck with whatever is clouding yours and other Ute fans' minds
and fooling them into believing it is a 2-for-1.
Go BYU.
JDLMagna, UT
July 21, 2014 4:16 p.m.
Navel,
Why does it even matter to you u when and how often UA plays
BYU? Why does BYU matter at all to u?
VegasUteLas Vegas, NV
July 21, 2014 4:06 p.m.
DEW:
One player made the statement that he is looking forward "To
have an opportunity to leave the east coast and head out west" and you turn
it into this statement "It is nice to hear that Virginia is looking forward
to be here in Provo."
Typical
VegasUteLas Vegas, NV
July 21, 2014 4:01 p.m.
Dutchman
"need to file a freedom of information request with all
the public schools in the PAC 12 and Big 12 and with the conference offices
asking for all the communications, emails, text messages and written reports
regarding conference membership in relation with BYU."
My guess
would be that byU is mentioned as much in those discussions as they were
mentioned in the ACC media days.
Taysom4HeismanHeber City, UT
July 21, 2014 3:43 p.m.
@Naval Vet
That's not necessarily true at all. When any game is
negotiated, whether home, away, or neutral, the teams negotiate how many tickets
will be allotted to the teams, based on their ability to fill the stands.
Typically, in a neutral game, the teams each get half of the stadium,
unless one of the teams isn't capable of that, in which case that team
usually sells as many tickets as they can and then the other school gets the
rest.
For instance, when BYU played Oklahoma in Arlington, many
people assumed it would be a very Oklahoma-dominant crowd. However, it was
fairly even. I would guess that about 60% of the fans were wearing crimson with
the other 40% wearing blue.
However, when it's Texas vs.
Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl, both teams split it half and half because they are
both easily capable of filling half of the stadium.
I would guess
that BYU is capable of filling at least 40% of Pheonix Stadium if not 50%.
So it will likely be neutral, or maybe a very slight edge to Arizona.
KralonHUNTINGTON BEACH, CA
July 21, 2014 3:22 p.m.
There are always some interesting tidbits about BYU if you search for them or
get alerts. For example, at the SI website there is an article about the odds of
teams winning the national championship that was posted 7/10.
BYU is
given odds of 150/1 with Florida State the best at 11/2 all the way down to
Rutgers at 1000/1. Unfortunately, only 51 teams are ranked and BYU is the only
one from Utah!
Naval VetPhiladelphia, PA
July 21, 2014 2:09 p.m.
BlueCoug:
"First game is in University of Phoenix Stadium - which
is in close proximity to very large BYU fanbases in the Phoenix area, as well as
Las Vegas, Southern California and Southern Utah - don't be too surprised
to see at least half the crowd dressed in blue."
The series with
Arizona is a 2-for-1. Glendale is 2-hrs NW of Tucson....but it's 10.5-hrs
SW of Provo. Arizona has about 40K students, and the Phoenix metro area
consists of about 4.4 million residents. I'm sure there are a LOT more UA
alumni in Phoenix than cougars. That pretty much amounts to a Home game for the
Wildcats; not the cougars. And nobody would be surprised to see a lot of blue
at ANY Arizona game. Their school colors are navy and cardinal. That said, I
doubt that it'd surprise many that cougar fans will try to take credit for
all the "blue" in the stands anyway.
DEW CougarsSandy, UT
July 21, 2014 2:05 p.m.
Did u know this is about BYU and ACC and not "u"?
It is nice
to hear that Virginia is looking forward to be here in Provo. Have fun!
MyPerspectiveSalt Lake City, UT
July 21, 2014 1:42 p.m.
Dutchman Murray, UT
We already know how byu is viewed by the
University Presidents in the Pac-12 and Big 12. In fact, we know how byu is
viewed by the SEC and the ACC as well.
The problem here is that
byu, it's fans, and local media either are not listening or don't want
to believe / accept what is being shown them over and over again. Until that
changes, you can expect to endure article after article about byu's plight
in the independence wilderness.
Taysom4HeismanHeber City, UT
July 21, 2014 1:22 p.m.
@ekute
"Spoiler Alert!: byu won't get mentioned at the PAC
12 and SEC media days either."
Yeah, and I don't think Texas
or Ohio State or Michigan State or Oklahoma or Florida State will be mentioned
at the Pac 12 and SEC media days either.
