By Brian Murphy
bmurphy@idahostatesman.com
5:27 p.m. — Here is the release from BYU:
PROVO, Utah (Aug. 31, 2010) — Brigham Young University today announced it resigned from the Mountain West Conference, effective June 30, 2011.
Additionally, the University announced its football program will compete in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as an independent beginning fall 2011. BYU has accepted an invitation to join the West Coast Conference as a full member for men’s basketball and other sports, beginning the 2011-12 athletic season.
Further information will be provided at a press conference scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 1 at LaVell Edwards Stadium beginning at noon (MT). The press conference is available only to credentialed members of the media.
The University will have no further comment until the press conference Wednesday.
The press conference will be broadcast live on BYUtv. Viewing options for BYUtv include the basic tier on both Dish Network (channel 9304) and DirecTV (channel 374), and 500 cable systems nationwide. The press conference will also be streamed live on BYUtv at www.byu.tv (first-time users will need to complete a free online registration form).
5:18 p.m. — The West Coast Conference just issued an official statement welcoming BYU to the league:
SAN BRUNO, Calif. — The West Coast Conference is pleased to announce that Brigham Young University has formally accepted an invitation to join the WCC with competition to begin in the 2011-12 academic year.
BYU, which will become an independent in FBS football, will compete in the West Coast Conference in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, women's soccer, men's and women's tennis, and women's volleyball.
Further information will be provided at a press conference scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 1 at LaVell Edwards Stadium on the Brigham Young University campus beginning at Noon (MT) / 11:00 AM (PT). Attendance at the press conference is available only to credentialed members of the media.
The West Coast Conference will have no further comment until the press conference Wednesday.
The press conference will be broadcast live on BYUtv. Viewing options for BYUtv include the basic tier on both Dish Network (channel 9304) and DirecTV (channel 374) and 500 cable systems nationwide. The press conference will be streamed live on BYUtv at www.byu.tv (first-time users will need to complete a free online registration form).
5:14 p.m. — The Mountain West Conference just issued an official statement on BYU's departure:
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. — "Since its inception, the Mountain West Conference has worked strategically to grow and strengthen the league, in order to position itself at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics," said MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson. "Our Board of Directors’ diligent exploration of options to advance the membership’s objectives is ongoing. This includes conversations with our television partners to address issues of mutual importance, as well as determining the optimal configuration for the Conference and investigating the possibility of various collaborative alliances. We look forward to the future with great excitement – particularly welcoming recent additions Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada into the Mountain West."
4:40 p.m. — Reports from ESPN and the San Jose Mercury News are that BYU has decided to go independent in football and join the West Coast Conference in all other sports, including men's basketball.
The West Coast Conference is home to eight private schools, including Gonzaga and St. Mary's.
An official announcement is expected later Tuesday.
The Salt Lake Tribune is also reporting the same information — and says a press conference will be held Wednesday.
Now more questions
BYU's decision will have an impact on the Mountain West and the WAC.
— Will the Mountain West remain at 10 or will it move to get to 12 teams?
— What happens to the Mountain West's television contract, now that Utah and BYU have left the league?
— What happens to the $5 million penalties that Nevada and Fresno State are supposed to pay the WAC?
— And what happens to the WAC, which remains at six teams, and is almost sure to get a smaller television contract from ESPN in the face of departures by Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada?
9:26 a.m. — Boise State fans need to be prepared for the backlash. If the Broncos knock off Virginia Tech on Labor Day in Landover, Md., and continue to pile up victories, there is going to be an anti-Boise State contingent among college football fans, media and even voters.
Yahoo Sports columnist Dan Wetzel wrote about the issue today: Boise goes from darlings to damned
ESPN bloggers Chris Low and Andrea Adelson debated the merits of the Broncos, especially how an undefeated Boise State team would compare to a 1-loss SEC team.
I wrote about the issue in Sunday's college football preview section.
Waiting for BYU
• It's been 13 days since Fresno State and Nevada accepted invitations to join the Mountain West, thus scuttling (for now) BYU's plans to go independent in football and join the WAC in all other sports. As the Mountain West's Sept. 1 deadline approaches, everyone is waiting for the Cougars to make a decision about their future. There has been lots of speculation — and little hard facts.
Judging by the quotes that BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe made over the summer, I believe the Cougars want to go independent in football. Now it's just a matter of figuring out if that's possible — logistically — and finding a compatible place for the rest of their athletic teams to play.
The Salt Lake Tribune, using Utah State sources, wrote the WAC hopes of reeling in BYU are getting darker.
Don't rule out the West Coast Conference, home to Gonzaga and St. Mary's, as the landing spot for BYU's other teams.
