Deseret News | BYU football: Another missionary switches to play for Y.

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BYU football: Another missionary switches to play for Y.

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BBKing | 8:21 a.m. May 30, 2008

It must be months until football season begins. And since we only have Nancy-boy sports like basketball, hockey, soccer and ice skating to watch, we take our frustrations out on stories like this.

None of this banter back and forth means a spit to me, other than football season is one hot summer away. Heaven help us all!

Cougar4Life | 8:21 a.m. May 30, 2008

To say that Bronco is a disgrace is wrong and classless. If a missionary wants to contact BYU during the course of his mission to see about playing football there, why is that BYU's bad? Bronco has returned the program to a clean, honorable program. Every program has problems and many kids in programs struggle to stay eligible. But make no mistake, Bronco is in no way a disgrace to BYU.

Who Cares... | 8:22 a.m. May 30, 2008

Who cares if he recruits guys on their missions...so does everybody else.
What he SHOULD do is come out and say he mis-spoke when he claimed he would never do it. It's not like the LDS church ever changes their mind on something...:)

Comments continue below

Jonny Cash | 8:27 a.m. May 30, 2008

Jonny Cash said it best, im gonna Cry, Cry Cry. That is all I am hearing from Utah, USU and even a BSU fan. Keep crying boys as the Cougar program keeps rolling. I for one wont be surprised for the day when Bronco and BYU get every blue chip LDS kid. I would also be disappointed in both BYU and Bronco if they didn't try to recruit and get every good LDS kid, even if they are on a mission.

football mom in CA | 8:28 a.m. May 30, 2008

I'm certainly not a BYU hater, but if UNLV or USU recruited missionaries off their missions, that would make the front page of the Deseret News. I served a mission and felt it a relief to be focused on the Lords' work and not my own future. There is a big double standard here. I'm thinking I don't want my kids to attend BYU even though here in California no one considers attending any other University. (Everyone feels like a failure if their kids "only" get into BYU Idaho).

TO RECUITING | 8:32 a.m. May 30, 2008

You are dead wrong blog breath! BYU wanted both Jensen and Teo. The problem was that they didn't have avaliable schlorships to offer. Get the facts straight before you spout off. Just another yewt blogging with no ryhme or reason. Go ahead and be a hater. And remember no matter how lousy a season BYU has the yewts will always be the ugly step sister, second best,second fiddle, second bannana, in the state of utah. Without divine intervention you will always be #2. Oh well you could be utah state.

Vai Sikahema | 8:34 a.m. May 30, 2008

Here's the problem that Bronco's creating - BYU is getting commitments (regardless of whether BYU initiated contact or not) via a loophole only missionaries get. Outside of missionaries, other college players who want to transfer lose a year of eligibility. If this loophole didn't exist, do you really think these two young men would second-guess their commitments and forfeit a year of eligibility? Do this enough and burn enough schools and the university presidents will be lining up asking for the NCAA to change the rule.

Speaking of commitments, didn't Bronco say he was only interested in players who were committed? Apparently in Bronco's eyes, commitments can be broken as long as the broken commitment doesn't hurt BYU.

I'm not a BYU fan, but am an active Mormon who doesn't live along the Wasatch front. Not everyone hates BYU like you Y fans tend to think. However, it is safe to say that everyone does hate the sanctimonious, holier-than-thou attitude that so many in your fanbase exude.

re:dfarmer | 8:36 a.m. May 30, 2008

Good post, good insight. After what's been going on with Mendenhall and BYU, if I were a college football coach, I wouldn't give an LDS kid a serious look now if they were considering a mission. I would also suggest that the NCAA look into changing the rules to where even an rm has to sit a year or lose a year if they've signed a LOI before a mission and then transfer after a mission.

Confused | 8:46 a.m. May 30, 2008

Football Mom,
As a former missionary I can tell you that Missionaries when they get together talk about going to BYU and housing together "Have Mission House at BYU".

My feeling is that is what was going on with both these kids. It is a very big deal on your mission to be able to say I am going to BYU.

Nelson, his case was that Coach Higgins was talking to the Logan coach and the conversation turned to Nelson. The coach talked about if Nelson was interested. This was a simple conversation that turned into Nelson changing.

Neither kid was "Recruited" while on his mission, to recruit would mean contact, which would mean that they emailed the boys. Trying to get them to change thier minds. Neither happened. One came out over causal conversation and the other came at the request of the family.

