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Collie calls reaction to his post-game comments 'ridiculous'

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Anonymous | 12:53 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

I love football. I have seen hundreds of games in my lifetime. I have watched players make the sign of a cross after a good play, kneel in the end zone to thank God after a touchdown, and even pray in huddles. No one comments on these actions, nor was Coach Dungy maligned when he stated after the Super Bowl that he was a Christian. In fact, he was praised. Why is there such a controversy now that one player mentioned God in an emtional interview after winning a hard fought and exciting game? The media has proclaimed the BYU-Utah game a "holy war." It seems expected that God should be mentioned. Religion is a part of who Austin Collie is and he spoke from his heart. He did not claim that God favors BYU or made Utah lose. Please don't try to create a controversy where none exists. (A middle-aged female sports fan)

Observant | 1:18 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

As a rabid college football fan for more than four decades I have seen literally hundreds of college football players give thanks to a higher power. Usually this happens after a touchdown, or a great defensive play, or verbally in post game interviews.

I have seen moments of silence, taking a knee and bowing a head in prayer (both individually and in groups), making the sign of the cross, kissing crosses (Saint Christopher Medals, and assorted other religous objects), and verbally thanking Jesus on national TV.

I think Austin makes a valid observation. Why is this ok from an african american athlete from the SEC or BIG 12 but not from a european american from Provo?

One additional observation in over four decades as a cougar fan I have noticed that the only people that ever really complain about this are from three western universitys that have four letter names that begin with a "U".

Me to | 1:20 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

Freedom of speech. Listen to some of the interviews on sports shows and them see if this kid should be treated any different for what he said. God has played a role in my life but I don't get a chance to say it and I certainly would if I could. Sorenson==jet a life.

Comments continue below

Julia | 1:21 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

Seems to me that some people were just way too eager to point the finger and scream self-righteous. The reaction to his comments have been completely irrational.

Religous Bigotry | 1:26 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

The fact is that if Collie was a baptist, or a Catholic, or anything except LDS, at any school but BYU, this would not even have been reported. The fact that he's a white LDS kid somehow makes this a story. That's religious bigotry & it's silly. Be offended if you want - if you are, then you prove your own closed-minded ignorance. This type of thing is said all the time in sports and entertainment. If I'm wrong, then each of those statements needs to cause multiple-story fervor and be met with all kinds of righteous indignation. Totally a double standard here.

Sour Grapes | 1:31 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

We know that God does not control the outcome of games. Why would He? People can be rewarded/blessed for faith or obedience.

RoadRunner | 1:32 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

Austin Collie and Anonymous are to be commended for their incisive reprimands of the KUTV sports staff and Deseret News columnist Mike Sorensen, et al, for their ludicrous commentary on Collie's totally innocent and harmless remarks. It is truly amazing what excesses these media folks will stoop to. Bravo! Austin and Anon, for putting them in their place.

Test us... | 1:39 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

Let's see how many people 'have a life' and can refrain from continuing to diss a young 20 year old man. The D News was wrong to have a follow up story. Let it die, people.

For the record, I grew up in SLC and heard this kind of philosophy many times from all sorts of people - applied to ALL KINDS of stranger events, so this is not just a BYU kind of thing. Having lived outside Utah for 30 years and now outside the US, I hear it just as much. If you have never attributed ANYTHING to the 'hand of God', go ahead and cast stones at Collie.

BYU non Mormon FAN | 1:47 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

Now that I was able to read the entire quote, the guy who wrote the column put it out of proportion. The game was awesome;either Sorensen was emotional, maybe he forgot to be objective, maybe he should learn from 99% of the Utes fans.

Interested | 1:53 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

I agree with Anonymous. Had not Collie been a Mormon from BYU, it is likely that he would have been praised for his religious ferver. I think one of the problems we have these days is that many comentators believe that "controversy sells" and if there is no conflict they seek to creat conflict in the minds of their audience for their own selfish purposes. Also, society in general seems to be more focused on finding fault with each other than in seeing value in each other. This is a sad state of affairs. (An 80 year old alumnus of both BYU and Utah)

TL | 1:58 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

I agree with Anonymous. Those that have made such a big deal of this, needs to get a life.