Guess why? They aren't
Pac 12 or SEC members. Neither is BYU. Of course they won't be mentioned.
It's not disrespect, it's focusing on conference members.
I
seriously doubt the utes will get mentioned in the Big 12, Big 10, SEC, or ACC
media days.
Heck, they probably won't get much mention in the
Pac 12 media days except for when the utah players and coaches are being
interviewed.
I don't remember Wyoming or New Mexico or UNLV
getting talked about a whole lot at MWC media days in the past.
And
utah is the Wyoming of the Pac 12. The team with annoying fans and a small
stadium that nobody cares about.
DutchmanMurray, UT
July 21, 2014 1:05 p.m.
Let's put to rest all this conference talk and BYU once and for all. This
is not rocket science. The Presidents of the Universities in the conferences
make these decisions not the AD's, coaches, fans or conference
commissioners. There is a way to find out why BYU was not invited to join the
PAC 12 and whether or not an invitation was extended to BYU by the Big 12 and if
not why not. Dick Harmon or Gordon Monson ect. or someone like them need to
file a freedom of information request with all the public schools in the PAC 12
and Big 12 and with the conference offices asking for all the communications,
emails, text messages and written reports regarding conference membership in
relation with BYU. Getting this information would provide major insight into
how BYU is viewed by the University Presidents in the PAC 12 and Big 12 and why
BYU was excluded from membership. It would certainly make for interesting
reading and eliminate the need to read article after article about why BYU
belongs in the P5.
panamadesnewsLindon, UT
July 21, 2014 1:05 p.m.
The Arizona AD didn't have to say anything, but went out of his way to do
so. Maybe he didn't like what the ACC said! What do you think it means when
a P5 conference schedules a 1-1-1 with the Cougars?
MyPerspectiveSalt Lake City, UT
July 21, 2014 1:03 p.m.
At some point, following this new spate of articles decrying byu's plight
to break into the P5, the Des News will have to hang a carrot out there
extolling the virtues of independence to keep byu fans believing all is well in
cougar nation. As damage control lights up in earnest, byu fans will
emphatically state on these comment boards how much they relish independence.
That will continue until the next article comes out quoting a sports
blogger in some obscure town in Lake Woebegone who mentions byu (or in the case
of this article - does not mention byu). That will once refresh hope that
independence will soon be a hiss and a byword in cougar nation as byu's
move into their rightful place in the P5 is immanent.
After some
unspecified period of time elapses with no change in byu's status,
independence will once again reign supreme. And around and around we go.
The entertainment value of this circus is off the charts.
Go cougs! Go ESPN!! Go Independence!!! Go Power 5!!!! Go
Whatever the flavor of the day is tomorrow!!!!!
panamadesnewsLindon, UT
July 21, 2014 12:58 p.m.
To Sooner Ute:
I believe it is a 1 - 1 - 1
Stringer BellHenderson, NV
July 21, 2014 11:33 a.m.
Re: CougfanTX "In PAC12 news, Arizona AD stated last week that he
considers BYU a power conference school."
He had to say something
to try and justify the scheduling of three games with BYU.
Henry DrummondSan Jose, CA
July 21, 2014 11:22 a.m.
Stop the presses! BIG 12 media days begins today!!
Let the team
coverage begin of the non-mention of BYU inclusion in the conference.
phoenixGilbert, AZ
July 21, 2014 11:17 a.m.
SoonerUte
Don't kid yourself. University of Phoenix Stadium is
the home of Arizona Cardinals - any fan who thinks this will be a "home"
game for Arizona is clueless about the fan dynamics in the Phoenix metro
area.
This will be the equivalent of Utah playing BYU in Energy
Solutions Arena and expecting to have "home court" advantage.
CougarSunDevilPhoenix, AZ
July 21, 2014 10:47 a.m.
SoonerUte
"Actions vs Words - He showed his respect by scheduling
a 2 for 1"
And don't bother coming back with "Phoenix is
basically a home game for tucson college. There is no love in Phoenix metro for
the tame kitty's. There will be at least equal fans for BYU down here at
that game. I being one of them.
BlueCougOrem, UT
July 21, 2014 10:13 a.m.
SoonerUte
It's laughable how Utah fans have to twist the facts
in order to help them sleep at night.
