Reader comments
MormonTimes.com: U. football to feel a void

Elder Wirthlin loved the game for giving young men focus and direction and other developmental benefits. I wish our fans (both U. and Y.) would keep that in mind rather than the mindless trash talk we often see on these posts. Let's always remember the young men and their families in the way we behave. You can have pride in your school without trashing others.

To Aaron, who wrote this story, or to anybody at Deseret News:
Do you have any pictures of Elder Wirthlin in his playing days at the U??

We (my 20-something children especially)would love to be able to put an image with all the football stories and reminiscences we've heard over the years from Elder Wirthlin. We will miss him as a Ute and as an Apostle.

The University needs to retire #4 to honor Elder Wirthlin.

Elder Wirthlin loved people, loved football and loved helping others.

Most important, he loved the Utes! I hear that he was a pretty good football player in his day too.

He will be missed. He was a great man.

I love the picture of Elder Wirthlin that accompanies the story.

I agree with great example, while often times trash talk is vogue among the younger crowd, there is something about college that keeps us young. I love taking my 78 year old father to BYU games. People who have followed their teams for 60-70 years earn the right to be "fully vested", and usually have seen enough that all of the smack, the W-L records for the year, the hype are not what the game is about.

It is about the big picture, the memories of those 60-70 years tied into the big picture, the respect for other teams.

Classy fans.

You don't see executives in other large corporations like elder Wirthlin. Not caught up or full of himself. Very humble and caring. His football past stayed with him his whole life and he often spoke of the lessons learned on the field. Above all else however he was an apostle and disciple of Jesus Christ.

Elder wirthlin had become east high schools mentor speaker for the football team, so correct me if i'm wrong he also played at east high school, we will miss his inspired team talk with the boys on thursday nights,from ALL east high football players,and coaches from whatever year, we love you and your family thanks for going out of your way for us.

He's wearing.....RED! Okay, just kiddin'. No problem with that, I suppose.

I do think it is cool, however, that reminders of his glory days out on the gridiron continued to factor so much late in his long life.

To: Elder WirthlinBiggest Ute Fan

I believe KSL aired some pictures of Elder Wirthlin during his playing days. You might contact them through their web site.

I have always heard rumors that some of the Mormon general authorities were University of Utah alumni and would attend Utah games and even root for Utah over BYU. I always thought that was an urban legend but I guess not.

My father is a general authority and I can tell you that from what I have heard, it's about 50-50 support among the general authorities between BYU and Utah.

Thank you, fellow posters! It is so REFRESHING to read a sports-related story that doesn't quickly devolve into juvenile trash talk! (See... it can be done!) I believe many, if not a majority, of the general authorities have attended the U.

Yes, it's nice to hear uplifting comments in the realm of sports.

I for one am humbled this year (so you can guess which school I attended). In completely good natured fun, we like to point out that the general authorities who attended that other school are proof that repentance works!

Elder Wirthlin's stories always illustrated principles, not rivalries. This gentle giant will be sorely missed.

He was a fine man and a great fan. Thank you, Elder Wirthlin!

If all Ute fans were like Elder Worthlin, I would be a UTE fan.

But, but, but what about the Lord's university? It is a free country and people can root for whomever they wish.

I will miss Elder Wirthlin very much. He was an inspiration to me as I played for his team. I know his example will truly go on for many Utah players.
I know that the entire Utah Family morns with the Wirthlin Family.

Danny Davis
1994-1998 Football Offensive Guard
Go Utes !!

Several years ago when the Utah basketball team had a phenomenal run at the NCAA post-season tournament, there was a special parade downtown for the team members. When the team passed the Church Administration Building, all three members of the First Presidency (Presidents Hinckley, Monson, and Faust), who were also all U alumni, were on the steps, as I recall, sporting red, and waved to the team. The article said that it meant a lot to the members of the team to see all three of them smiling and waving. The University of Utah is a great university and is a real credit to the state of Utah. The Utah-BYU rivalry is just that, a rivalry.

Now, as to the idea of retiring Elder Wirthlin's jersey--I think that's an awesome idea. It's too bad it didn't happen before he died. I don't know what the university's criteria are for such an honor, but I certainly like the idea.

By the way, my wife and I are BYU alumni and our son is a recent graduate of the Marriott School of Management. But that has had no negative effect on the respect I have for the U of U.

My favorite story was when he talked about a wrong football score that was 107-0 (or so) and I think he was on the losing team. So funny!

His only flaw, I think.

A prime example that not all "yewts" or "ewets" are stupid, drunk, foul mouthed, rude, crude, or whatever else you might say about them. When so many general authorities have attended the U and sport red on game day please don't generalize everyone. There's plenty of proof against it.