Army Guy | 2:22 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

Collie's right--any other school's athletes have free reign on thanking God, claiming divine intervention, or otherwise acknowledging deity. But if a BYU player says something, it's suddenly labeled "holier-than-thou." Come on people, this is ridiculous. Good for Collie for giving credit where credit is due. Did God want BYU to win? Who cares! That's not what Collie (nor any other athlete for that matter) was saying. But did God help Collie get to where he is today in terms of talent and preparation? Collie has every right to believe so, and to express it as he wishes. This is an invented controversy by some BYU-hating hacks with nothing better to do. I'm behind you Austin--and that's something nobody in Utah's secondary can say...

SJ Bobkins | 2:24 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

If Collie had crossed himself, or pointed skyward with his single index finger or stated: "I have God to thank for the victory, no one would have said word one. Since this is "The Official Year to BASH Mormons" anything goes when a Mormon acts in the same way as someone from another faith.
I've heard 10,000 winning athletes credit God or Jesus for making it all happen, teams praying for God's help to win, batters crossing themselves so God will give them the ability to hot one off the pitcher. At least 1000 times I've seen players point to the sky and say "give God the credit" (for the win)
I wonder why God didn't like the losers as much, or why a person bumped off a plane which later crashes thanks God for saving his life. Why didn't God insure that all the passengers were bumped? Why did he save this man's life or help a losing team win.
I do think God blesses those who do what he asks, but I have no idea if that goes for football. If Collie was Catholic, nothing would be said.
Let it go, leave Mormons alone!

westernsport | 3:19 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

I am a happy faithful member of the LDS faith and a returned missionary, and I have the upmost respect for BYU as an institution! BUT yes his comments were silly and uneeded. His comments suggest that Heavenly Father loves BYU and helped them convert on 4th down! Does any one in their right mind think that Heavenly Father has a favorite football team that he guides and directs?? Yikes! Unfortuanatly he embarassed the Church and made us look like a bunch of higher than thou saints. Yes I am a Ute fan, but I am also a happy member of the LDS faith and just cringe when I hear BYU fans say these things, I have to end up explaining for days to those around me that we really dont think that! BYU deserved to win because Max hall made a great play with the game on the line, not because the Lord pulled some strings from above. Please stop and think people!

Washington BYU Fan | 3:35 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

Anonymous is 100% right. And to touch on what Collie said, how many times do we see athletes in interviews that are not LDS that say practically the same thing. The say how blessed they have been, and how the Lord helped them. You hear it all the time.

Anonymous 2 | 4:14 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

These reporters are pathetic and ridiculous. They really do need to get a life. They are always trying to make something out of nothing. People see right through it and it is getting really old.

NY | 4:26 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

What is unfortunate is that Collie doesn't get it. Even after given the opportunity to clarify, he is still clueless. Very unfortunate and very embarrassing for BYU fans.

Anonymous | 4:53 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

no where did Collie say that God favors one team over another. Thanks to the media and for the internet forum pundits for blowing this way out of proportion.

ct | 5:08 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

How many times do you hear guys like T.O. say "Thanks to God" and it is like he is a hero. Many athletes thank their creator for their skills, talents and blessings related to sports, health and family. Collie did not say that BYU is God's school and that the U is evil, he simply stated that if you work hard and do your best, then you will be blessed. Be happy that Collie is humble enough to thank God, afterall, he could have caught the ball and danced around and get a penalty for unsportman-like conduct and lose the game... Oh wait, that's been done before... thanks Steve Smith for putting a little distance between the uprights and your kicker.

Anon. | 5:34 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

These plays are a combination of sheer luck and skilled players involved. I don't know how God is involved? He has bigger things to worry about rather than a trivial play ... a nanosecond of His time to drop a blessing or two to accomplish an impossible feat like breaking record for a number of TDs?

We can always give thanks to our God for health and such but to use Him in your trivial sports feat, please be careful how you use Him because the opinion is baised and one-sided ego-centric religious attitude isn't something that would reflect His example of tolerance of our diversity in our communities abroad.

ma`at | 5:52 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

I agree. What a non-controversy! Mike Sorenson's indignation at Collie's comments betray the underlying heartache of a heartbroken Ute fan. He might be more at home writing for the Trib. methinks.

Mike in Austin | 6:32 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

I have no problem with an athlete suggesting that God will help those who do their best and "live right, on and off the field". Where Austin, fans, other athletes, and all of us need to be careful is in not letting pride enter our hearts, causing us to believe we are any better than anyone else.