BYU scheduled a
neutral-home-and-home with Arizona:
First game is in University of
Phoenix Stadium - which is in close proximity to very large BYU fanbases in the
Phoenix area, as well as Las Vegas, Southern California and Southern Utah -
don't be too surprised to see at least half the crowd dressed in blue.
SoonerUteSalt Lake City, UT
July 21, 2014 9:41 a.m.
DuckOuttaWater "The PAC12 never dissed them like the ACC & SEC
did" Some claim the PAC12 has religious bias. Is bias a dis? The
Big 10 is the only power conference which hasn't dissed BYU.
CougFaninTX "Arizona AD stated last week that he considers BYU a
power conference school." Actions vs Words - He showed his respect by
scheduling a 2 for 1.
FlorwoodAmerican Fork, UT
July 21, 2014 9:11 a.m.
"At least there shouldn't be a long rain delay like there was at
Virginia last season."
Unless we have weather like we had for the
the Texas game last year...
CougFaninTXFrisco, TX
July 21, 2014 9:04 a.m.
In PAC12 news, Arizona AD stated last week that he considers BYU a power
conference school.
Condescending WonkaSalt Lake City, Utah
July 21, 2014 8:45 a.m.
You're right, Hank Jr. The ACC is such a joke that this year's
national champions hailed from that conference.
Best wishes to byu
finding room in a Power 5 conference. Time is running out.
Hank JrDraper, UT
July 21, 2014 8:37 a.m.
The ACC is a joke. I"m perplexed why the Cougs would even bother with them.
DuckOuttaWaterSLC , UT
July 21, 2014 8:05 a.m.
Ekute: Why would BYU be mentioned in PAC12 media days? The PAC12 never
dissed them like the ACC & SEC did, and the PAC12 obviously loves playing
BYU with so many games on their schedule. Hate to say it but I laughed at
WhoRtheUtes post. I'd worry more about the fact that Utah will hardly get
any pub at the media days. I think that's unfortunate but probably
accurate.
WhoRtheUtes???Elko, NV
July 21, 2014 7:44 a.m.
Spoiler Alert! Don't expect much to be said about the Ute's at the Pac
12 media days either.
Greg4BYUProvo, UT
July 21, 2014 7:38 a.m.
...but they will be mentioned multiple times every day by Ute fans who have
"moved on."
Greg
ekuteLayton, UT
July 21, 2014 7:13 a.m.
Spoiler Alert!: byu won't get mentioned at the PAC 12 and SEC media days
either.
truthsandwichThe Bubble, UT
July 20, 2014 11:03 p.m.
Breaking news: "BYU still doesn't count as a P5 opponent."
Daily updates on this are not enough. We need at least three updates per day
confirming the lack of status change.
ACC media days has some interesting tidbits concerning BYU
Uteology: "BYU is high quality football? Not according to the SEC and ACC. As of today, BYU just doesn't bring enough to be invited to a P5 league. As of today, BYU just isn't good enough earn a major bowl invite."
First off, I had to change my name from DuckOuttaWater to just DuckInSLC...seemed a lot easier I guess.
Second, don't be so hard on BYU. They do bring a crowd and fill the stands and it isn't an accident they have been invited to season inaugural classics as Eric mentioned. The reasons for exclusion that you listed above are for other things, specifically not playing on Sundays, and other "baggage" they bring with them (including a rep for being difficult). It certainly has nothing to do with quality or fan base.
You also didn't answer his question. I truly don't know, but has Utah been invited to these games?
The ONLY way to debunk the'Conference cold shoulder' and the lack of Power 5 consideration is simple for BYU: WIN WIN WIN!!
@eric2002x
BYU has been invited many times to Pigskin Classic, Kickoff Classic, Cowboys Classic games on neutral sites in the South and East due to its ability to draw fans into the stadium, generate good TV audiences, and high quality football. (Also scheduled at FedEx Field vs. West Virginia in 2016). I remember big upsets like #3 Oklahoma in 2009. Has Utah ever been invited to a National Kickoff game like these? I don't think so...
-------------
BYU is high quality football? Not according to the SEC and ACC.
As of today, BYU just doesn't bring enough to be invited to a P5 league.
As of today, BYU just isn't good enough earn a major bowl invite.
For the uninitiated Ute fans, that Phoenix game is neutral site because of several factors, including allocation of tickets, revenue splits and TV rights. And, since it is a higher-capacity NFL stadium, offers more revenue streams overall to both teams. Win-Win.
