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There was no shortage of topics that were covered Wednesday morning when BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe spoke to the media in one of his semi-annual addresses. In addition to the usual questions about conference affiliation, future scheduling and TV deals, Tom fielded a lot of questions about the recent shake-up on the Cougar’s football staff. He also addressed a few questions regarding the basketball program, what’s going on with Nick Emery and his overall performance as AD.
Overall there wasn’t any breaking news that came out of the meeting. Mostly Tom confirmed BYU’s continued progress as an independent, their desire to join a P5 conference if available and his overall trust in Kalani Sitake and Dave Rose.
Here is a quick breakdown of each of the topics by way of the tweets of those who were in attendance.
The firing of Ty Detmer and his legacy at BYU
While there were a few questions about the new staff it seemed as if Tom spent a good amount of time talking about Ty Detmer, as it related to how he was brought onto the staff and the nature of his departure.
Holmoe on Detmer's release of football duties: "He might be the most beloved BYU football player ever ... I am grateful for how he's handled it."
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) January 24, 2018
Holmoe said Ty Detmer is under contract for the next year and had discussions about possibly staying on in the AD but he wanted to keep his options open.
— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) January 24, 2018
"Convos were great."
"It was a hard thing."
Holmoe's role in bringing Detmer to BYU? Holmoe said he had talked to Ty before about returning to BYU and he told Kalani that Ty would possibly be available. Tom said both he and Ty knew it would be risky returning to BYU.
— Jeff Call (@AJeffreyCall) January 24, 2018
Holmoe said it "came down to a feeling for Kalani" to release Detmer and make changes. Asked why Detmer didn't get one more year to right the offensive ship, Holmoe said Sitake will have to answer that question.
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) January 24, 2018
The new offensive staff and their salary mark
Holmoe said this is the most money for salaries ever allocated to a BYU football coaching staff in school history. He was "involved" in the hiring of new OC Jeff Grimes, but it was Sitake's call in the end.
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) January 24, 2018
Kalani’s standing with Tom and BYU’s requirement for an LDS head coach
It’s never been officially confirmed before but Tom did say that the head coach of the football team needs to be LDS at BYU but the assistant coaches do not.
Asked if he ever considered relieving BYU coach Kalani Sitake of his duties, Holmoe shook his head and gave an emphatic "No."
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) January 24, 2018
Not a surprise, but Holmoe reiterated, when asked, that the head football coach at BYU has to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Assistant coaches do not have to be LDS.
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) January 24, 2018
Regarding BYU’s independence, college football’s power brokers and their relationship with the AAC and MWC
When I asked Holmoe if BYU would ever bail on football independence, he said: "We're not looking right now to get into another league." Of course, he meant Group of Five league. If a P5 league came calling, BYU would go in a heartbeat.
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) January 24, 2018
Holmoe mentioned he has had discussions with conferences. (Yes, plural.)
— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) January 24, 2018
He said conferences can do what they want. The timing has to be good.#BYUSN
Holmoe said the true power brokers of major college football are the commissioners of the Power 5 conferences and Notre Dame. He doesn't believe it is out of the realm of possibility that the CFP will expand to 8 teams at some point.
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) January 24, 2018
Holmoe said Mountain West Conference's stance toward BYU has improved since Cougars left in 2011. Says he talks a lot to commish Craig Thompson. Both sit on NCAA basketball selection committee.
— Jeff Call (@AJeffreyCall) January 24, 2018
Holmoe said there was a freezing period with relationships from some of the MWC AD's when BYU left but that has passed.
— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) January 24, 2018
He said he has talked to all of the AD's about future games.
BYU was close to a game with Air Force about a year ago.#BYUSN
Tom Holmoe said he has a good relationship with AAC commissioner Mike Aresco.
— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) January 24, 2018
He says he is aware of all possibilities regarding BYU's future options outside of independence.
"I'm not blind."#BYUSN
Addressing Nick Emery and the NCAA investigation
On the status of Nick Emery, who withdrew from school in the wake of personal issues and an NCAA investigation: "We love Nick and we're doing everything we can to bring him back, make it work."
— Jeff Call (@AJeffreyCall) January 24, 2018
Holmoe on how lengthy BYU's investigation was into the Emery ordeal: "We have been working with the NCAA since Day 1." He said as soon as BYU learned about the alleged improper benefits, it contacted the NCAA.
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) January 24, 2018
BYU’s plans for future scheduling and TV deals
Holmoe said he has a football scheduling template out to 2040.
— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) January 24, 2018
He could have been kidding but I don't think he is. #BYUSN
Holmoe said there are "ongoing talks" with ESPN all the time, but negotiations for a new contract of extension beyond 2019 will "probably" begin in earnest "within the next year."
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) January 24, 2018
At one point a question was asked to Tom Holmoe about when BYUtv will be added on DirecTV in HD.
— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) January 24, 2018
Then Tom told him to ask me.
I said "That's way above me." #BYUSN
The general status of the basketball program and working with Dave Rose
Holmoe said that he has "a very unique relationship" with basketball coach Dave Rose and that he trusts Rose so much that he has assistant AD Brian Santiago handle the basketball program.
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) January 24, 2018
Holmoe said he's not aggressive in preparing for Dave Rose's eventual retirement. "It's very good where we're at. We'll discuss it when the time comes. We're not there yet."
— Jeff Call (@AJeffreyCall) January 24, 2018
It wouldn’t be a BYU press conference without a questions about Utah
Holmoe says the rivalry with Utah will continue. In discussions occasionally with Chris Hill. "Chris wants to play."
— Jeff Call (@AJeffreyCall) January 24, 2018
And last but not least, Tom’s pick to win the Super Bowl
Finally, Holmoe is picking the Patriots to win the Super Bowl -- but not because of ex-BYU player Kyle Van Noy. "I'm taking Tom Brady," he said.
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) January 24, 2018