The Cougars' decision could come as soon as today.
Come talk college football
Statesman reporter Chadd Cripe and myself will be at the Falcon Tavern on Thursday, the first day of college football season, for our "College Football Kickoff." Come and win prizes, enjoy food and drink specials and discuss the Broncos' season opener against Virginia Tech. We'll be there from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. See you there.
You can follow Murph's Turf on Twitter.
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Mr Murphy
Thank you for confirming to the people of Idaho your insight and intelligence. Have you considered employment elsewhere, perhaps as a propagandist or agent provocateur? Please, consider your options and consider relocating to a location more suitable to your apparently limited intellect.
Here we go...
So, I assume you're now going to tell all of us how the Statesman should be a cheerleader and mouthpiece for BSU and never report anything negative? Everything should be kittens and ice cream cones and sugary nice?
Yeah... that's the role of the school's athletic and PR departments, not the media. Murphy's done a fine job lately, which is obvious by the fact of how angry his columns makes Donk Nation homers.
He Has Done a Good Job...
The WAC / MWC stuff was broken here as fast as anywhere.. There have been many opinions like the story link just posted..it's not really new and if you read it, a lot of truth there. The VT game just brings it to the surface once again. Thats one reason for some resentment...Bley figured out this BCS path and has walked that road. Whether anyone agrees or not, fact is it has worked..
Hey Wis
After reading the articles Murph provided in regard to the anti-BSU crowd out there, do you now see and understand that when Kustra said what he said about the Vandals, that it did nothing but add fuel to the fire that's burning within the anti-BSU crowd.
As you know, I'm going to have to say that it's rather asinine for you to suggest that Bley "figured out a path" to the BCS.
BSU has broken into the BCS and pushed it's way into the national spotlight because of what the previous two coaching staffs and players along with coach Pete and his players have done on the football field for over a decade.
Their success has absolutely nothing to do with some sort of mastermind scheduling plan that Bley created. If anything, yes, Bley's inability to schedule big time teams could be factored into why BSU has been so successful but, then again, his inability to schedule quality opposition isn't anything worthy of bragging about, now is it?
Once Again Kid....
The burning fire was not fueled with Kustra remarks. It has been fueled in tha past due to BSU securing BCS games with a weak SOS..and now since they are in the NCS pre season spotlite..again with weak SOS. You're reaching..yet again.
So, the prior coaching staffs scheduled games? You deny Bley has done a good job proviving enout juice on the schedule to get us there? The Oregons, Orgon States, etc? Yes, we have to win the games, thats a given...Do you think Z's team would have went to Fiesta with 4 top 25's scheduled as OOC?
adds fuel to the fire
The fire was already buring and you're a fool if you can't see that Kustra's remarks ADDED fuel to the fire. You do remember the SI article don't you? Well, in your opinion, was that article good PR or bad PR for BSU? Yes. It was bad PR for BSU and as such, it addd fuel to the fire.
Not sure where you came up with the part about prior coaching staffs doing the scheduling, but speaking of scheduling, you asked if I thought Z's team would have went to Fiesta with 4 top 25's scheduled as OOC. Of course not, but why even ask that question. My counter question is Do you think it would be possible for Bley to schedule (4) top 25 teams as OOC? See where I'm going with this? He schedules what he can get. It's no secret that he hit a roadblock when trying to improve the schedule, so c'mon wis, it's not as if he's masterminding a clar path to the BCS.
As far as the Oregons and Oregon States, yeah, he agreed to those games, but he was on the receiving end of those offers. The VT game and the Ole Miss game, those were set up the redskins and espn and again, Blay was on the receiving end of those offers, so it's not as if he's strategically adding beef to the schedule on an as needed basis. The success of BSU's football team has pretty much fallen in Bley's lap. I'm not sure why you guys look at this as me going out of my way to slam our AD because I'm not. I'm simply calling it the way it is and I'm sorry if the reality of it doesn't make Bley out to be a hero
Kid..
Lets just agree to disagree.I'd rather post positives about the team I am a fan of rather than waste space on your drivel. I'm sure you can not understand "positives about the team" as you only look for negatives.
you only see what you want to see
same with those bashing Murph from acknowledging a sentiment OUTSIDE of Boise.
I know it's very difficult for you to accept the fact that it's possible to be critical of certain aspects of a football program while supporting it at the same time.
Murph thought that this was newsworthy and I agree. It's just a shame that you can't put down your kool aid long enough to consider looking at the BSU picture from all angles.