The fact it occurs inside the state of Arizona has no bearing. Texas-Oklahoma is played every single year in Dallas, TEXAS and is considered a neutral site even though Oklahoma fans have to travel a little further to a different state. Game tickets are allocated basically 50/50. Exactly the same happens to the annual Florida - Georgia game played every year in Jacksonville, FLORIDA. Yes, Georgia fans have to travel a little further, it is a neutral site game.
BYU has been invited many times to Pigskin Classic, Kickoff Classic, Cowboys Classic games on neutral sites in the South and East due to its ability to draw fans into the stadium, generate good TV audiences, and high quality football. (Also scheduled at FedEx Field vs. West Virginia in 2016). I remember big upsets like #3 Oklahoma in 2009. Has Utah ever been invited to a National Kickoff game like these? I don't think so...
@ BigCougar
Utah NEVER publicly begged to get into the PAC-12. We didn't have to.
Also, having a nationwide religion is not the same as having a nationwide fan base.
@BigCougar
"If Utah had a football game at a neutral site which happened to be in Provo would you expect all of Utah Valley to come out to root for Utah?!"
I would expect the salt lake valley fans to commute better than the hypothetical more distant opponent's fans and I would expect that Provo would still have more Utah alumni than it would Ohio State alumni (or whatever the hypothetical school is).
@ecute
"Spin it any way you want. To the students, season ticket holders and fans that don't travel... It's 2 for 1"
------------
That's funny, for the very same reasons you've listed it also qualifies as a 2 for 1 for the AZ students that fall into that same category. So, spin it any way you want it comes up the same, you have blue envy and apparently, judging by hyper-focus on BYU by so many ute fans, it's contagious.
@utewhatever
"A pathetic attempt by Bronco at BYU's "media day" to state his case for inclusion"
"If BYU fans are completely honest, they are jealous that Utah has a table and they don't."
------------
Bronco just borrowed from the Whitt playbook on that one (Google it). Whitt and Dr Hill did that for years before the timing was right and the solar systems, stars and planets all aligned. Begging publicly didn't hurt utah's chances any, they still had to wait for Texas and half of the Big 12 to decide what they wanted to do before an invite finally came their way.
As for being supposedly jealous about not having a table at the Pac12 media day you couldn't be further from the truth there. I've never attended, listened to, watched or followed on-line a Pac12 media day before. I barely paid attention to MWC or WAC media days when BYU was in those conferences because they're all pretty dull and regurgitating the same stuff I'd read for months and months.
It just doesn't light the lamp and I usually spend this time of year fishing in Alaska instead.
MyPerspective wrote: "Hmmmm...Bronco also said byu wants to join the Big 12. Clearly, Bronco doesn't get what he wants and pretending that he does is silly."
And I'll bet you that Bronco's Cougars get into the Big 12 eventually. The timing of these articles is on your side right now because we're not in. We get it. I'd give us 3 years before we have an invite. We have two opposing opinions, both based off of hope. Your hope is a little more pathetic than mine though.
"Dr." Hill can ask for a 2-for-1 if he wishes. That's not what's happening in the series w/ UofA however. But you know that. If the Cougars and UofU played a Home-Home and then one at Rio Tinto (but with 3 times the capacity), then we'd be talking about something similar.
ute4ever: Bronco and most Cougar fans know how small the chances are that BYU would get an invite to the PAC-12. So drop the straw man argument.
Go BYU!
Kralon
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA
There are always some interesting tidbits about BYU if you search for them or get alerts. For example, at the SI website there is an article about the odds of teams winning the national championship that was posted 7/10.
BYU is given odds of 150/1 with Florida State the best at 11/2 all the way down to Rutgers at 1000/1. Unfortunately, only 51 teams are ranked and BYU is the only one from Utah!
____________
Whatever.
@ekute,
Maybe some people will perceive it as a 2 for 1, but the fact remains that it is a neutral site. People have already brought up very good reasons as to why it may not be as hostile to BYU as one would expect.
Thanks for proving BYU is more relevant than Utah one post at a time.
Utah will have a table at the PAC12 media days. BYU, their fans, and Bronco will be outside the fences shouting at the top of their lungs "we belong....just look at us". A pathetic attempt by Bronco at BYU's "media day" to state his case for inclusion....all while continuously getting excluded at the P5 media days.
