BYU Bolting Mountain West

September 1, 2010 11:35 AM

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byu385 BYU Bolting Mountain West

After weeks of consideration, BYU has made it official. The school is leaving the Mountain West Conference to become an independent in football starting next season. The Cougars will join the West Coast Conference for all other sports starting in 2011. BYU was a charter member of the MWC when it formed in 1998, but the school is reportedly not satisfied with the league’s television contract and wants more national exposure. The decision by rival Utah to leave the Mountain West for the Pac-10 next season was reportedly also a factor in BYU’s move. Earlier this summer, the school reportedly was on the verge of announcing a deal to move all non-football sports to the Western Athletic Conference, but that plan fell apart after WAC members Fresno State and Nevada-Reno announced they were leaving for the Mountain West. BYU will become just the fourth independent in major college football, joining Army, Navy, and Notre Dame.

Anthony Hopkins

I thought BYU departure was official? I guess if a team departs from their regular conference and join another, it would become a very difficult adjustment to make. This means that each team will have to play much harder than usual. It also means in football, the average win season in a new conference is 7 to become bowl eligible. However 6 wins is not bad. This is based on conference record. In basketball on the other hand, this is based on RPI!!! This has a lot to do with schedule and the teams that they are playing against. The average win season is at least 20 wins. However, it would be very nice to win your conference championship. WOW!!!!! This is not an easy adjustment, but things can improve!!!!