So all you anti BYU people, stop looking for the slightest issue to bash BYU

Realism | 8:47 a.m. May 30, 2008

Many of the comments (and taunts) made by faithful BYU fans are nothing more than idiotic. You people are unbelievable - short memories too.

The rule allowing coaches to sign missionaries (or servicemen) while serving is wrong. If you can't see this - you have moral flexibility that runs contrary to your professed beliefs. Why would anyone be surprised that the NCAA - one of the most corrupt (or inept) entities in existence - allows this practice? If contacted by a missionary, Bronco's canned response should always be: "Go back to work; we can't consider anything until you are home." That's it.

Consider this: I'm LDS, and my teenage son or daughter will never attend a Bronco fireside - even if it's held in my back yard. What would be the point?

So Cal | 8:47 a.m. May 30, 2008

Did BYU break any rules? No. The problem is that they want you to think that they live by a higher law and that they are so much better than anyone else. They still have problems with students getting in trouble and look the other way to get some of them into school. They need to remember that they are just like everyone else.

banderson | 8:49 a.m. May 30, 2008

We sent four sons and a daughter on LDS missions. None of them had athletic scholarships but they all had need to arrange for life after their missions.

For instance, I remember a discussion I had with an academic adviser at Ricks college regarding which math class I should register my son for as he had decided to major in computer science. He was in rural Brazil on his mission and needed help to register for classes.

Playing football for BYU is a big deal. But life is a bigger deal. Which university you attend is a bigger deal. I attended BYU from small town Tennessee for the LDS environment, to select an LDS wife from the thousands of LDS girls, to prepare for my career -- in that order.

I imagine many missionaries get into the mission environment, see the contrast between the spiritual focus of missionaries and the relative hedonistic focus of many students at many universities and wish the could transfer to the more spiritual focus of many at BYU. Some do transfer. Some play football.

Relax. It's just a game.

Chuck Farley | 8:52 a.m. May 30, 2008

That sanctimonious, self-rigteous BYU has the audacity to improve their program. I am ouraged!!!!

who cares | 8:56 a.m. May 30, 2008

these players have nothing to do with florida, USC, ohio state or LSU so WHO REALLY CARES the Y couldn't beat their practice squads.

Re: Vai Sikahema | 8:57 a.m. May 30, 2008

You make some good points. BYU fans think that they are so hated by everyone because they are so good...but in reality, its not the fans that people hate it is the "holier than thou" attitude that many Y fans carry. Also, I think it is time to change the NCAA policy on missionaries, and have them lose a year of eligibility after transferring.

Recruiting? | 8:59 a.m. May 30, 2008

Why are so many accusing Bronco of being the one recruiting this athlete on his mission. It appears to be the other way around in which the athlete was actually recruiting Bronco. If any shame should be put on someone, it should be on the athlete, for thinking about football, his future, and his education before coming home from his mission. Even I spent some time on a P-day to apply with BYU-Idaho while on my mission after being offered a scholarship through my president. Perhaps he decided he still wanted to play in Vegas, but only if it was the Vegas Bowl, something he would not get to do as a UNLV Rebel. Or, perhaps he also wanted to be in a different atmosphere when he got home, and not be where he would have to face casinos, big billboards of porn stars and every other temptation that surrounds UNLV's campus. Shame on him for pursuing a chance to go to BYU. What was Bronco and the BYU staff to do? Ignore the family's inquiry and refuse any consideration of the missionary's request? Would that make Bronco more honorable? Ignore and deny any missionary expressing interest in his program?

Re: Timeline | 9:00 a.m. May 30, 2008

You are 100% correct, it was the first thing I thought of when I saw the article.

It could be done | 9:03 a.m. May 30, 2008

Every situation is different. A missionary could deal with this issue and not let it affect their work. Some would let it consume them and make them less effective missionaries. I don't blame a kid for making plans for his future while on his mission, just don't let it interfere with what you are supposed to be doing.

I think coach Mendenhall could make the offers, only after being contacted by the missionary and/or their family, but should encourage them to work hard etc. etc..

Players transfer, it's no big deal. I just hope that Utah continues to recruit and land LDS kids. I also hope that every kid that goes to BYU, LDS or not, succeeds in life, but fails on the football field.

I hope, for the sake of the conference, that BYU wins every non-conference game and then goes 0 for the conference.

