In Utah, they call it - "The Y". Gag me with a book of Mormon.
More than 50 programs in major college football history have tried the independent route, and several — including Utah State — have struck out on their own more than once, without the benefits of conference affiliation.
Heading into the 2010 college football season, three independents remain: Army, Navy and Notre Dame, which has been an independent throughout its long and glorious — but fading — football history.
Perhaps that’s why many college football experts say that Brigham Young University could be making a big mistake. The Cougars were on the verge of declaring their independence Wednesday before their plan was sabotaged by the conference to which they currently belong, the Mountain West Conference.
The Mountain West Conference is the conference I watch most closely - it's home to my beloved UNLV Rebels. So yeah - I hate BYU and the huge contingent of obnoxious fans that litter the Thomas & Mack during basketball games and converge on Sam Boyd Stadium every two years for the home and home series. I had a BYU family sit behind me two seasons ago for a game and it almost got messy. Hell, it was messy in the line to get through security as they all talked trash - at a road game. Classy.
BYU has until Sept. 1 to inform the Mountain West Conference that it is bolting if it hopes to strike out on its own for the 2011 season. Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson confirmed in a conference call Thursday that the Cougars were on the precipice of announcing independence the middle of last week — pending the approval of their owner, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints — but had to back away when plans to park their other sports in the WAC hit a major snag.
Worth repeating -- pending the approval of their owner, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
BYU fans believe they have some "great institutional reputation", others might consider it has a "great institutional reputation of arrogance". I'm of that opinion. Thinking that BYU is arrogant? ---> That's not exactly an exclusive club.
BYU -- Just go already. I'd love not to sit next to you at games.
