Comments about ‘BYU's pregame firesides catching on’

This is the kind of team I will stand behind, win or lose. Thanks coach, for truly understanding the real meaning of a BYU education: Excellence and Honor. Rise and Shout!

Thank You for helping these young men find the true meaning of teammanship and accountability.I am sure it began with thier parent,however the thrill of being grown and in college often overshadows thier upbringing. May God bless each of them and you . I am very proud to read that others think this is an unfair advantage in sports. If we all will use our unfair advantage (faith,Jesus Christ) to better ourselves in the everyday things we do just think of the responsble people who would populate the world. Again thank you

I don't think these "firesides" by BYU football players are a good idea. What are they trying to role model here to LDS young people? Someone who's great desire in life is to play football at BYU and then go out and get a contract to work on Sunday by playing in the NFL? There are far better choices for "fireside" speakers than football players. Bronco and the BYU administration should know better.

This is why I am a Cougar fan and will always be one. Bronco just "gets it." Thanks Kyle for going up north.

It's a fine line. It's good to promote responsibility and morality, but it's also easy to lose perspective and to start thinking (1) that you and your players are better people that your opponents and (2) that your sport is actually some meaningful spiritual quest. I like that he said it is not about winning. I would like him to acknowledge more often that God doesn't care who wins football games and that the kids at other schools are great people and future leaders too.

I am very proud of the BYU Football team. Having lived outside Utah since my graduation from BYU, it has been exciting to watch both the Ute's and the Cougars represent themselves with pride and excellence. I attended the Tulsa Fireside and Tailgate and game afterwards but of the three, the most notable experience was the Fireside. Football careers last only a short time but the lessons learned playing the game last a lifetime. Congradulations to Coach Mendenhall for teaching those in his care life lessons that will help them long after their days at BYU are completed.

Go Cougars!

These firesides are a great recruiting tool. Bronco's recruiting strategy from the start has been to approach parents and players with the idea that they will be fulfilled spiritually at BYU in a way that they can't be at Utah or Utah State (or USC, etc). It's not true, but it's working well.

The firesides also have the benefit of keeping the kids together with the coaches on Friday nights and of creating unity and a sense of purpose. Not a bad idea for a football team.

Kudos to Bronco for encouraging community service. I've long thought that coaches should require all players to volunteer a few hours per week. It is good for the players. It would also be good for the team in terms of community image and recruiting (what parent wouldn't want their kid to play for a guy that requires community service?) Of course, requiring it takes some of the shine off, but I still like the idea.

Infinite cheers for Bronco Mendenhall. I have never met Bronco and probably never will, but he has my respect and support. I have been a die hard cougar fan since the early 70's when I attended BYU as a 30 year old returned missionary and viet nam veteran. I love that he is applying spiritual principles. What I can't figure out is why he would face opposition for his stand.

To Dutchman: Have you actually attended one of these firesides? I have. The firesides are not about the accomplishments of these football players. Yes the topic of football does come up but that is not the focus. I have a 11 year old son who has absolutely no interest in football. The fireside was about making the right choices in life, serving others and being obedient to God. My son loved it. Way to go Bronco and BYU football!

It's a wonderful thing in this day and age for a group of people to not be ashamed of what they believe. Bronco is a great coach because he knows what is most important. Football is a very temporary thing for most players, but a strong spiritual core will last forever.

The Dutchman's comment is one of the silliesst I'v ever read.
Football players realize only a handfull of them will play beyond college, and then only for a short time. The fireside program is part of what gives them to succeed in life after football. It also helps other people to see the true power of the gospel.
Keep it up Bronco

It's very easy to criticize those who try to set a higher example for the world to follow than that which we're used to. Giving the BYU players an opportunity to speak not only provides a forum for the players to give an inspiring message to those in attendance (who couldn't use that?), but it also may touch a youngster who will listen to his heros and strive to do the right thing. I think it would be great if all NCAA programs did something similar in the communities they are in. Way to lead the way Bronco!

there is no fine line. When you go to work are you hoping that your competitor gets the business that you want because he or she is a good person too, or that they are great leaders. Listen, what is happening at BYU is not about BYU. It is about excelling at whatever one chooses to do. If one chooses to look at it miopically, one could say that BYU thinks it is better than Utah. That someone would be wrong. What is happening at BYU is no different than what happens between Boeing and Airbus, or JPMorganChase and Citibank or for you Ute fans, McDonalds and Wendy's. God cares about the individuals not the team. Bronco is building indviduals who will in turn build individuals, they just happen to be winning. Go Cougs!!