Bronco's Quote Still a Mystery?? | 9:04 a.m. May 30, 2008

Hey Mr. Harmon. Making a scholarship offer is RECRUITING. He said and I quote form your article, "We will not recruit" while kids are on their missions.

Spin it anyway you want.

This is great! | 9:05 a.m. May 30, 2008

Sweeeet!!! Sorry little u fan, this is just killing you. And by the way what do care? UNLV should be posting not you. U fans are like rats, always sniffing around in garbage needing something to fill their little rat bellies. Boy your hate is strong. It's almost laughable to read the article and then read the posts. It like Y haters can't read newspapers. Funny stuff.

Hey Johnny Cash | 9:05 a.m. May 30, 2008

BSU isn't crying. They have owned you for years. While we're at it, Utah has been on the losing end of the rivalry for a couple of years, but you haven't exactly been dominating them in recent years. As for USU, well they are USU and probably crying.

BYU struggled when Ricks became BYU Idaho and dropped football. Ricks was their farm team and the way they dealt with missionaries coming and going. Bronco has found one way to deal with the complexities of running a football program that has a majority of its players leaving for two years, he is recruiting missionaries away from other programs. I think it is sleazy and it will make it tougher for Mormon kids to be recruited to other college football programs. What I think doesn't really matter, just like the rest of you.

sob | 9:05 a.m. May 30, 2008

byu is gathering the 12 tribes

Mike | 9:09 a.m. May 30, 2008

Go BYU! All of you who are wining about this can just keep your mouths shut!!

OutsideLookingIn | 9:10 a.m. May 30, 2008

It's amazing what "winning" can do for a program!

Go Cougs!!!

Moral flexibility? | 9:23 a.m. May 30, 2008

BYU once again did nothing wrong. BYU is being held to a standard that doesn't exist.

Here's a standard: Don't kick an onsides kick when up by 40.

Have fun U fans pretending to be offended and preaching all these sermons to Y nation.

Re: Vai Sikahema | 9:23 a.m. May 30, 2008

Didn't you play at BYU?

Disappointed Aggie | 9:25 a.m. May 30, 2008

This may lead to recruiting discrimination against Mormon boys who plan to serve missions for fear of a bad investment. The NCAA should allow these schools to set a return contract for any recruited athlete with an athletic scholarship who red shirts or plays one season prior to departing for a mission be required to return to that program (unless the head coach who recruited them has resigned or been fired). Every investment deserves some sort of insurance policy.

Recruiting | 9:26 a.m. May 30, 2008

I can tbelieve there is so much talk about who contacted whom first. That is all great but I am a college football coach and I can tell you where the contact initiates does not matter. True recruiting takes place when a scholarship is offered and BYU offered both a scholarship so therefore BYU did recruit these two athletes period.

The moment both were offered scholarships they were recruited. In BYU defense nothing they did was illegal by way of NCAA rules. However the stance BYU has now taken I do not want to hear BYU fans or coaches whine in the future about their players being recruited while on their missions.

this is awsome! | 9:26 a.m. May 30, 2008

Way to go Cougs! We'll take him and any other player who wants to play for us. Keep it up Bronco. We know (and so does the nation) that you are by far, easily, no questions asked, the best coach in the MWC, and people want to play for you. Go figure!

BSU fan... | 9:28 a.m. May 30, 2008

No one cares about your team--you are irrelevent, no matter how often your AD begs to be invited into the MWC.

Good luck against Louisiana Tech next season.

BCS Buster? | 9:28 a.m. May 30, 2008

I'm a big BYU football fan myself, but I must admit, my gut is telling me that BYU is going to go into SLC this year undefeated and ranked near the top 10, and the game is going to be another classic rivalry game that goes down to the wire, but I think Utah will be the team that gets the big play at the end of the game this year that will close the door on the BCS to BYU and Utah fans are going to take pride in their victory for years to come. While I hope this isn't the case, I do feel in my gut this is going to happen and it will be a similar year to the 2001 season.

Anonymous | 9:29 a.m. May 30, 2008

Once again the Utes are just trying to turn something good that happened to BYU into something bad. GO COUGARS!!!!!!!!

For what it's worth | 9:29 a.m. May 30, 2008

Illegal drug use is increasing, teen pregnancy rates are increasing, divorce rates are increasing, people are starving to death all over the globe, American citizens are giving their lives overseas, and all of you people are worried about/fighting over football. It seems perverse.
In the grand scheme of things, there are so many more important things to be concerned with. Take a deep breath everybody. It's just football!

