Again. BYU first started looking at independence in the 90's with rondo at the helm. There were several reasons that the trigger wasn't pulled not the least of which was the fact that the BOT didn't want to leave Utah high and dry to shrivel on the vine.
This would have been the correct answer in the Doman years when the fan base was livid because they couldn't see the team on TV. The confrence was also using BYU to beat up and make every body else look good we got screwed with scheduling.
When Utah left the BOT finally allowed this option to happen and that is why it went so quickly. This speed is why you misconstrue the action as a knee jerk response when it was in all reality a plan in the making for years