Deseret News | No coffee, smokes or ESPN at BYU

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Dick Harmon: No coffee, smokes or ESPN at BYU

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True Blue Athletic Supporter | 11:56 p.m. May 6, 2009

I have never been a subscriber to ESPN. While I do enjoy watching it from time to time, I feel better off not having it hanging there as a persistent temptation.

Only care about NFL | 12:42 a.m. May 7, 2009

ESPN's constant coverage of the NFL and Brett Favre makes me sick. I hate it! I haven't met anyone who cares. Not even the people I know from Wisconsin. We are all sick of hearing about it and honestly it was sad this morning when the best they had was hockey highlights. Motivates you to read a book thats for sure.

On the other hand I can't live without sportscenter. I know, its not good but the top 10 is must see. The other sports shows just don't have anchors that are up to snuff with ESPN. Van Pelt and co. are awesome. Plus Bill Simmons is the best writer out there and that is that. ESPN=love hate relationship.

Anonymous | 1:07 a.m. May 7, 2009

Is it just me, or was this article WAAAAAAAY to long? I lost interest at the Lede, let alone the tenth paragraph.

Comments continue below

AWW Temptation | 1:08 a.m. May 7, 2009

Quite frankly, I don't care if BYU has ESPN or the Cartoon Channel, but I"m sure the die hards are now glued to their pews trying to decide how to get ESPN to enable them to watch a well played game by UTAH

Native UT | 5:28 a.m. May 7, 2009

I would rather live with the Taliban they probably have fewer restrictions than byu. Go Utes!

Other Mark | 6:50 a.m. May 7, 2009

It is sad that so many live and die by sports. Yes, I like to watch an occasional game, but would not and do not pay for any sports programming. I would rather spend the time doing something a bit more constructive. I made the decision long ago that I would never give any money to help pay jocks high salaries.

NATE | 6:53 a.m. May 7, 2009

all campus Internet connectins get espn 360 so it's just as good if not better for access to games

Mystery Explained | 7:02 a.m. May 7, 2009

This totally explains why byu fans are so ignorant in their sports knowledge. The base all their opinions on old kbyu re-runs, as that is all they get to watch. No wonder they still think they are the better program. Thanks dick for explaining away this mystery.

Who cares | 7:06 a.m. May 7, 2009

Who cares what outsiders think. Since when did BYU or the LDS church base their decisions on what others think. This is what makes us a peculiar people. Doing the right thing.

ESPN 360 | 7:17 a.m. May 7, 2009

Why pay for ESPN on TV when you can watch it on your laptop for free?

Tom | 7:19 a.m. May 7, 2009

Way too much emphasis is put on sports these days, including by church members. BYU offers in place of ESPN another choice that cost tons less and has a strong reputation in the sports world. Perhaps if people stopped to think where true priorities lay, ESPN and indeed all sports viewing would rank very low. We need to get off our seats and away from the television and get out and PLAY sports with friends & family. Where do our priorities really lay?

Good Idea | 7:38 a.m. May 7, 2009

This is a brilliant ploy by the BYU administration. If ESPN cannot be viewed by students, they can grow a new generation of oblivious fans. They won't be able to see the stories about BYU printing T-Shirts about going undefeated, only to watch highlights of them getting pummled by TCU and Utah. They also won't have to watch highlights of Oklahoma putting a nice round 70 on the board come September. Or losses to FSU, TCU, Utah, and maybe another thrown in for good measure next season. Or another pathetic lose to a mediocre Pac-10 team in the Vegas Bowl.

The only knowledge these students will have on BYU football will be old reruns on KBYU, all wins of course because we can't show losses, and the brilliantly written articles from Dick Harmon in the Provo Herald, I mean Deseret News, that portray BYU as the true undefeated champs every season.

Bravo BYU, this will benefit your fans base for years to come.

Just a Dad | 7:52 a.m. May 7, 2009

Wow.. all this over sports. People, get a grip.

Karen | 7:55 a.m. May 7, 2009

From a sports fan and a mother/mother-in-law of 4 sports fans it will be sad to not ESPN at BYU, but in this economy perhaps it was the right choice. I'm sorry, I choose to trust our leaders. No one is forcing anyone to attend BYU. The restrictions are all in line with living and upholding the standards and values of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Though, as a student at BYU and an avid sports fan I will miss ESPN, I also don't focus my life around it. We'll find a way to manage until we graduate.

so thats why | 8:02 a.m. May 7, 2009

That must be why byu fans don't know jack about sports.

Instereo | 8:05 a.m. May 7, 2009

As long as money was the reason to take away ESPN, I'm OK with it. If it had been some form of censorship, I'd be questioning things.