Committments | 9:33 a.m. May 30, 2008

After losing the highly recruited Kaveinga kid out of California to USC, Coach Mendenhall was quoted as saying, "Players that commit and then change their mind aren't really who I'm interested in here, I believe a committment is a committment, whether it's verbal or written." Interesting... does this sound hypocritical?

So. Cal Fan | 9:33 a.m. May 30, 2008

People stop getting all worked up about the school in provo. Come on does it really matter. If they win the Mountain Worst Conference they get to play in a bowl game that is played before Christmas against a 5th or 6th or even 7th place team from a much better conference that they might need to kick a last second field goal to beat. Wow big deal, if they need to break unwriten rules to do that and make them feel good so be it. Hey USU your better off if a guy like that wants to leave and go to the land of the Zormites!!! Fight ON, we look forward to beating up on Ben thanks for the punching bag. You know whats interesting no one really talks about how the church flew Ben to provo off his mission to get his operation on his mission. I know that happens to all missionaries, Right?
See you guys in the National Championship Game or the Rose Bowl!!!

What's worse? | 9:33 a.m. May 30, 2008

What's worse? BYU-Haters who read BYU football stories and responds to the comments as if anyone cares what you think?

OR

The same people who respond to their own response to act like others agree with them.

Bottom line in all this controversy - Nobody cares what Ute Fan or any other BYU-HATER (LDS OR NOT) thinks about BYU and Bronco. This situation doesn't shame the school, the coach, nor the church. Last time I checked, I haven't seen MWC officials, NCAA officials, or ESPN running around calling this an outrage and shame and something has to be done.

And Ute fan who wants to talk about history -- history recycles itself. During the Lavell era Utes where in BYU shadows, during the few Crowton years BYU was in Utes shadows. In the Bronco years - Utes are again in Cougs shadows --- don't worry, give it another twenty years and you might emerge for a few good years.

coach | 9:34 a.m. May 30, 2008

to recruiting: I have had three sons go through the recruiting head game and they all play some sort of game to try and keep there options open. It's a business!
Missionaries have to make decisions about school when scholarships are on the line(academic or athletic)one of my sons did not get home until 4 days before school started- he had to make a choice.
He changed schools because the out of state school he previously attended was upset at him for going on a mission but know a school that did not offer him before was interested and his brother was there.

I had a former player that was a two time state MVP and got all sorts of contacts and letter until they found out how small he was. only 1 D1 program(not BYU) offered him and he took it. He had a very good freshman year went on a mission and during his mission decided to transfer to another D1 program(not BYU). Of course the first coach is very upset; he was the only one that gave the kid a chance. The young man had to do what he felt was best for him and his education.

another outsider | 9:34 a.m. May 30, 2008

Doesn't seem to be a lot of tolerance for anything with you mormons. I would think they should preach more kindness and humility from your sermons. A lot of you sure love to cast stones on this public site with beams in your eyes. It seems like the kids are deciding where to pursue their football and academic goals and following through in a timely manner in order to achieve them when they are done preaching. You guys just need to relax, there really is no harm here.

Re: Recruiting | 9:37 a.m. May 30, 2008

Yeah, and I'm an NFL coach, and I know more ---

Come on, really - how old are you? No college coach is on a chat board setting the record straight.

winning | 9:37 a.m. May 30, 2008

Bronco is showing winning is everything. Integrity, character, commitment and honesty come second. He should at least admit winning comes first and quit putting on a front that character comes first.

"recruit" | 9:40 a.m. May 30, 2008

Bronco is not actively recruiting players, he's responding to their inquiries. He's not initiating the contact with missionaries so they can stay focused. Then when he does respond he sends one email and one letter with an offer. He's 100% keeping to his word.

As far as Ben Olson is concerned, yes, we were bitter and upset. It hurts to lose a good player. Especially when he knows he's not coming back (my opinion is he knew when he left for his mission he wouldn't be coming back) and still announces he'll be back to BYU. What hurt even more is he announced it so late in the game it left us in a tight spot. Did he have every right to leave, you bet! And probably a good decision considering what was unknown about the program at that time. But does that mean fans can't be upset? Now is it hypocrisy to be giddy when someone de-commits from their program to join ours? Again, it's being a fan. Just like not liking it when someone scores on you and cheering when your team scores isn't hypocrisy, just riding the waves of the ups and downs of the team.

