BYU Football: 10 Reasons the Cougars Are Better Off Independent

Just when you thought it was safe to get excited about college football season, BYU dropped a bombshell: they had elected to leave the Mountain West Conference, which, at summer's mid-point, had four strong teams in it, and is suddenly down to just two.

They were going to the land where angels fear to tread, but the Irish do not: Independent football status.

Many saw this as the end of what has been an excellent run of BYU football, but the Cougars' goose is far from cooked. In fact, this could be the best thing to happen to the program since Steve Young. 

Here are 10 reasons why. 

10. Notre Dame

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13 Aug 1997: A view of Touchdown Jesus at newly renovated Notre Dame Stadium during Media Day in South Bend, Indiana. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Stockman /Allsport

That's right folks. Notre Dame is a perfect case study for how a school can be successful and remain independent. Do the Cougars have Notre Dame's pedigree? No; but they have more than say, Florida Atlantic. 

It's worked out ok for Notre Dame, there's no reason why it can't do the same for Brigham Young.

9. Religion

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LAS VEGAS - DECEMBER 22: Quarterback Max Hall #15 of the Brigham Young University Cougars looks to pass against the Oregon State Beavers during the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium December 22, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/G

BYU is a 98 percent Mormon campus. Many in the media (myself included) refer to them as the "Stormin' Mormons."

There are two football schools in FBS who are closely associated with religion: BYU and Notre Dame. And the Domer's can't touch the Cougars' zeal for the Church of Latter Day Saints. 

Religion and big time conference football don't mix well. So it makes sense for Brigham Young to go rogue.

8. Making Waves

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PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 1: Vice President of ESPN Dave Brown announces a eight year TV deal with BYU when their football team becomes independent in 2011 separating from the Mountain West Conference, September 1, 2010 in Provo, Utah. The remaining BYU spor

When the Cougars announced this decision, it made the Cougars more relevant in the college football universe since the days of Steve Young. 

People cared about BYU before this; they'd had a long run of success the last 10 years, and didn't look to be slowing down. 

But this guarantees media presence at all of their games this season. This guarantees media presence at all of their games next season. It certainly rocked the college football boat, and that was the idea. 

7. Recruiting

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SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 17: Max Hall #15 of BYU Cougars runs the ball and avoids getting tackeled by Jerry Milling #34 of San Diego State Aztecs at Qualcomm Stadium on October 17, 2009 in San Diego, California. BYU Cougars defeated the Aztecs 38-28 (Photo by

This might seem odd, but hear me out. Prior to this move, the Cougars were excellent recruiters in Utah, and among the LDS population in the U.S. But now, they're going to broaden that base. Why? They're no longer regionalized. Everyone could hear about BYU, just like...wait for it...Notre Dame. 

6. Their Fan Base

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PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 19: Brigham Young University Cougars fans during the game against Florida State Seminoles at La Vell Edwards Stadium on September 19, 2009 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak via Getty Images)

BYU's fan base is unique. Much like the Irish, they are the most well known school affiliated with their religion. 

That means the Cougars have a potential bandwagon numbering in the millions. Who hadn't been able to watch them very often, while they were tied up in the MWC's TV deal. 

Now, they can draw that fan base in, and reap the cash benefits. 

5. Bronco Mendenhall

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PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 19: Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall of Brigham Young University Cougars walks onto the field prior to the game against Florida State Seminoles at La Vell Edwards Stadium on September 19, 2009 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Melissa Majchrza

Mendenhall is BYU's underrated head coach. He took over for Gary Crowton in 2005, and the Cougars haven't looked back. But Mendenhall's success has been overlooked by the general public for some time now. 

The move to independent status can't help but boost Mendenhall's Q-rating. Could he leave? Maybe; but I have a feeling he's committed to helping BYU stay on the map. 

4. A New TV Deal

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PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 1: BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe announces that BYU football will become independent in football in 2011 separating from the Mountain West Conference, September 1, 2010 in Provo, Utah. The remaining BYU sports will become affili

Let's get one thing straight: The MWC's TV deal sucked. Out loud. 

BYU didn't like the TV deal, nor have they ever. This provides them with the chance to get their own deal, and get a bigger piece of the college football TV pie. 

Big TV dollars equal big money for the university. 

3. Scheduling

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FORT COLLINS, CO - NOVEMBER 01: Wide receiver Rashaun Greer #84 of the Colorado State Rams has a pass broken up by safety Kellen Fowler #16 of the Brigham Young Cougars at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium on November 1, 2008 in Fort Collins, Colorado

A shift to the independent lifestyle frees the Cougars from the constraints of a conference schedule. They will no longer be bogged down by having to play Colorado State, UNLV, and Wyoming every year. 

If they want to play Michigan on the road, they can. If they want to play Notre Dame in a holy war, they can go right ahead and do it. They can schedule any way they want; hard or easy. Which leads us to...

2. Bowl Games

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LAS VEGAS - DECEMBER 22: Head coach Bronco Mendenhall and quarterback Max Hall #15 of the Brigham Young University Cougars celebrate their 44-20 victory over the Oregon State Beavers in the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium December 22, 2009 in La

With so much of the major bowl berths being determined by strength of schedule, the Cougars can now choose their own strength of schedule. This enhances their profile for major bowl games, and gives them a flexibility they've never had before. 

They could walk into a BCS game once this thing kicks in. Which brings us to number one...

1 The BCS

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 07: Head coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate with the BCS Championship trophy after winning the Citi BCS National Championship game over the Texas Longhorns at the Rose Bowl on January 7, 2010 in Pasadena, Calif

In 2 years, the BCS deal is up. The conferences will be re-evaluated to determine who merits an auto bid. If BYU plays it's cards right, it could well get the same kind of set up that Notre Dame has. Particularly if, in their first season as independents, they put up a gaudy record against elite competition.

The pot is sweet for the Cougars. All they have to do is grab for it.