Whether this is a fair statement or not, I believe that is the main reason non-BYU fans have so much animosity towards BYU fans and players... and that is because many of those that follow BYU do, in fact, believe that they are somehow better. When, in fact, we know that God loves all His children.

Mike Sorenson was correct to make the conclusion he did, and I have no problem that he published those thoughts. (We were all thinking the same thing anyway, why not put it in black and white?)

BYUBlue | 6:35 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

If you get the video "Tradition, Spirit, Honor" Bronco talks about wanting to start the whole fireside thing before games, and tried (unsuccessfully) to get the first one going in San Diego. When none of the Stake Presidents or Bishops of the area thought that anyone would come, they let it go - and lost the game. After that they decided that no matter if anyone came or not, they would have a fireside. I like what Austin actually said, that if you do the right thing on and off the field you will be blessed. Doing the right thing on and off the field is available to every player on every team everywhere. I think that many of the Ute players have been blessed with a very good season as well. This has nothing to do with BYU being a church sponsored university, and everything to do with individuals or organizations as a whole doing the right things and being blessed (note that being blessed does not always mean winning games). If you believe in god, then this principle makes sense - if you don't then best of luck to you and your arm of flesh.

Ute Fan | 6:38 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

"I really think it's because I'm a Mormon white kid from Brigham Young University. Anybody else says that from any other team and it's just 'how spiritual that guy is." - Austin Collie

This is exactly what I was thinking yesterday, listening to all of the idiots calling in to the radio. Athletes all over the rest of the country are free to give thanks to their "Lord and savior Jesus Christ" but in the state of Utah people freak out if a player from the Church of Jesus Christ's school tries to praise his Lord and glory his god. Given that this is a private religious university we should be disappointed if players FAIL to give thanks and praise.

...but the Utes are still going to win next year when Collie and his Cougs come into our house!

Rich | 6:44 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

I have seen many non-LDS players give credit to the Lord for their success immediately after a football game in front of cameras and admired them for their faith and courage, at the same time realizing that there were players of equal faith on the opposing team. In fact, I have seen players kneel in prayer after games joining hands together from opposing teams. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Not that the Lord determines the outcome but his hand in the expression of our gifts and talents we should be able to freely express and acknowledge. It is good to see the expression of gratitude in either case.

Charles | 6:49 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

Austin is correct.

Would it surprise Ute fans (or the press) to learn that BYU pre-law and pre-med students also pray for and expect divine help in getting into UofU law and medical schools?

All Christians, Muslims, Jews .... pray for and expect divine help.

It also is pretty clear that God doesn't help any particular team at the exclusion of other teams since no team always wins.

Football fan | 6:53 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

I don't think the issue is his Christianity or that he was proud of his beliefs, the issue, as Mike Sorensen suggested, was that he was implying the reason why they won was because they were more righteous or deserved more of the Lord's "help". It's an issue of pride, that we're better than you, or favored by God.

Now this is assuming the article is accurately portraying both sides, based on what I read here, Collie needs to keep it on the field and leave the interviews for cooler heads. What he needed to say was that he was sorry anyone misconstrued his comments and clarify what he really meant-not attacking your critics because they take your comments for what you essentially said.

"People need to get a life" ? Sure I can understand he's upset that his comments were perhaps blown out of proportion, but he's asking for it when he starts shooting his mouth off. Maybe with the bad publicity he's caused for the "Lord's School" he won't be receiving much extra "help" in the immediate future....

Anonymous | 6:55 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

Like it or dislike it, creating controversy is the job of OpEd writers and radio talk show hosts. I agree this is ridiculous and isn't news worthy, just like the "big" story about football fans getting in fights at or after football games...oh my!

And yet....here I am reading the piece. =)

Russ in Naperville | 7:05 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

Way to standup for your self Austin. Don't let it distract you.

G. MCMULLIN | 7:07 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

MR. COLLIE, YOUR RESPONSE IS VERY WELL STATED. "BRAVO"!! YOU ARE RIGHT ON TARGET. THERE IS NO SHAME IN YOUR BELIEF!

To Anonymous | 7:06 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

Right on!!!! and Collie had right- people need to get a life. Don't bad mouth someone for having God in their life or for having faith.

AbqDave | 7:07 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

This is crazy that this is an issue. Collie is right that if he were of another race or other religion or frankly in another state, it would be a non-issue. Sounds like some people are cranky about the L.

a_little_taller | 7:07 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

C'mon, KFAN. Anything for ratings, huh? Of all the interviews after championships are won that start off with "First of all, I'd like to thank Jesus...", after all the crossing and pointing to the heavens after a good play in college and pro sports, you're going to be critical of Collie for acknowledging God after winning an important game?

