BYU hasn't been contacted by Big 12, AD Tom Holmoe says

Provo • Brigham Young University, which will begin its first season as a football independence in three weeks, has not been contacted by the Big 12 conference about the possibility of joining that league should Texas A&M leave it for the Southeastern Conference, BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe said Saturday.

Moments after the Cougars completed their first scrimmage of preseason camp at LaVell Edwards Stadium, Holmoe addressed the issue that has spawned countrywide talk regarding the future of the conference alignments.

"Well, I think there is something going on," Holmoe said. "From our perspective, we have not been contacted by anybody. Never have.

"It is our feel that we are going to move forward. We have a big, big football season ahead of us, and there are a lot of things going on right now within our program that move us forward to independence, [such as] ESPN and BYU broadcasting. So our strength is moving ahead," Holmoe said.

The athletic director declined to say whether BYU has a buyout clause with the West Coast Conference, where most of its other sports have been placed.

Last August, BYU left the Mountain West Conference, signed an eight-year deal with ESPN and announced a six-game series with Notre Dame and an agreement with the Western Athletic Conference to provide selected football opponents for the next two seasons.

Holmoe said BYU is happy with that move and has no regrets.

"The most important thing is we have our partners, and our relationships that we are moving forward with in a strong manner," he said. "Certainly, regarding football and what we would do, I am not going to get into anything because nothing has even been said."

Holmoe said several times in the three-minute interview that no conferences have come calling.

"When our name is brought up by a commissioner of a conference, maybe that would be serious," he said. "But we have not received any calls. I have not talked to anybody. This is similar to how it was back a year and a half ago. A lot of people are speculating, and we are not. We are moving forward fast."

Asked if he would like to be receiving those calls, Holmoe said it doesn't matter.

"No. That's speculation," he said. "Like right now, I would like to be playing good football like we did today, and I can't wait to play the first game."

drew@sltrib.com

Twitter: @drewjay