BYU AD Tom Holmoe yesterday "shed more light on why BYU went independent in football" in '11 and "how the quest to join a Power Five conference is progressing, or not," according to Jay Drew of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. Holmoe, appearing on San Diego's XEPRS-AM ahead of the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, said, "We would have loved to have been (invited) to a Power Five conference. That's where the best games are played. That's where the best championships are played. They advance to the best bowl games. There is no question that is the ultimate for college football. ... We made a venture to go independent to get to that point. We were very close, but it just didn't happen." Holmoe said that BYU "went independent 'to get on TV more,' so in that sense it is working." He said that BYU was on national TV more than "any program in the country except one through the first seven weeks of the season" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 12/22). Holmoe also said that a "home-and-home series with former Mountain West Conference nemesis San Diego State 'is the one game we really want.'" Holmoe: "We started some talks. I really think it can happen. It was a great rivalry. When BYU left the Mountain West Conference, there were some hard feelings and it was tough to get right to the negotiating table on games. ... We’re hoping we can get something done and play a home-and-home in the future" (DESERET NEWS, 12/22).
