This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
No doubt about it, the Big East and BYU are deep into negotiations to have the Cougars join that far-flung league as part of its newly forming western division along with Boise State, SMU, Houston and, possibly, Air Force. It is what I've been primarily writing about the past few days, including this iteration in this morning's newspaper about how crucial the Big East's status as a BCS automatic-qualifying conference is to the Cougars in the talks. It is the main reason BYU is interested, obviously. The Associated Press moved a story yesterday saying that BYU is the Big East's primary focus right now, a story published in hundreds of newspapers across the country today. It is pretty much what the Tribune reported Tuesday morning and published Wednesday. "A person with knowledge of the conference's expansion plans tells The Associated Press that Big East officials have made adding BYU a priority as they try to become a 12-team football conference," notes AP writer Ralph Russo. ———————- Steve Luhm attended BYU football practice last night and filed this report about how injured quarterback Riley Nelson showed up at practice just a few days after being released from the hospital. It's starting to look like Nelson won't make the trip to Hawaii for BYU's Dec. 3 game against the Warriors. However, he should be ready in time for the bowl game on Dec. 30. Of course, Saturday night is Senior Night as the Cougars play host to New Mexico State in their final home game. Some 19 seniors will be honored, but only 17 will be dressed and available to play in the game. Linebacker Jordan Pendleton, of course, recently had knee surgery and won't play. Neither will Steven Thomas, the safety whose career was ended midway through his junior year by concussions. Both Pendleton and Thomas will receive their senior blankets after the game with the other 17 guys. "Resiliency. And success," said Bronco Mendenhall when asked what he will remember about the seniors. "They've won a lot of games and they've helped our program do a lot of different things over their span here. "They've [dealt with] a pretty unique approach, in terms of program philosophy, and they've endured the whole thing and they've embraced it. So I kind of view them — not as the initial pioneer group that came in — but they were the ones that continued it and carried it on."—————————- Thanks to all those readers who responded to my request for their opinions on the 2011 BYU football schedule — the late starts, Friday games, quality of opponents, etc. My article on the season of discontent (to some fans) will be posted online later today, and in Friday's newspaper. I wasn't able to reference very many fans' responses in the article, but plan to publish most of the responses on this blog either tonight or Friday morning. If you sent me a note and don't want it posted in this space, let me know via email at drew@sltrib.com before 9 p.m. Thursday night.