If BYU fans are completely honest, they are jealous that Utah has a table and they don't. And if they are even more honest, they realize they can't even beat the "Wyoming of the Pac 12" (as Taysom4Heisman put it) so their Win/Loss record would put them even lower than Wyoming if they actually DID have a seat at the table.
Spin it any way you want. To the students, season ticket holders and fans that don't travel... It's 2 for 1.
Dear BYU-intense-dislikers,
Sorry you got your angst in a bunch with this. I hate to inform you, this will be like a home game for BYU.
Phoenix is ASU country and they're not coming out to root for the Wildcats. Some UA fans will travel to attend the game for sure as will some BYU fans coming from Utah.
Phoenix is also Mormon Country. After the state of Utah and California, AZ has the next largest LDS population with the heaviest concentration in the Phoenix area. The majority of BYU fans that will attend the game will come from the heavily concentrated LDS population in the Phoenix area. There's nearly half a million LDS in the area and they will be well represented.
That's what they're talking about when sportscasters on ESPN, CBS, etc tell you that BYU has a "National Fanbase". I know it's hard to understand something when you've never experienced it. Sort of like when you tell us how great it is to finish in last place every year in the Pac12.
@navel lint
"The series with Arizona is a 2-for-1.....Arizona has about 40K students, and the Phoenix metro area consists of about 4.4 million residents. I'm sure there are a LOT more UA alumni in Phoenix than cougars"
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Your BYU hatiness is showing again
Yes, there will obviously be more AZ fans there but not a "LOT" more. ASU country doesn't love UA. If anything, ASU fans will show up rooting for them to lose to BYU.
Try to see this w/o the BYU-hatiness clouding your perspective. If Utah had a football game at a neutral site which happened to be in Provo would you expect all of Utah Valley to come out to root for Utah?! Your argument was a little faulty there.
Also, in case you're thinking it, nobody roots for the Pac12 except Utah so ASU fans won't be coming out to root for the Pac12 (it's not an actual team or anything).
Any locals that come out will likely be rooting against AZ (remember, they don't like each other). Also, Mesa/Gilbert/Peoria/Scottsdale/Tempe, etc are heavily LDS. We'll do fine.
BlueCoug
Orem, UT said:
"SoonerUte
It's laughable how Utah fans have to twist the facts in order to help them sleep at night.
BYU scheduled a neutral-home-and-home with Arizona:
First game is in University of Phoenix Stadium - which is in close proximity to very large BYU fanbases in the Phoenix area, as well as Las Vegas, Southern California and Southern Utah - don't be too surprised to see at least half the crowd dressed in blue."
Who cares. The whole crowd could be dressed in blue, and BYU can still lose. It's not what fans wear. Its how the game is played on the field.
@myperspective
"The next wake up call will come when Chris Hill schedules another home:away:home with byu...what will you call that?"
I'll call it the same thing I call all the pre-season Pac12 titles and pre-season Rose Bowl games that ute fans always talk about winning. Lol!
Dr Hill hasn't asked BYU for a 2 for 1 because he's smart enough to know he wouldn't get it.
ute coaches and administrators tucked tail and ran away from the rivalry this year and next. Demanding a 2 for 1 (and of course not getting it) would've been a better way to tuck tail and run away without actually looking like they were tucking tail and running away. Then they could've blamed BYU.
Power 5 is just a state of mind It doesn't mean anything. Any team can lose on any game day whether power 5 or not. Just like is a PAC 10 is just a state of mind.
BlueNtheFace
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
"Bronco said that he wants to showcase the team in various parts of the country and in a neutral stadium where possible."
Hmmmm...Bronco also said byu wants to join the Big 12. Clearly, Bronco doesn't get what he wants and pretending that he does is silly.
Enjoy byu's 2 for 1 in Arizona! The next wake up call will come when Chris Hill schedules another home:away:home with byu...what will you call that? LOL!
Naval Vet said: "I'm sure there are a LOT more UA alumni in Phoenix than cougars. That pretty much amounts to a Home game for the Wildcats; not the cougars."
Thanks for you opinion, but that's all it is. It's a true Home-Home-Neutral. Bronco said that he wants to showcase the team in various parts of the country and in a neutral stadium where possible. The state of Arizona has a such a stadium where the 2 teams can play in a neutral stadium. In this case, it's bigger than the UofA stadium by 6K.