Thank you 'careful' and 'dutchman' for your comments. That is why I ocassionally venture into the comment boards....to remind me how ugly, prejudicial, dishonest and off target some 'fans' really are. yea, right. I am going to preach sermons on responsibility and morality so I can go out and do the opposite. Here is a newsflash for you...A student athlete at the UofU (I am a diehard Coug fan)who has a 3.8 GPA, is an honors student, a return missionary who served honorably and who is currently living the same moral standards and codes he professed for two years, IS BETTER, than the player from Michigan State who was arrested for alledged sexual misconduct and kicked off the team and out of school and is waiting for trial, whose rap sheet already includes charges of misconduct. You must have missed that moral lesson growing up (if in fact you have grown up). Give me a break. The firesides are awesome. They are extremely well done and are valuable to all who attend. Those BYU players who LIVE what they PREACH are better, just like the rest of society are who also LIVE by a better moral compass.

To Dutchman Nobody complains about Touchdown Jesus at Notre Dame. What is wrong with putting on a fireside or doing service. I think if pro ahtletes would get invovled in things like this our pro sports "rolemodels" would be alot better of rolemodels.

Hooray for the Stake Presidents and Bishops that don't schedule these forumns. Many smart thinking members of the church realize that the LDS Community is very diverse (maybe not in Utah County) and not all church members are BYU fans. If Bronco and BYU really want to promote goodwill and love between all members, then they should allow members who are fans of other schools to participate in their "firesides" and actually speak. Fair and balanced.

Where in the article or in any comment by Coach Mendenhall does it say that he is trying to teach his players that they are "better people that [their] opponents" or that they believe that God cares who wins a football game?

One of the biggest reasons schools (high school and college) sponsor sports programs is because there are a myriad of lessons (hard work, integrity, determination, etc) that help athletes become "better" people outside of sports. And any coach worth his salt tries to help his players become learn some of those lessons along the way.

Bronco having his players speak about their experiences is simply a way to try and reach out to the community, and has nothing to do with being better than anybody else, and certainly has nothing to do with God caring one whit about which team wins a football game.

Let go of your paranoia. "Here's what I've learned" does not equal "I'm better than you".

We happened to be at the New Mexico Fireside and found it to be worth the drive up from El Paso. While there were more than 15 present, the team did outnumber all others. Since then we have attended the Fireside in Arizona last year and the one in New Mexico this year. What a difference, we could hardly find a seat in Albuquerque this year. They have all been very inspiring and about the only time my 14 year old does not complain about putting on a tie.

I think Bronco is doing a great job.

I watched "we are Marshall" the other day and the DVD extras section had a bit on the most winningest coaches. It was interesting how most of them had the same goal of character development over winning as a guiding motive. Also interesting how most of them LED THE TEAMS IN PRAYER before each game, not praying that they'd win, but that they'd play their best. The principles of righteousness ARE the principles of true success, regardless of religion or background.

Additionally, I think that spiritual development is a great recruiting tool for BYU. I went to BYU so i could be at a school that believes that. I loved classes where the teacher opened in prayer. I am now in graduate school at the UofU, and have transvestite teachers (Im serious) and hear more swearing than most rated R movies in class. It is still a great school with great people who I love, but I long to be back with those who share my values.

Usually, there are about 10 or so negative comments from utes on any article about BYU. Today, there is only one. As a big cougar fan, kudos to you utes who recognize that doing good will always trump the emotions of a nasty rivalry.