You only see what you want to see
Kid
Go away
At least the fake kid
actually had some common sense. Sure kid, we are all blind. You are such a visionary kid. Please. Please. Lead us into the light and out of the dark (uh, I mean light) blue and orange abyss.
of course you thought the fake kid had common sense ....
he was a username that one of you 'kool aid kids' created !
I can't figure out why..
some of these people don't post on vandal related stories, and leave us 'kool aid' drinkers to our happiness.
Wow kid...
What a surprise. Here you are, again talking about your beloved vandals. NO ONE CARES! The Broncos are on the verge of perhaps their biggest game ever and you are bringing up the vandies. Again. Your two favorite topics. Trying to justify your idiotic comments and the vandals. NO ONE CARES about either. The week of November 12th bring it all on here.
No one says Bley schedules awesome games. No one is bragging about Bley. He has hired the coaches and staff dummy. The same coaches you say took us to where we are today.
JL
Bley hasn't had to "hire" a coach since 1998 and the only reason he hired Koetter that year is because Houston Nutt left him in a jam and Koetter's resume was right there at the top. Did you not know that Koetter had been trying to get the head coach job here starting back towards teh end of the Pokey era, and that he continually passed on hiring Koetter and even chose Nutt over Koetter?
Were you also aware that it was Koetter who brought in Hawkins and therefore partially responsible for bringing in Petersen? It was actually Hawk, but they're all close and it was their networking that has given BSU it's success.
All Bley did as far as hiring Hawk and Pete as head coaches was to sign off on the recommendation of the departing coach, so once again, just another example of how BSU's football success has landed in his lap. Keep in mind that he came in during Skip Hall's tenure as head coach, so prior to finally being pressured into hiring Koetter, his other hires were Pokey and Nutt.
Its kids only way to think the vandies are relevant
By thinking anyone will remember or care about what one of the best teams in college football said about a team no body even could find on a map. NOBODY CARES!!!!! Especially once the season starts.
this just goes to show how out of touch you are
I mention that the comments that Kustra made and recognize that his words made such an impact, that it was picked up by SI and other sports media outlets and suggest that it's things of this nature that help add fire to the fuel that Murphy has highlighted
Believe it or not, the national spotlight shines light on the negative aspects of BSU as well, but you... you're so out of touch with reality, and have such a narrow mind that you dismiss the links that Murph provided and try to twist this into some sort of Vandal thing so you can hate on it, but this has nothing to do with them. This has to do with BSU and how they're starting to be viewed in the sports world. Geez dude ...
Spent the weekend reading and watching oodles of stuff on
college football. Saw alot on BSU, but not once was Kustra's remarks mentioned. The only knock I heard was the conference they play in. Impact from Kustra's comments = 0.
Kustra's comments are just a single brick in the wall preventing
BSU from getting into the national championship game. If you spent the weekend glued to the tube and reading about BSU and rankings and national titles, then you know that it's already being said that an undefeated BSU shouln't get to play in the championship game.
In this thread that you're involved in, Murph highlights the sentiment that BSU is losing it's national love, and if you don't think that Kustra's comments have national implications then I suppose you didn't read the article that SI's Andy Staples wrote about Kustra and BSU. Andy Staples is a major playing in the sports media, which is why SI employs him, and if you don't think that his article shed negative light onto BSU, then you're a fool and if you don't think that it's a factor in the growing ant-BSU sentiment then your an even bigger fool.
Nothing positive whatsoever came from his remarks and while his remarks are no longer national news they're still out there hanging lile a noose around BSU's neck.
Fantasy land Kid...you have taken up residence...
Apparently you live in some kind of hate-filled fantasy land where achievers like Petersen, Kustra, Bleymeier and the Broncos are losers, and beer tastes like goat urine. Drink up.
.
Is it cheap, though?
spoken like a true poet
maybe you're an apprentice poet or something, anyway, I see a lot of "hate" in your post as well. ;-)
Loved/Hated
Does it matter if we are either loved or hated by national pundits or fans? Kid seems to think so. People love Texas Florida Alabama Ohio St. NOTRE DAME Michigan USC. Theres also an equal amount or more that hates them. Hates their guts. On this big stage, you are either loved or hated. What you kid, fail to get, is the vandies are neither loved nor hated across the nation. Because of Kustras comments? Geezus no man, because the vandies are irrelevant. Quit drinking that dark black kool aid.
You're right, The Idaho Vandals are irrelavant ...
You're right, The Idaho Vandals are irrelavant, as such, why are you and your fellow "kool aid kids" so consumed by them ?
It's quite pathetic that instead of debating my points, or the points made in the article links that Murph provided, you guys run for cover and attack the vandals.
Why bury your head in the sand? Oh yeah...it's a side effect of the kool aid!
