▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 9 . ▁ ▁Independ ence ▁( 2 0 1 1 – present ) ▁On ▁September ▁ 1 , ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁BY U ▁announced ▁it ▁would ▁begin ▁competition ▁as ▁a ▁football ▁independent ▁starting ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁season , ▁primarily ▁due ▁to ▁years ▁of ▁fr ustration ▁with ▁the ▁lack ▁of ▁TV ▁coverage ▁in ▁the ▁Mountain ▁West ▁Conference ▁and ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Ut ah ' s ▁departure ▁for ▁the ▁Pac - 1 2 ▁Conference . ▁That ▁same ▁day , ▁BY U ▁announced ▁an ▁ 8 - year ▁contract ▁with ▁ESP N ▁in ▁which ▁ 1 1 ▁games ▁would ▁be ▁broadcast ▁on ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁ESP N ▁networks ▁and ▁BY U ▁would ▁retain ▁the ▁rights ▁to ▁util ize ▁its ▁on - camp us ▁broadcast ing ▁facilities ▁and ▁nation ally ▁synd ic ated ▁station . ▁The ▁C oug ars ▁were ▁reported ly ▁considered ▁for ▁inv itations ▁by ▁the ▁Big ▁XII ▁Conference ▁and ▁former ▁Big ▁East ▁Conference ▁for ▁all ▁sports ▁during ▁this ▁period , ▁but ▁neither ▁opt ed ▁to ▁add ▁BY U . ▁ ▁In ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁C FL ' s ▁Most ▁Out standing ▁Canadian ▁Award - w inner ▁Ben ▁C ah oon ▁joined ▁the ▁co aching ▁staff ▁as ▁the ▁wide ▁rece ivers ▁coach . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁BY U ▁changed ▁quarter back s ▁mid - season ▁from ▁s oph om ore ▁J ake ▁He aps ▁to ▁junior ▁R iley