Some fences appear mended between BYU, Mountain West Conference

Cougars leave the field during pre-game as BYU plays Idaho in the Cougar's final home football game on Nov. 10 in Provo.

Tom Smart, Deseret News

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Editor's note: This is the seventh in an occasional series examining the issues related to BYU scheduling football games as an independent.

PROVO Its been a few years since BYU announced it was leaving the Mountain West Conference to pursue football independence.

While the league and its members werent happy about the Cougars departure some vowed to never schedule BYU again it appears some fences have been mended.

We actually have a very good relationship with Mountain West Conference people, BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe said, referring to commissioner Craig Thompson and his staff. Theyve been helpful to us in scheduling with the teams in the conference that want to schedule us.

Four MWC teams appear on future Cougar schedules, including three (Utah State, Boise State and Nevada) this year. BYU has a home-and-home with UNLV in 2014 and 2015.

We have a deal with (UNLV) and (MWC officials) were really helpful with that, Holmoe said. I dont really foresee a problem with us. Individual teams in the conference? Well see how that goes.

Utah State, which is entering its first season in the MWC, has been a longtime opponent for BYU. The two teams have three games scheduled through 2015.

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Some fences appear mended between BYU, Mountain West Conference