Dick | 9:40 a.m. May 30, 2008

Hey Dick....Bronco's quote still a mystery?

Please Humor Me | 9:40 a.m. May 30, 2008

I am wondering if there is even one BYU fan out there who will admit that Nelson was recruited by BYU. I am not saying that it was wrong or unethical. Just admit that it was done. None of us were there, but there is more proof that there was at least some recruiting on there side (statement from his father) than there is that he was anxiously recruiting them. It is not hard to admit one small thing. I will get the ball rolling on this. I think that USU has done an aweful job with their football program. I will admit that the onside kick by Kyle was a bonehead thing to do, and even worse than that was his defense of it after the game. There you go. Try admitting anything that your school or program has done wrong. I am looking for anyONE to admit anyTHING.

CanuckCougar | 9:42 a.m. May 30, 2008

I knew Mr. Olsen in his mission field. He regularly talked openly to anyone who would listen about his plans to bolt from BYU to a PAC 10 team. He had contact from those teams - yes - plural. Missionaries do and will continue to learn about what is happening in their world of sports.

As for those on this comment board who want to "hang" Bronco for recruiting missionaries, learn to read, then learn to digest and finally understand the facts.

Are We Naive? | 9:43 a.m. May 30, 2008

How would the parents in Hawaii know to email BYU had nobody told them? Didn't it say that the kid had accepted an offer from UNLV. Surely nobody (that had ties to BYU) could have talked to the parents. BYU doesn't even recruit in the islands and surely they don't know any of the coaches in Hawaii either. The parents must have seen a vision to switch from the "evil" UNLV to the "righteous" BYU.

Ute Fans are A JOKE | 9:44 a.m. May 30, 2008

I love how all you ute fans live to cry about the "team down south". BYU is and always will be better then you. What i cant figure out is what on earth do you guys have to be proud of up on the hill? You've had 1 good season in the history of your program and you think you are god's gift to football. I've never seen so much chest pounding for a club that has done nothing. 2 conference championships in how many years? You guys are the joke. Keep it up bronco. Quiet up ute fan. You guys are a disgrace to our state.

NCAA INFRACTION! | 9:44 a.m. May 30, 2008

Oh man, you losers are actually right! I mean you really caught Bronco red-handed this time. He professes to be something that he actually is not! I think we should fire him! Responding to a family of a player(s) that wants to come to BYU because they want to is freaking UNFORGIVEABLE! I wouldn't send my son or daughter to his fireside either. I mean who would want to listen to a hard-working, winning "hypocrite". I heard Charles Barkely is putting on a fireside. That's where my kid is going (well, I would go and listen to Chuckles too!) But seriously, Bronco is a scum! In fact, maybe the NCAA should step in and penalize the program for some sort of spiritual recruiting infraction.

Derek | 9:45 a.m. May 30, 2008

So, let me get this straight, the athlete's family contacts BYU's coaching staff about the possibility of a scholarship and that is somehow "bad" "prohibited" and "sleezy"? Come on, get a grip!

I fail to see how this is any different than when I contacted BYU as a missionary about returnning to the school after my mission. I distinctly recall spending a P-Day filling out the application, etc. So long as Bronco isn't initiating the contact, I see no contradiction with his stated intentions not to actively recruit missionaries.

Honestly, what is he supposed to do when they contact him, say "I'm sorry son, you'll have to wait until you step off the plane from "? Get real! The NCAA rules state that schools cannot contact missionaries until they've been in the field for 12 months. Bronco followed NCAA rules and his own stated policy of not recruiting but being willing to respond to inquiries.

Stop making mountains out of molehills.

Different than Nelson | 9:45 a.m. May 30, 2008

I don't see any problem with this signing. He obviously initiated contact with BYU and hadn't even enrolled yet at UNLV. Nelson was a different matter. BYU intitated contact with Nelson via his High School coach while on his mission, breaking BYU's own recruiting policy.

AzTim | 9:53 a.m. May 30, 2008

To Disappointed Cougar,
Your well-known college athlete companion was distracting your missionary work because he was being recruited while you worked. The reason he would ask investigators what he should do "for months" was because no decision was made for months. Fact is Bronco did both missionaries, the missionary work, and the church a big favor by acting quickly and putting the football issues to bed once and for all, and allowing the missionaries to get back to their primary focus: preaching, not football. He could have said, "let's talk when you finish your mission," but then the missionaries would have stewed about the decision for the duration of their mission. Lay off the Bronc.

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