ESPN has ruined sports | 8:18 a.m. May 7, 2009

That is great that finally someone has stepped up and said no to ESPN's demands for $$$$$$. I hope there is more and more of this.

It seems High School sports are making a slight come back from the downturns that took place in the 90's. It seems ESPN was a big colprit for that. Now college sports (except football) are not drawing fans.

ESPN has hurt the ability for a community to have local sports to draw one another together. ESPN has also turned local sports into business, all the way down to the pee wee's.

The best news in sports to come out in the last 10 years is BYU Idaho's intermurials. Everyone I have visited with that has participated in these say its the best sports experience they have ever had. That is coming from athletes that could have played at colleges with scholarships.

What's next, BYU? | 8:27 a.m. May 7, 2009

Another example of why nobody takes BYU seriously. This should really be helpful in gaining credibility on a National level. Besides, this will make it even harder to get recruits to sign at BYU. My guess is Bronco had something to do with this. Perhaps his new quest is to purify the airwaves. What ever happened to "free agency?" Give students the chance to choose what they want to watch. This has the looks of censorship!

WBM5 | 8:29 a.m. May 7, 2009

I am glad they did this. I work at another university and I work out at the gym. we have 4 televisions in the workout area 2 set for ESPN and 2 set for CNN!!!! I hate it. They are really boring. I don't mind some news and I don't mind some sports but really do we need it shoved down our throats. These channels don't just report news though, which is supposed to be a presentation of the facts. Most of what they offer is speculation. I don't want to hear 10 guys give their opinions/predictions over and over again. I can form my own opinions/predictions.

re: Instereo | 8:34 a.m. May 7, 2009

Yeah, because if the real reason was they didn't want you watching ESPN they would come right out and tell you that's the reason!

Are people really that naive?

ESPN overrated | 8:37 a.m. May 7, 2009

I used to watch ESPN faithfully years ago. When it sold out to big $$$$, got in bed with the BCS and started airing poker I tuned out. I love college sports, I love the MWC--I'll grow with the CBS College Sports, MTN, and Versus programming that isn't so predictable and covers programs I care about.

KBYU | 8:38 a.m. May 7, 2009

No wonder that BYU fans are delusional when discussing sports. They've only been exposed to re-runs of the 80's. With no ESPN, they completely missed ESPN's coverage of Utah going to the Fiesta Bowl when they dubbed the Utes "America's Team". Same goes for the sweet Sugar Bowl win.

Not following the crowd | 8:39 a.m. May 7, 2009

You ute fans are killing me. I can't believe the stuff you're saying about the Cougs. Nobody said Y students CANT watch ESPN, the University isn't going to give it to them in the dorms.

Never mind...Why do I waste my time trying to help ubbies see the big picture. Just go back to your dark basement room, turn on ESPN and stare at the same show for hours with drool dripping of your lip.

Daredevil | 8:39 a.m. May 7, 2009

This one time, I was able to sneak in Mtn Dew into the dorms. I know, I'm such a rebel.

ESPN forever | 8:40 a.m. May 7, 2009

When has BYU ever used cost as an excuse for not doing things? Their budget is limitless (if you don't think so, take a hard look at their athletic operation and the oodles of cash they throw at things) so there is obviously something else in play here. And what is a fall Saturday morning without College Gameday?

Bummer for the Zoobies. . .

The Rock | 8:45 a.m. May 7, 2009

Moving a few blocks off campas may not be possible.
The city of Provo apparently hates students. They have made it illegal for them to live almost anywhere off campas except just south of the university. They are even trying to force the students out of the tree streets.

The cost of housing has skyrocketed as a result of an artificially created shortage.

Provo loves the hundreds of millions being spent in the local ecomony because of BYU but can't seem to tolerate those radical returned missionaries and their wild parties.

Provo should count their blessings. Who knows what they would do if they had to deal with what goes on at Texas A&M or WSU or any other party school.

I wish the ACLU or the Federal Fair Houseing folks would look at Provo's housing laws and punish them accordingly.

No Wonder | 9:00 a.m. May 7, 2009

Wow. Is it any wonder that BYU is losing recruits left and right? Why the heck would a kid want to come to school in Provo when he can't have a Coke, watch ESPN, or go to a BCS game? I don't blame Manti for going to Notre Dame. Why come to BYU at all? For the religious experience that will change your life? Um, news for you guys. You can be a good person, and get a top quality education while having an excellent religious experience at most schools out west. Take Morgan Scalley for example. Local LDS kid, returned missionary, Fiesta Bowl Champion, temple marriage, successful coaching career. My point isn't that he is better than BYU people, but that he is the same as many successful religious people to come from BYU. BYU does not hold a monopoly on religion in higher education. Utah, Stanford, UCLA, USC, and Boise St all have top flight Institute programs. If anything, I think someone is better off being well rounded from a normal college experience.

