This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated.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.

Believe it or not, the Cougars have a football game to play Saturday night. Yesterday's major distraction — the Big 12 inviting TCU — no doubt caused many BYU followers to temporarily forget that the San Jose State Spartans visit LaVell Edwards Stadium for an 8:15 p.m. showdown on ESPNU. Interesting story this morning in the San Jose Mercury News about a pair of brothers from Orem (Peter and David Tuitupou) who play for SJSU. Their mother works for BYU, and David was a BYU scout team member for two years. Also, here's the Tribune's main offering, a piece on defensive back Joe Sampson by Steve Luhm. My notebook today is about the return of Matt Putnam. I've covered Matt since his days as a two-sport star at Box Elder High and congratulate him on making it back to the team despite his well-documented academic struggles. Plenty of TCU-to-the-Big 12 stories out there this morning. Here's my roundup of the day's events, and how they pertain to BYU. What are the Cougars' chances now? Noticed this morning on ESPNU that Andy Katz said, "Everything I have been told is that BYU wants to remain [independent] and in the [West Coast Conference]." Dave Sittler of the Tulsa World wrote a lot of what he tweeted out yesterday, that basically BYU's chances of joining the Big 12 have dropped. "While BYU was thought to be ahead of TCU on the list of potential candidates, the Cougars' chances have reportedly dropped the past few days," Sittler wrote. "There is some rigidity at BYU in terms of what they will and won't do," said a source of the school, which doesn't play games on Sunday. "Some of it has to do with church rules, and also the way they engage with media partners." "While BYU remains a possibility, sources said Louisville would likely be next in line either if Mizzou leaves or the conference expands back to 12 members," Sittler wrote.

This morning, the internet is buzzing with news that Missouri has the votes from SEC members to make the switch, and some are saying the announcement could come as soon as today. That's good news for BYU followers who want to see BYU in the Big 12 because, if for no other reason, its an opening.

—————————- I wrote about BYU's attendance the other day, and how the Cougars are playing four straight home games. Will that cause some fans to take a week off? Here's what BYU senior center Terence Brown said he would do: "You better believe I would [buy tickets to four straight home games]," he said. "I would buy a ticket 14 times in a row. If I am a fan, I am living and dying with my team. You know, I will support them 100 percent, win or lose. You know what I mean? If I am a fan, that's how I would do it."