Another Reason Why the PAC-10 Would Be Foolish to Pass on BYU.

It has been said that BYU would be good for the PAC-10 because of the number of Latter-Day Saints in the PAC-10 footprint.  Some say that BYU could have a Notre-Dame effect on the PAC-10.  The LDS Church does not build temples in areas where there are few active Latter-Day Saints.  Look at how close the current PAC-10 schools are to LDS temples.

Arizona State, Tempe, Arizona.  Closest LDS Temple, Mesa, Arizona.  Distance: 4 Miles
University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.  Closest LDS Temple, Mesa, Arizona.  Distance: 116 Miles
UCLA, Westwood, Los Angeles, Closest LDS Temple, Los Angeles, California.  Distance: 2 Miles
USC, Los Angeles, Closest LDS Temple, Los Angeles, California.  Distance: 13 Miles
Stanford, Palo Alto, California.  Closest LDS Temple, Oakland, California.  Distance: 33 Miles via CA 84
University of California, Berkley. Closest LDS Temple, Oakland, California.  Distance: 7 Miles
University of Oregon, Eugene.  Closest LDS Temple, Portland, Oregon.  Distance: 104 Miles
Oregon State University, Corvalis.  Closest LDS Temple, Portland, Oregon.  Distance: 77 Miles
University of Washington, Seattle.  Closest LDS Temple, Bellevue, Washington: Distance: 12 Miles
Washington State University, Pullman.  Closest LDS Temple, Spokane, Washington: Distance 87 Miles

Average: 50.6 Miles: 6 Temples, 10 Schools.  UCLA is closer to their nearest temple than the University of Utah is to Temple Square (2 miles).

Take at look at the Mountain West Conference for Comparison, excluding BYU or Utah.

Air Force, Colorado Springs.  Closest LDS Temple: Denver: Distance 49 Miles
Colorado State University.  Closest LDS Temple: Denver: Distance 85 Miles
University of Wyoming. Closest LDS Temple: Denver: Distance 165 Miles
Texas Christian University.  Closest LDS Temple: Dallas: Distance 42 Miles
University of New Mexico.  Closest LDS Temple: Albuquerque: Distance: 11 Miles
UNLV.  Closest LDS Temple: Las Vegas: Distance 12 Miles
San Diego State.  Closest LDS Temple: San Diego: Distance 16 Miles

Average: 54 Miles, 5 temples, 7 Schools