This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Popping in from vacation to play a little catch-up on the BYU sports scene, because the week has already been full of plenty of BYU-related news and happenings. Wednesday, the conference BYU is entering on July 1 (for most sports except football), the West Coast Conference, announced an eight-year contract extension with ESPN. Some 48 WCC men's basketball games will be televised annually by ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU. Here's the Tribune's report on the new deal, with some comments from basketball coach Dave Rose. And here's a good look from Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News at how the addition of BYU sweetened the deal. ————————————- Wednesday's other big announcement was that the BYU-Hawaii football game on Dec. 3 this season will be televised nationally on ESPN2. Now we know that the Cougars will appear on an ESPN platform at least seven times this season (probably more, since the TV situation for the remaining five games have yet to be announced). Perhaps lost in the ESPN announcement is the fact that BYU and Hawaii have signed a long-term contract that could include as many as nine additional football games between the two former rivals (from their WAC days) through 2020.Here's what we know so far regarding kickoff times and television plans: Sept. 3 — BYU at Ole Miss, ESPN, 2:45 p.m. MDT Sept. 10 — BYU at Texas, ESPN2, 5 p.m. MDT Sept. 17 — Utah at BYU, ESPN2, 7:15 p.m. MDT Sept. 23 — Central Florida at BYU, ESPN, 6 p.m. MDT Sept. 30 — Utah State at BYU, ESPN, 6 p.m. MDT Oct. 28 — BYU vs. TCU at Arlington, Texas, ESPN, 6 p.m. MDT Dec. 3 — BYU at Hawaii, ESPN2, 5:30 p.m. MST—————————————— A couple of BYU baseball players were picked up in the Major League baseball draft earlier this week, in case you missed that news. Both players were taken in the 29th round. Pitcher Matthew Neil was the 883rd pick overall by the Florida Marlins. Pitcher Taylor Cole was the 889th pick overall by the Toronto Blue Jays. Neil, from Mesa, Ariz., had a 6-4 record with a 2.42 ERA and 73 strikeouts last season. Cole, from Las Vegas, had a 5-5 record with a 2.99 ERA and 67 strikeouts.——————————————-BYU senior offensive lineman Matt Reynolds continues to get more preseason All-America notice. Reynolds has been named a first-team All-American by three preseason college football preview publications. Athlon Sports, Lindy's Sports and The Sporting News have all tabbed Reynolds as a first-teamer in their 2011 season previews. Reynolds is also on the watch lists for both the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award. He was a second-team All-American in Phil Steele's College Football Preview.