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BYU football: Biggest takeaways from Tom Holmoe’s Q&A

By Nathan Cunningham

Feb 4, 2017; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars head coach Dave Rose receives the game ball after winning his 300th game presented by (left to right) Cosmo, Brigham Young Cougars Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe, and Senior Associate Athletics Director Brian Santiago after the game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots at Marriott Center. Brigham Young Cougars won't the game 73-62. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2017; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars head coach Dave Rose receives the game ball after winning his 300th game presented by (left to right) Cosmo, Brigham Young Cougars Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe, and Senior Associate Athletics Director Brian Santiago after the game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots at Marriott Center. Brigham Young Cougars won't the game 73-62. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports /
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Athletic Director Tom Holmoe addressed the media taking, fielding questions about BYU football, basketball, expansion and more.

BYU football and BYU basketball were the focal points of Tom Holmoe’s media question and answer session today. There were no huge bombshells dropped, but there were some really interesting tidbits.

From BYU’s contract with ESPN to Notre Dame to Dave Rose’s future, a lot was covered.

Here are some of the biggest takeaways.

The Notre Dame situation is a win-win

Everyone knows how Notre Dame bounced on the Cougars after joining the ACC. Holmoe still has hopes that the Irish will come to Provo, making the series a two-for-one, but he said BYU is in a good spot either way.

If Notre Dame comes to Provo, Cougar fans can watch a storied opponent. If they decline, then BYU, according to Holmoe, gets a “big pay day.”

On BYU’s ESPN deal

There’s two years left on the deal, so Holmoe said it’s about time to get cracking on a new contract.

The AD said the relationship with ESPN is a good one, and added the shift from cable to digital won’t affect erode that.

Holmoe also dismissed any notion that BYU wouldn’t be with ESPN in the future.

“We’re going to be with them… I think we grow together.”

ESPN will decide BYU football’s bowl

Holmoe said BYU is working with ESPN right now to determine a 2017 bowl destination.

“I pretty much leave that up to ESPN because we’re not in a position to say what we want,” Holmoe told The Universe.

How close was BYU to the Big 12?

While many are thinking the whole expansion thing was just a way to get more money out of TV partners, Holmoe believes the Cougars were close to getting in.

He said he felt “really good about” expansion and added he doesn’t think the Big 12 “misled” them.

Regardless, not many Cougar fans will be rooting for the Big 12.

On financial stability

Bronco Mendenhall famously said Independence wasn’t sustainable.

Tom Holmoe disagrees.

Next: Reliving Jimmer's best games

Holmoe cited increased donor support (Kalani Sitake helped with that as well) and the ESPN contract, but he’s not worried about finances.

“It doesn’t hurt you financially,” he said. “It’s just really a matter of what’s comparable.”

Honoring LaVell Edwards in 2017?

Holmoe told the media that BYU and BYU football have “some plans” to honor the late legend, but declined to get into specifics. He did say there are multiple ideas, and that it may play out of the next few years.

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