This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated.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

Earlier today, Chip Brown of Orangebloods.com, a website devoted mostly to coverage of University of Texas football, posted the following on his Twitter account: "Sources tell Orangebloods.com BYU is no longer a candidate to join the Big 12 because BYU wants to be independent." Several others have posted similar statements the past five days or so quoting anonymous sources, as Brown did — since TCU got the Big 12 invite last Thursday — but Brown has shown before that he is indeed privy to some of the inner workings of the conference realignment process. After all, he's the first reporter that I'm aware of to suggest that TCU had replaced the Cougars as the league's primary target to replace Texas A&M. He was right. After BYU football practice tonight, coach Bronco Mendenhall answered more questions about conference realignment, and whether he prefers that BYU join a BCS conference, or remain an independent. Former Tribune sports writer Patrick Kinahan, now a morning talk show host on KFAN radio in Salt Lake City, posited the questions.

Here are the ones that pertain to independence and the Big 12: On whether he's offered any recommendations to BYU administrators about independence vs. joining a conference: "The only thing that I have recommended is access to the top-tier bowl games. And that's the BCS system. If joining a conference would allow us that, then I would prefer that over independence. If we could have independence and that [BCS access], I would prefer that. But we got to get access." So what if you got independence, but not good enough access: "Then, if we had a conference invitation, my recommendation would be to take it." On whether he would be frustrated if BYU administration turned down an opportunity to go to a BCS conference: "I would be supportive of whatever they chose. Because like many people that come into my office, they come in with an agenda with one perspective that doesn't account for a lot of other things. And I am sure from my view as a football coach, I don't see everything that an athletic director or president sees as well. I trust them, and I think they would make a wise decision. But I would give that input." On whether he's comfortable not having a significant say: "Oh, I think I have a significant say, and I don't think it would ever get to a point where I didn't."

On getting emails from fans about independence/possibly joining a conference: "I hear from fans about every topic. To be very blunt, in my first three years, I answered every email myself. I don't do that anymore. My secretary screens most of them. If they are asking [about conference realignment] they are not making it to me. I found that even responding to them personally didn't seem to satisfy them, so I just have other things going on. I am sure they have opinions. I just don't know what they are."

———————————- It wasn't raining this afternoon in Provo, but the Cougars went inside the Indoor Practice Facility to practice today. They usually go outside on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but Mendenhall said the outdoor field is in bad shape and really torn up. When it is wet, it gets worse. "When there is moisture, it takes a long time to dry out. It is slippery, and there's more chance of our guys getting hurt out there than there is in here. So if stays sunny for a couple of days, I would love to be outside. But the field won't handle it right now." It is obvious that Riley Nelson will be the starter at quarterback on Saturday against Oregon State. Nelson acknowledged after practice that he's getting the bulk of the reps now with the first-team offense. Mendenhall said it isn't easy keeping all the quarterbacks involved at practice, especially No. 3 guy James Lark and No. 4 Jason Munns. "It is a really good question. Not so much for the backup, and really not for the scout team quarterback, because he's leading the team everyday, but for No. 3, that is really difficult," Mendenhall said. "A lot of times, just meeting with them privately, not even in an interview setting, but just having a conversation in my office, or having coach Doman do the same thing, that's about all we can do [to keep them involved]. Because there aren't enough reps." Mendenhall was asked if he's prepared to have Heaps "just stand there" during games for the rest of the season. "I am prepared to play the quarterback that is the most productive, and will help our team do its very best and reach its potential the rest of this year. My guess is that it will take more than one quarterback. That's my guess," he said.