Just curious ......
...... how many stories do you and the rest of the Statesman staff write about BSU in a week .
Is it really necessary to become the BSU newspaper or is it that it is just simpler to do this overkill than for the papers staff to actually do any investigative reporting ?
Enough is enough !
Hey Rocket Scientist...
He's a SPORTS writer in the SPORTS section of the paper. It's also a Sports blog rapidly approaching football season...
Get it yet?
Go read the comics...you're more suited to it...
wisdomman ?
Yes we all know what he does for a living BUT when you open up the on-line Statesman you see 3-4 or 5 stories about your beloved Broncos - my point is GET A LIFE !
By the way it's NOT in the sports section as you wrongly claimed - that would be great and it would free up the opening page for actual news . Now back to worshiping people playing a game . (?)
Ratrace 427...
I did not look at the placement, just the blog. You are correct in that respect. However..I do not think Murphy has a lot of say in where sports/football articles are placed in the online or print versions of the paper. I dont think the sports staff does either..
Wisdomman ............
....... Not to put to fine a point on our conversation but since my last post a few minutes ago there is yet another "story" about -- guess what ?
I think...
your complaint would get more consideration if presented to the Statesman people that make placement decisions. I would suggest, like it or not, that this football game is some of the biggest news in this valley or state right now. Not that there are not more pressing or important issues, ...just sayin..
Wis .........
The Statesman fills up it's on-line edition with sports because thats the level of reporting that the paper has fallen to . Their hard copy doesn't generate the kind of income that it once did and part of that can be laid at the papers over reporting of the local football team . If a person isn't a rabid fan then there isn't much on this site in the way of news .
There will be 4 or 5 more urgent stories on the Broncos yet today . sigh
I do agree
the reporing level is poor. We used to take the printed edition...then we dropped it to read on line, then went back to printed due to the amount of news omitted online...sigh to that!
Good VT BSU Analysis.....
Check it out...
http://www.nationalchamps.net/2010/edge/boise_vt/index.htm
As a Gonzaga alum, I would
As a Gonzaga alum, I would be very unhappy if the WCC basketball tournaments were not able to play games on Sunday. I don't want to take another day or two off work to go down to it.
sure murphy...
you came up with this before anyone else...
Who gives a rip
if BSU is the "darling" of football. As long as BSU wins, and we start out with such a high ranking.... I could care less if the mouthpieces for the good old boys of college football shriek at the top of their lungs.... we like being the little guy, keep "putting us in our place" so we can keep putting you in yours.
BSU will never be a four year school, BSU will never win a National Championship, BSU will never go D1, BSU will never beat UI, BSU will never win its conference, BSU will never win a bowl, BSU will never go to a BCS bowl, BSU will never win that bowl, BSU cannot be a second non AQ BCS team in the same year as tcu. BSU cannot beat TCU, and now..... finally BSU cannot win a championship at the highest level.
Bring it on!
you give a rip, that's who
or else you wouldn't have been so argumentive over the past year or so, when I attempted to tell you that BSU's national reputation was beginning to degrade and that Bley and Kustra's public comments dO nothing but harm BSU nationally.
How much more proof do you need to realize that we're being disrespected and discriminated against?
Do you not realize that the message being sent out right now is that even if we run the table and go undefeated, we're not going to get to play for a national championship? That's basically what the top TV and radio analysts are saying about us.
Are we ranked high? yep, we sure are, but the only rankings that really matter are #1 and #2. This goes back to when I said that if we go undefeated this year and end up in another Fiesta/BCS Bowl, that it would be somewhat of a consolation prize.
I just hope that we do win out and run the table and the football gods grant us the chance to prove once and for all that we do belong with the big boys and are worthy of a national championship shot despite the fact that were stuck in a non-BCS conference.
Go away 41
.
That's it? .... "Go away?" .....
figures
Fight, Fight - Hey Everybody - a Fight !! 41 got hit by Tater2
You got them going now 41. It's the fourth quarter and you are behind by quite a lot. Time to make a run.
Stand your ground.
Don't weaken.
Always reference something glowing about the Vandals in each of your posts - it drives them nuts and is how you can go for their jugulars and gut them. Its a wooden stake to their hearts.
Facts and solid research, are not important - just your opinions. You got lots of opinions and no facts, I can see that from your prior posts. Keep up the good work.
Interlace your opinions with lots of good stuff about the Vandals and hate on the Broncos, and I think you got a good shot at Closet Vandal of the Year.
Keep bouncing back, 41. Don't stop posting. You da best.
You can outlast them. You are younger than they are. They will tip over before you - they are real old and getting kinda palsified and calciumated.
