Daniel Sorensen's remarks...

[Commando]

I really don't care about his comments specifically but being an LDS Ute fan it always gets under my skin to hear BYU Football refered to as a missionary tool. It is sports not missionary work, please don't confuse the two. Rant over.

Sorry, but the fact is you're wrong. Yesterday I had a convo about college football with some random guy down at the pool, which segued into byu's team this year, byu sports and how kick ass Jimmer is that segued into a convo about the honor code and the Church. If the Church chooses to keep BYU in the football business because of the missionary aspect then that's what it is.

[HBCoug]

I don't want to fight you or Triple Dad. I was really only trying to offend LA Ute. I knew there would be some collateral damage, but that's the choice I made.

I can't stand that guy either. In my burrito analogy, he is like the side of rice that nobody bothers touching. I'm not convinced he's from LA, unless we're talking Shreveport.

[RC Vikings]

Did they kick all the poly kids off the team?

[Jacob]

Whoever Daniel Sorenson is, he is quick becoming one of my favorite BYU players.
You know what would make it even better? If it were the kicker, Sorenson, who had said it.

[Goatnapper'96]

Did they kick all the poly kids off the team?

Actually, I think there are more black football players this year than any other year in the Mendenhall era. I think I counted 14, although that included Chambers. Regardless, once one figures in Poly's I would think that less than half of BYU's football players are white.

[falafel]

Whoever Daniel Sorenson is, he is quick becoming one of my favorite BYU players.
You know what would make it even better? If it were the kicker, Sorenson, who had said it.

He's the kat safety.

[Goatnapper'96]

I really don't care about his comments specifically but being an LDS Ute fan it always gets under my skin to hear BYU Football refered to as a missionary tool. It is sports not missionary work, please don't confuse the two. Rant over.

Out of curiosity why does this bother you folks so much? Is it some need to avoid cognitive dissonance? Of course the University financed by the LDS Church is going to emphasize that a core purpose of the University is to further the mission of the LDS Church. You can rant about that all you want but I think it is a little silly.

Now one can rant unsilly against those who would conclude that every mormon has an obligation to support BYU because a core purpose of BYU is to further the interests of the LDS Church, but to rant against the purpose is dumb IMO. It is dumb even if the imperfect folks most often in the spotlight concerning BYU are stupid athletes who often say dumb things that could be self-defeating to that core purpose.

The relationship between missionary work and conversion is very similar to the relationship between marketing and sales. Not all marketing is designed to lead immediately to direct sales.

[MarkGrace]

Sorry, but the fact is you're wrong. Yesterday I had a convo about college football with some random guy down at the pool, which segued into byu's team this year, byu sports and how kick ass Jimmer is that segued into a convo about the honor code and the Church. If the Church chooses to keep BYU in the football business because of the missionary aspect then that's what it is.

We have some good friends here in Seattle and the wife is a convert to the church. Not long ago she was telling us that in the 7 years she's been a member, her parents haven't asked her one single thing about the church. Not a question about what we believe, not a question about her experience as church member, nothing. Well, they fell hard for Jimmermania and were smitten with the kid, constantly asking questions about him and the church. She was floored that what would finally break the ice between her and her parents when it came to the church was some white boy (racism intended!) playing basketball at BYU (they are UW fans, not BYU, btw). The Jimmer has created more goodwill for the church in one year than the combined efforts of probably thousands of missionaries over the same time period. Ute fans can whine all they want, but when people see BYU, they think of the church. I'm just glad ESPN has joined the missionary effort so we can spread the good word of BYU to even more households!

[ERCougar]

Ok...I reread it and I see what people are objecting to--the whole "white boys" thought. That is probblematic because even if it is poorly worded, it belies something deep down that he really thinks. He's young, he has a lot to learn about life and nuance, so I wouldn't crucify him for it, but I would definitely sit down with him as a coach and discuss where that came from.

[Goatnapper'96]

We have some good friends here in Seattle and the wife is a convert to the church. Not long ago she was telling us that in the 7 years she's been a member, her parents haven't asked her one single thing about the church. Not a question about what we believe, not a question about her experience as church member, nothing. Well, they fell hard for Jimmermania and were smitten with the kid, constantly asking questions about him and the church. She was floored that what would finally break the ice between her and her parents when it came to the church was some white boy (racism intended!) playing basketball at BYU (they are UW fans, not BYU, btw). The Jimmer has created more goodwill for the church in one year than the combined efforts of probably thousands of missionaries over the same time period. Ute fans can whine all they want, but when people see BYU, they think of the church. I'm just glad ESPN has joined the missionary effort so we can spread the good word of BYU to even more households!

BYU sports has the potential to create exposure. That exposure is not always in the form of "goodwill." I fare say that over the years in some places, such as the high plains of WYO, BYU has built up significant "badwill." Jimmer has clearly created much good exposure for BYU and the LDS Church. He is a gem. I think the Brandon Davies incident is another that created exposure. Some respected BYU and others came away thinking mormons are really strange. I think that event encapsulates BYU wrt exposure. The Brandon Davies incident was one where one could pretty much conclude that the event, and thus BYU sports as a whole, brings either good or bad exposure to the LDS Church. It is likely that which side of the exposure equation one sits is usually dictated by which side one wants to sit.

Dan Sorenson's quote is more likely more on the bad side right now, but the young man, much like myself, is probably a work in progress in all things.

However, I agree with you basic point that BYU sports creates exposure for the LDS Church and to argue against that premise is silly.

[SeattleUte]

His sweeping generalizations and obvious racism are ill advised.

Fortunately, people from Mississippi can't read, so I think this whole thing will blow over.

BAN HIM!!

I can tell I need to spend more time here. Two days ago Lebowski's horrifying crack about male secretaries and nurses, now this. And form progressive Mormons. I shudder to think what real Mormons say behind closed doors.

[Goatnapper'96]

Ok...I reread it and I see what people are objecting to--the whole "white boys" thought. That is probblematic because even if it is poorly worded, it belies something deep down that he really thinks. He's young, he has a lot to learn about life and nuance, so I wouldn't crucify him for it, but I would definitely sit down with him as a coach and discuss where that came from.

I am going to predict it probably came from the fact that BYU probably has if not the highest, then one of the highest, percentages of white kids on scholarship for any FBS program. The comments were unfortunate but I think it is a stretch for anyone to conclude he is a racist, other than being able to make sweeping generalizations about the racial makeups of every other college football team at this level - which is likely to be something he does not have the data to conclude.

Now if one wants a BYU football player to be a racist because that fits into your paradign and that is what you are looking for, this will be a find that decreases nipple flaccidity!

[RobinFinderson]

BAN HIM!!

I can tell I need to spend more time here. Two days ago Lebowski's horrifying crack about male secretaries and nurses, now this. And form progressive Mormons. I shudder to think what real Mormons say behind closed doors.

LOL! Good one, SU. Not quite up to your 'sex so exquisite...' masterpiece, but pretty darn funny.

[falafel]

BAN HIM!!

I can tell I need to spend more time here. Two days ago Lebowski's horrifying crack about male secretaries and nurses, now this. And form progressive Mormons. I shudder to think what real Mormons say behind closed doors.

You don't know? I read where you told that attractive and married woman about all your mormon friends after she confessed she admired mormons.

[Sleeping in EQ]

His sweeping generalizations and obvious racism are ill advised.

Fortunately, people from Mississippi can't read, so I think this whole thing will blow over.

Agreed.

Also, I've occasionally wondered if there is latent racism in statements about how BYU's players are "smarter."