Wymount resident | 9:02 a.m. May 7, 2009

ESPN is not a great loss, but can someone please explain to me why the campus cable system doesn't get Versus which broadcasts a number of BYU games each year? It's nice that we'll get to see one more game this fall with CBS College Sports, but it really is a travesty that I could see more BYU games with Aggie TV in Logan or with the abbreviated Comcast lineup when I lived at University Village in Salt Lake. BYU is a better university than the other two, but the cable package here really stinks.

Recruiting conversation | 9:03 a.m. May 7, 2009

Bronco -

"Son, we really want you to come to our school. We feel like you can step on the field and be a starter on our defense from day 1."

Manti -

"That's great coach, and I'm vbery interested in your program. I don't mind the distance, but will my parents be able to watch my games in Hawaii?"

Bronco -

"Of course, as long as they have the Mountain."

Manti -

"What's the Mountain?! You mean they can't watch me on ESPN?"

Bronco -

"Actually, you can't even watch ESPN on campus, and no our games are not on ESPN. I know you would like to at least see yourself on ESPN's Top Ten Plays like Utah's Sean Smith was last year, but we do things different at BYU."

Manti -

"I think I'm going to Notre Dame. Sorry coach."

Bummer...... | 9:05 a.m. May 7, 2009

Now BYU students can't sit and watch endless hours of red-necks playing poker, how will they ever survive?

In all seriousness, who cares, you can watch whatever you want off-campus, this just affects the dorms. I'm sure the sun will come up tommorow.

I really have lost interest in ESPN, they are so in bed with the BCS it's sickening. MWC games get about 5 seconds of coverage during the football season and a snoozer BCS game will get a full minute.

I love College Gameday and that's about it.

Anonymous | 9:07 a.m. May 7, 2009

re: No Wonder | 9:00 a.m. May 7, 2009

>>Wow. Is it any wonder that BYU is losing recruits left and right? Why the heck would a kid want to come to school in Provo when he can't have a Coke, watch ESPN, or go to a BCS game?<<

Actually, they can go to a BCS game. They have to provide their own travel and buy a ticket like everyone else.

Bender Rodriguez | 9:10 a.m. May 7, 2009

re: AWW Temptation | 1:08 a.m. May 7, 2009

What do you wanna bet BYU has the Disney channel? So, what's next do the ban Lifetime, E!, or Comedy Central?

My money is on Comedy Central. We wouldn't Jon Stewart corrupting all those "sweet spirits"

Re: No wonder | 9:12 a.m. May 7, 2009

Valid points on the religious angle, I believe in being well-rounded also and I did attend BYU. However, I don't know of many football players that live on-campus, so how does not being able to watch ESPN in the dorms ON campus affect them and recruiting when none of them live there?

WBM5 | 9:17 a.m. May 7, 2009

I went to college to get an education... not watch TV! I didn't have time to waste. Maybe I am the only one out there who took her college career seriously.

Also, there are more important things to spend money on. I am not even going to begin about that because if you spend all your time watching sports and watching guys talk about sports and watching guys predict what may or may not happen with sports it would just go over your head.

To: Good Idea | 9:17 a.m. May 7, 2009

"Or another pathetic lose"?

You can always tell when it is a Ute fan writing in, because they can't even use the correct word.

What a load of...lame comments | 9:17 a.m. May 7, 2009

I'm a paranoid self-proclaimed (so-called) zoobie watcher. I think my nonsensical gibberish words, like zoobie, mean something to educated people. Just look it up in the dictionary we use at the U of U. (Wow, the conspiracy theories are flying).

(Wish I had a life where any article about my rival was worthy of my ridicule). I can't believe BYU doesn't give it's students free ESPN. Don't they know what the real world is. ESPN is a part of real education, and should be in every classroom. At least dub it the source of all real sports knowledge. After all, it forms my every opinion about reality. If BYU doesn't provide ESPN (to the dorms) then surely that means students don't have a way to see ESPN at all. Doesn't it? I jump to these conclusions all on my own, all the time. Aren't I great? And it makes sense, because that better confines their whole world to the stereotype I have for them. I'm so glad I'm so much better as a Ute and base my opinion on facts.

(Please! Get a life!)

Hero of Canton | 9:21 a.m. May 7, 2009

Why am I not suprised Dick's first choice after ESPN was The View?