If you get tired, you can always switch to your other BrocnoKid handle and give them the old Rope-a-Dope and throw further confusion and chaos onto this board.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
VNDL
Gotta luv Chris Low
Everything here just makes you appreciate what Coach Pete is doing more and more. Low key, don't say anything and leave it all on the field. Let em all talk while the Broncos are winning.
WRONG CHRIS LOW...........
http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/25407/blogger-debate-boise-state-vs-the-sec
RE Last Chris Low post...This scenario would not end anything. BSU beats SEC champ in NC game, same argument ensues..BSU can beat anyone when given a month to prepare. BSU loses in that scenario..same old argument, BSU did not belong there. Thye Hawaii debacle and BSU's Fiesta win over OK cemented these 2 arguments for a long long time. It is curious Low admits that BSU would have occasional 10 win seasons in the SEC with the normal performance of 7-8 wins. That's more of a concession than most make..
How can you argue with any of the following ....
- The cyclical nature of this league has a way of catching up with just about everybody. Boise State would experience that same roller-coaster ride.
-Winning seasons aren’t guaranteed in this league. Alabama, Auburn and Tennessee all suffered through at least one losing season last decade, and all three of those schools have either won a BCS national championship or recorded a perfect season during the BCS era.
-the Broncos would be one of those other "mighty" teams in the SEC, occasionally flirting with 10 or more wins and occasionally dipping down to seven or eight wins.
-The reality is that this is a debate that’s not going to die. That is, unless Boise State joins the SEC, which isn’t going to happen
-So maybe we get the next best thing and Boise State is paired with Alabama, Florida or one of those other "mighty" teams from the SEC in this season’s BCS National Championship Game. How’s that for a compromise? The Broncos get a chance to end the SEC’s national championship streak
Wis, the only thing he claimed that would end would be the SEC's national championship streak in the event that BSU gets there and can win it. Did you not catch the part where he said "The reality is that this is a debate that’s not going to die. That is, unless Boise State joins the SEC, which isn’t going to happen"?
Yeah DOPE
Did you not catch that in mmy post, it wouldn't go away?
Sheez...
Your post was the reason fro my comment. In it you wrote ...
"WRONG CHRIS LOW" Yup Wis, that was your title. correct?
You then reiterated that he was WRONG by writing the following:
"RE Last Chris Low post...This scenario would not end anything"
Wis, How can you say he's wrong while at the same time agree with what he's saying? He said it wouldn't go away and now you're saying it wouldn't go away, so how can you say he's wrong? All I asked was how you could disagree with the last chris low post. You do remember that you were the one who was saying he was wrong in that last entry of his, correct?
All he said that would "end" would be the SEC's national champion streak in the event that BSU could get into that game and win it. Are you saying that if that were to happen, that it wouldn't end the SEC's streak? If not, then what exactly is your beef with what he wrote? why is he wrong if that scenario played out?
Do you disagree kid...
That if BSU played the SEC champ in a NC game and won, the knock would continue to be BSU can beat anyone in a 1 game scenario with a month to prepare?
Do you disagree that if they lost (same scenario) the ongoing claim that they don't deserve to be there would continue?
For once just answer the questions as stated, which was the point of my post.....
Wis, Chris Low never said any of that
the point of your post was to call out Chis Low for being wrong. I simply asked what you disagreed with and it turns out that you do not disagree with him. So why bother making that post?
Low said the only thing that woudld end the debate would be if BSU were to join the SEC and then admitted that would never happen, so he tossed out a scenario that had BSU playing the NC game against the SEC and if BSU were to win that game, he said that it would end the SEC's national championship streak.
He never alluded to the fact that such a win would end all speculation, as you suggest he did.
To answer your question, yes.... of course BSU would still get knocked for being able to win "A" game with a month to prepare, and if they lost, then yeah, the claim that we didn't deserve to be there would ring true, after all, you say that we can beat anyone with a month to prepare, right?
This is Rocky Barber's flavor of horsehockey.
----------
"Say a prayer for the pretender..."-Jackson Browne
Eh! Darlings and dam*ed, its all semantics!
Eh! Darlings and dam*ed, its all semantics!
ESPN does drugs anyway. NEXT!!!
----------
"Say a prayer for the pretender..."-Jackson Browne
Mr. Fiskers
Have you guys read the article on obnug.com titled Mr. Fiskers would like to speak with Bob Molinaro outside? Absolutely hilarious. Its pretty long but it counters a Virginian newspaper columnist that claims the Broncos are not worthy to play in the National Championship and only got there #3 ranking because national news media is biased towards Boise State. Its a great read, funny and true. Kevan Lee is one witty dude.