BYU to leave Mountain West after 2010-11 for football independency

The Cougars' other programs will compete in the West Coast Conference

After in-state rival Utah left the Mountain West Conference to join the Pac-10, BYU knew that the league's chances of earning BCS inclusion had taken a blow.

Brigham Young is one of college football's tradition-rich programs. The Cougars are known for producing high-flying offenses and great quarterbacks. Signal-callers such as Steve Young, Jim McMahon, Ty Detmer and Robbie Bosco have donned the blue and white. The "Y" won the 1984 national title under legendary coach Lavell Edwards and has won ten or more games in each of the last four seasons--including 11 in three of those campaigns--under Bronco Mendenhall.

BYU is one of the few programs left in the nation that has the ability to survive without all the benefits of conference affiliation.

However, the Cougars are doing everything they can to become the "Notre Dame" of the West and earn their own special inclusion into college football's BCS.

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Speaking of the Fighting Irish, BYU has reached an agreement on a new six-game deal with the Golden Domers.

Additionally, the Cougars have ensured their own television package, as they're games will broadcast on ESPN over the next eight years.

While it's a move that may not have been expected prior to Utah heading to the Pac-10, one doesn't have to examine the situation too hard to see why BYU is choosing to cash in on its potential to be self-sufficient.  

By: Thomas "Bubba" Rosenbaum
DFN Sports Staf Writer