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Talking about God in sports a touchy topic

that is the lamest article ever written by the D-News. Glad you came to Collie's defense when he was being picked on. If you're going to come out and say things, then you can't cry when those same things get said back to you.

thanks Amy. This is why I hate the reference to this rivalry as the holy war. I don't even like this rivalry much because of the venom surrounding religion. I do not like it and, though a devoted fan, I stay far from the fray

boo freakin hoo. You're one of about three people who actually care what those comments say. Welcome to the cruel world.

Amen!

Amy wrote an important column here. The natural assumption for any sports fan who hears a player hint that God helped him/her succeed is that in turn God refused to help the team that lost. Therein lies the rub. Was the 1980 Miracle Bowl win for BYU over SMU a blessing to the Cougs or a punishment for the Mustangs. Both were religions schools. Same for BYU's 2 wins over Notre Dame. Or BYU's three losses to Notre Dame and wins and losses against Boston College, religious schools all. One could only conclude from this that God has a good sense of humor, shining his light on one team one year and the other the next. If nothing else, he keeps serious gamblers at bay, since betting on football involving religious schools is unbearably unpredictable.

I find the "Holy War" between the Y and the U most enlightening. The vast majority of U students are the same religion as those at the Y, yet the hatred and resentment they direct at Y students is palpable. It is telling that they criticize and mock a school owned and operated by their own church, where imperfect students try to live standards.

Amy, I think that is what the bloggers have had a field day with. Collie, by his own comments, was mocking others who maybe are NOT active LDS, or who are members of other faiths. That is why they have gone off on him. With that said, I don't know Austin Collie. I do think though that he opened Pandora's Box with his comments. Danged if he does now, and danged if something goes terribly wrong. Just get healthy Austin, at least before the game in November against my beloved Utes. That way when your Coogs lose some yahoo out there will be able to say "I guess the Lord felt the Utes were living the right way".

A very well written article. I am a big sports fan, also active LDS, but I think God is a very impartial referee when it comes to sports. I believe he loves His children who line up on one side of the ball as much as he loves those who line up on the other side of the ball, regardless of religious affiliation or any other factor. As an individual athlete, sometimes the breaks go against you and sometimes they go for you, but over time they all average out. I am convinced there are some things in life that we think are vitally important to us (such as sports) that are not so vitally important to the Lord!

As a loyal fan of one of the two schools involved, I'd like to thank you for a reasonable position in what has become an outrageous and useless debate within the context of the rivalry. I love my school, but hate the sophomoric bickering between us and our rival.

I don't have a problem when athletes thank God for helping them do their best. I think the trouble starts when they imply God wanted them and not the other guy to win.

SLC'er, no, the author got it 100% right by saying she didn't know if God really did care about sporting events but it's classless and just plain mean for anyone to revel in the pain or misfortune suffered by another.

For you to say that this is the "lamest article ever written by the D-News" shows that you have not one iota of class or concern for others who don't fit into your narrow definition of what is "acceptable".

Please, by all means, tell us your real name so that caring and intelligent people can avoid having to deal with you.

Here's mine:

Dan Maloy
Enid, OK

Great article. Bronco is teaching his players to rely on the Lord, on and off the field. Is there a problem with this? Just because a player recognizes his dependency on the Lord doesn't mean he is saying he is more righteous or better than the next football player. In the words of the great missionary Ammon "Yea, I know that I am nothing: as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."

I believe this is the stance that Collie is taking, and I agree with him 100%.

Now, as far as the leg injury, who said that BYU was not going to have opposition? It is also taught that there must be opposition in all things. I don't think its a curse, it could be a blessing! A lot of people are quick to judge. Let it play out and see what happens.

Go Cougars!

I'm no expert when it comes to football and the emotions that go along with playing this very physical and popular game. But something that I've always thought of especially with in it comes to the "Holy War" is that I really don't think God cares about who wins football games. What I do think he cares about is how you play the game, how you treat your opponents and how your treat the people the other people around you.

Collie reacted poorly when asked about his comments. He had a great chance to say, "no, no, that's not what I meant." Instead, he said "People who question me on this are losers." I know he's just a kid (22 years old?), but he must have known what both of his statements meant in this state. He made one bad choice, and he compounded it with another.

None of that justifies meanspirited comments, but certainly the fun teasing is not out of line.

As for the hatred in SLC, let's not kid ourselves - clearly there is plenty of hate on both sidelines.

This article used the word "infer" when it should have used "imply."

If you read the article, the author isn't defending Collie, but basically says that he's getting what he deserves. She is just trying to point out that when you bring God into sports, it's a lose-lose situation because the athlete speaking looks like an idiot and the angry fans turn in to jerks.

I've got to say, it's a blast to be an LDS Ute fan. You are more aware of the LDS influence on the team at the U. Eric Weddle was babtized while playing at the U, thanks to the influence of other LDS teammates, most noteably Morgan Scalley (okay, and a girl).

I went to a Scott Mitchell fireside, where he said he had always planned on going to BYU, until he prayed about it. If he had gone to BYU he may or may not have been as successful, but Ty Detmer may not have gone to BYU, if Mitchell was there. If that would have happened Ty's college career may not have been as good, but he may have never had the chance to get babtized.

I agree with a comment above that if an athlete thanks God for helping them play well, that's fine. But God doesn't care who wins.

I am convinced that God did care who won a football game, ONE TIME: LaVelle's last game. There is no other explanation.

I think God does`nt care about sports.

If you are any religion and pray in the endzone it's okay, but if you are LDS it's disrespect to everyone. God doesn't care about sports, or BYU would win every game!

Very good article for that region of the country.

Down here in the south, you will NEVER separate God from football. However, I will say that my Bible belt friends are much better at being Christians at the game than people in the 'Holy War' (which it never has been). My Longhorn, Aggie, and Sooner friends all get worked up about their rivalries, and yet they never let it go too far (like the Utah fan that took a swing at my wife before the 2005 BYU Utah game). I don't know why the BYU/Utah rivalry has gotten soo ugly. It wasn't like this even 15 years ago. And its not just Utah fans. I've almost gotten into scuffles with BYU fans that refuse to be good sports.

In a culture where so many profess to be good Christians, sporting events are a great place to distinguish between those who are blowing hot air and those who practice what they preach. Those that become abusive to opposing fans, officials, etc. defend themselves by saying that its part of the game. I've never met a fan who, by being a jerk to others, has helped his team win a game.

scoring or winning is only a part of the sport formula now days..... the rest you ask? watch the end zone celebration, the home run trot... the in your face jam and the answer is clear...is that sportsmanship...or something else...