Good luck with whatever is clouding yours and other Ute fans' minds and fooling them into believing it is a 2-for-1.
Go BYU.
Navel,
Why does it even matter to you u when and how often UA plays BYU? Why does BYU matter at all to u?
DEW:
One player made the statement that he is looking forward "To have an opportunity to leave the east coast and head out west" and you turn it into this statement "It is nice to hear that Virginia is looking forward to be here in Provo."
Typical
Dutchman
"need to file a freedom of information request with all the public schools in the PAC 12 and Big 12 and with the conference offices asking for all the communications, emails, text messages and written reports regarding conference membership in relation with BYU."
My guess would be that byU is mentioned as much in those discussions as they were mentioned in the ACC media days.
@Naval Vet
That's not necessarily true at all. When any game is negotiated, whether home, away, or neutral, the teams negotiate how many tickets will be allotted to the teams, based on their ability to fill the stands.
Typically, in a neutral game, the teams each get half of the stadium, unless one of the teams isn't capable of that, in which case that team usually sells as many tickets as they can and then the other school gets the rest.
For instance, when BYU played Oklahoma in Arlington, many people assumed it would be a very Oklahoma-dominant crowd. However, it was fairly even. I would guess that about 60% of the fans were wearing crimson with the other 40% wearing blue.
However, when it's Texas vs. Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl, both teams split it half and half because they are both easily capable of filling half of the stadium.
I would guess that BYU is capable of filling at least 40% of Pheonix Stadium if not 50%.
So it will likely be neutral, or maybe a very slight edge to Arizona.
There are always some interesting tidbits about BYU if you search for them or get alerts. For example, at the SI website there is an article about the odds of teams winning the national championship that was posted 7/10.
BYU is given odds of 150/1 with Florida State the best at 11/2 all the way down to Rutgers at 1000/1. Unfortunately, only 51 teams are ranked and BYU is the only one from Utah!
BlueCoug:
"First game is in University of Phoenix Stadium - which is in close proximity to very large BYU fanbases in the Phoenix area, as well as Las Vegas, Southern California and Southern Utah - don't be too surprised to see at least half the crowd dressed in blue."
The series with Arizona is a 2-for-1. Glendale is 2-hrs NW of Tucson....but it's 10.5-hrs SW of Provo. Arizona has about 40K students, and the Phoenix metro area consists of about 4.4 million residents. I'm sure there are a LOT more UA alumni in Phoenix than cougars. That pretty much amounts to a Home game for the Wildcats; not the cougars. And nobody would be surprised to see a lot of blue at ANY Arizona game. Their school colors are navy and cardinal. That said, I doubt that it'd surprise many that cougar fans will try to take credit for all the "blue" in the stands anyway.
Did u know this is about BYU and ACC and not "u"?
It is nice to hear that Virginia is looking forward to be here in Provo. Have fun!
Dutchman
Murray, UT
We already know how byu is viewed by the University Presidents in the Pac-12 and Big 12. In fact, we know how byu is viewed by the SEC and the ACC as well.
The problem here is that byu, it's fans, and local media either are not listening or don't want to believe / accept what is being shown them over and over again. Until that changes, you can expect to endure article after article about byu's plight in the independence wilderness.
@ekute
"Spoiler Alert!: byu won't get mentioned at the PAC 12 and SEC media days either."
Yeah, and I don't think Texas or Ohio State or Michigan State or Oklahoma or Florida State will be mentioned at the Pac 12 and SEC media days either.
Guess why? They aren't Pac 12 or SEC members. Neither is BYU. Of course they won't be mentioned. It's not disrespect, it's focusing on conference members.
I seriously doubt the utes will get mentioned in the Big 12, Big 10, SEC, or ACC media days.
Heck, they probably won't get much mention in the Pac 12 media days except for when the utah players and coaches are being interviewed.
I don't remember Wyoming or New Mexico or UNLV getting talked about a whole lot at MWC media days in the past.
And utah is the Wyoming of the Pac 12. The team with annoying fans and a small stadium that nobody cares about.