Beth | 9:24 a.m. May 7, 2009

Rock, are you kidding me? Since when have housing costs "skyrocketed"? In 2003 (before BYU tightened it's approved housing radius) I moved into an apartment complex off campus. I paid $230 a month, including cable TV (with ESPN), internet, and parking. Guess the rent cost for 2009-2001, $250 bucks. An increase of 20 dollars in 6 years. Whoa, that price increase went through the roof!

Right now I live in Wisconsin (and yes, most of out here are definitely sick of all the Brett Favre drama) and my rent went up $15 a month just in the past year (not including the $10/month increases we'd seen in years past.

BYU didn't cut ESPN for censorship reasons, it's about being fiscally responsible. BYU also doesn't think that it holds a monopoly on successful religious people or any of the other garbage that people are writing. The funny thing is at BYU we don't obsess over our hatred of the U because we have better things to do. The same thing can't be said for Ute fans. Maybe that's why you weren't smart enough to get into the Y!

Makes Sense | 9:33 a.m. May 7, 2009

I can see ESPN everyday from my BYU approved housing. It just costs extra. I do wonder though. Can people in the dorms add ESPN to their cable package, as long as they are willing to pay extra for it? It probably is a matter of signing the cable contract in one's own name, but they already get all those other channels without taking over the bill, so it probably isn't worth the hassle to put your name on another bill that you have to collect money from your roommates for, anyway.

For all of you who act like your landlord should pay for your ESPN viewing pleasure, you're out of your minds. So going to a university shouldn't entitle anyone to free ESPN, either.

Money | 9:40 a.m. May 7, 2009

I too, will not lend any financial support to the sports entertainment industry. I don't subscribe to any sports channels, or buy tickets to go to games. I enjoy sports as much as the next guy, but I can't get over the fact that a "poor" man in the NBA only makes one million per year. Most sports are similar.

It's rediculous!

Rent? | 9:42 a.m. May 7, 2009

If they cut ESPN because of the cost does that mean we'll get a reduction in our rent? It should!

Hey Beth | 9:47 a.m. May 7, 2009

The reason your BYU rent is so cheap is that all the Utah Fans tithing is subsidizing it.

Utah Lady | 9:49 a.m. May 7, 2009

Are we really worried that our college kids won't get ESPN in the dorms at BYU? Really?

Anonymous | 9:57 a.m. May 7, 2009

Everybody calm down, it was a business pricing decision that just made sense. I promise, you can survive without even having cable or a tv for that matter, let alone ESPN.

stop.. please!!! | 10:11 a.m. May 7, 2009

you're killing me, with all this laughter, please no more, I can barely get up off the floor from rolling around laughing so hard!!!

There has to be a degree offered at the you-of-you in stand up comedy, because so many of the above posters are so dang funny, I am splitting a gut here!! So many great and I do mean great comedians here, like "AWW temptation " and "native UT" and "mystery explained" and "good Idea" and "so that's why" and "what's next byu?"and "KBYU" and lastly, "no wonder", you guys all ROCK with comedic talent. People would line up for miles to see you all perform. And the intelligence that just seems to ooze out of each and every word, wait, just wait, I must stop before I just die from laughter!!

SARCASM, where would we be without it, probably in some dead end degree, at some dead end "U"niversity, with some dead end LIFE!!!! sad little you-t's

geezer | 10:15 a.m. May 7, 2009

I love football. I love wathcing football on ESPN. However, it's expensive. Usually I pick up cable during football season, but this may be the first year in a long time that I don't. I don't blame BYU at all in its decision, which was purely financial. What I don't understand is why caffeinated pop isn't served at BYU. You can drink caffeinated pop and get a temple recommend. I'm a BYU grad and I'm proud of it, but I think in this instance the university takes itself way too seriously. (demon caffein)

I remeber my dorm days at the U | 10:20 a.m. May 7, 2009

I ate Top Ramen for breakfast lunch and dinner.

I am embarassed by the lack of understanding of college life shown my so many Utah fans.

I guess it's that there are so many that never attended college, or have a clue what college is really all about.

It has nothing to do with ESPN.

1byu fan | 10:20 a.m. May 7, 2009

who wants to watch over rated teames who are scared to play any moutain west team becuse they well lose to any of are top 5 any day of the week !!!

you wont proff what hapens when washibton playes byu aahhhhhhhhhhhh byu wins utah ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh undefededd the onlly thing on espn is the sory wac team oh you say you what about utah state they are on at rc well's the anocers are agenst them any way !!!

To Hey Beth | 10:46 a.m. May 7, 2009

Hey there Hey Beth: The reason the U had affordable housing is because the BYU fans are taxed into sudsidizing it.

GB | 10:47 a.m. May 7, 2009

Of all the comments on this board, the "censorship" comments are the most entertaining and paranoid ones.

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