Collie is absolutely right. It is ridiculous that you will take something like that and try to make a giant deal out of it. Any other player from any other school says something like that and it's acceptable. But because it's a BYU player, it's self-righteous? Sorry, not buying it.

To Collie: I, for one, appreciate that you recognize the hand of God in your life and aren't ashamed to publicly acknowledge His blessings. The world would be so much better if more people were willing to do so. Best regards.

mbd | 7:09 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

Poor Collie. Mormon white kids just can't get a break here it Utah.

Next time he might just want to thank God instead on thanking himself for being righteous.

ACC-BYU fan | 7:10 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

("That implies a higher power favors one team over another and that his team is favored for being more righteous.")
Hey, they won didn't they!

/maybe you should pray for Utah next year. heh.

********walking off dribbling a football********

Anonymous | 7:10 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

Some people have way too much time on their hands. The game is over, go back to work and do real things in life. This is a football game for crying out loud.

Danno | 7:12 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

Well said Austin Collie.

John in Texas | 7:12 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

Austin was right on. Any other athlete any place in america would have been labeled a good kid. Not so for a BYU athete. We just have to face the fact that BYU is before the world in a glass encasement. Lets
just show our metal and what it's worth by by our actions on and off the football field, basketball court, socker field, ...

Bob | 7:11 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

It's just Pat Kinahan trying to get people's attention and trying to get his name out there. It's what he does.

Barrett | 7:28 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

Amen to Collie's response.
Quit bashing Collie!
Get a life folks!

Roger | 7:29 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

I think itï¿½s pretty clear that the more righteous you are, the more successful you are in life. As the Book of Mormon says, if you obey the commandments, youï¿½ll prosper in the land. This is especially clear in sports, where it is the more righteous players and teams that win. Who was it that said, ï¿½the harder I practice, the more lucky I get?ï¿½ Luck is the politically correct term for divine intervention.

Laughingaway | 7:28 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

Collie, you poor persecuted "white Mormon kid." Don't they teach students in Provo that when you say something that stupid to a reporter, people are going to react? Of course, maybe he's right. It is reassuring to the rest of us to know that during the years when Utah has beaten BYU, it was because God was stepping in to help His Utes who were doing "what's right on and off the field."

What unbelievable hubris. It's easy to see why Ute fans resent the team down south.

Kate | 7:31 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

It was mentioned for the reasons he stated which I believe to be true, because he is a white Mormon who attends BYU. I think there is nothing wrong with what he said and that he is right.

TH | 7:36 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

Very well put.

Stupid Comment | 7:36 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

It was a pretty stupid comment. Just like when all those other athletes thank god for their win.

Talking idiots | 7:46 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

The stuffed shirt, arrogant talking idiots on the talk radio (and you know who you are!) just have to have something to fill the time with, so they create controversy where none exists. They find solutions for which there are no problems. This kind of action, ascribing divine help to a performance, is so COMMON in sports that it does not deserve any mention, but somehow this young guy gets all this hate for an innocent statement. Way to go Austin!

MIT | 7:53 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

I see players pointing to heaven all the time thanking God after they made a TD. Are they saying God helped them make the TD? I think the answer is yes they are. They are saying it was God that gave them the talents to do what they did. Many times in post game interviews they say something like they want to thank God again implying that He had a hand in their win. I think it's a way of staying humble and letting people know that you know it wasn't all you. Austin (IMO) was just implying the same thing in different words.

Amen! | 7:56 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

Amen! (Oh, wait a minute--can I say that?)

Nice Call Collie! | 8:01 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

Nothing harmed and well said.
Scott Collie, Max Hall and Harvey Unga
are going to run through the MWC
again next year and they'll run, lift,
throw, catch, study and pray and win
their way into the BSC in 2008.
Faith w/o works is dead!
Nobody works harder than these guys!!!!
GO COUGARS!

So Cal Cougar | 8:01 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007

To Anonymous: articulate and persuasive comment. To Collie: articulate and persuasive clarification/follow-up. Per Collie, we *do* need to get a life. We're in the middle of a civil war in Iraq and the constitution's been violated by the White House, for Pete's sake. We should focus on the *real* news, and not Collie's innocent comment.

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