Let's put to rest all this conference talk and BYU once and for all. This is not rocket science. The Presidents of the Universities in the conferences make these decisions not the AD's, coaches, fans or conference commissioners. There is a way to find out why BYU was not invited to join the PAC 12 and whether or not an invitation was extended to BYU by the Big 12 and if not why not. Dick Harmon or Gordon Monson ect. or someone like them need to file a freedom of information request with all the public schools in the PAC 12 and Big 12 and with the conference offices asking for all the communications, emails, text messages and written reports regarding conference membership in relation with BYU. Getting this information would provide major insight into how BYU is viewed by the University Presidents in the PAC 12 and Big 12 and why BYU was excluded from membership. It would certainly make for interesting reading and eliminate the need to read article after article about why BYU belongs in the P5.
The Arizona AD didn't have to say anything, but went out of his way to do so. Maybe he didn't like what the ACC said! What do you think it means when a P5 conference schedules a 1-1-1 with the Cougars?
At some point, following this new spate of articles decrying byu's plight to break into the P5, the Des News will have to hang a carrot out there extolling the virtues of independence to keep byu fans believing all is well in cougar nation. As damage control lights up in earnest, byu fans will emphatically state on these comment boards how much they relish independence.
That will continue until the next article comes out quoting a sports blogger in some obscure town in Lake Woebegone who mentions byu (or in the case of this article - does not mention byu). That will once refresh hope that independence will soon be a hiss and a byword in cougar nation as byu's move into their rightful place in the P5 is immanent.
After some unspecified period of time elapses with no change in byu's status, independence will once again reign supreme. And around and around we go.
The entertainment value of this circus is off the charts.
Go cougs!
Go ESPN!!
Go Independence!!!
Go Power 5!!!!
Go Whatever the flavor of the day is tomorrow!!!!!
To Sooner Ute:
I believe it is a 1 - 1 - 1
Re: CougfanTX "In PAC12 news, Arizona AD stated last week that he considers BYU a power conference school."
He had to say something to try and justify the scheduling of three games with BYU.
Stop the presses! BIG 12 media days begins today!!
Let the team coverage begin of the non-mention of BYU inclusion in the conference.
SoonerUte
Don't kid yourself. University of Phoenix Stadium is the home of Arizona Cardinals - any fan who thinks this will be a "home" game for Arizona is clueless about the fan dynamics in the Phoenix metro area.
This will be the equivalent of Utah playing BYU in Energy Solutions Arena and expecting to have "home court" advantage.
SoonerUte
"Actions vs Words - He showed his respect by scheduling a 2 for 1"
And don't bother coming back with "Phoenix is basically a home game for tucson college. There is no love in Phoenix metro for the tame kitty's. There will be at least equal fans for BYU down here at that game. I being one of them.
SoonerUte
It's laughable how Utah fans have to twist the facts in order to help them sleep at night.
BYU scheduled a neutral-home-and-home with Arizona:
First game is in University of Phoenix Stadium - which is in close proximity to very large BYU fanbases in the Phoenix area, as well as Las Vegas, Southern California and Southern Utah - don't be too surprised to see at least half the crowd dressed in blue.
DuckOuttaWater "The PAC12 never dissed them like the ACC & SEC did"
Some claim the PAC12 has religious bias. Is bias a dis?
The Big 10 is the only power conference which hasn't dissed BYU.
CougFaninTX
"Arizona AD stated last week that he considers BYU a power conference school."
Actions vs Words - He showed his respect by scheduling a 2 for 1.
"At least there shouldn't be a long rain delay like there was at Virginia last season."
Unless we have weather like we had for the the Texas game last year...
In PAC12 news, Arizona AD stated last week that he considers BYU a power conference school.
You're right, Hank Jr. The ACC is such a joke that this year's national champions hailed from that conference.
Best wishes to byu finding room in a Power 5 conference. Time is running out.
The ACC is a joke. I"m perplexed why the Cougs would even bother with them.
Ekute:
Why would BYU be mentioned in PAC12 media days? The PAC12 never dissed them like the ACC & SEC did, and the PAC12 obviously loves playing BYU with so many games on their schedule. Hate to say it but I laughed at WhoRtheUtes post. I'd worry more about the fact that Utah will hardly get any pub at the media days. I think that's unfortunate but probably accurate.
Spoiler Alert! Don't expect much to be said about the Ute's at the Pac 12 media days either.
...but they will be mentioned multiple times every day by Ute fans who have "moved on."
Greg
Spoiler Alert!: byu won't get mentioned at the PAC 12 and SEC media days either.
Breaking news: "BYU still doesn't count as a P5 opponent."
Daily updates on this are not enough. We need at least three updates per day confirming the lack of status change.