Manti Te'o's father speaks...Cougarboard meltdown to shortly follow

[John McClain]

So Bronco took alot of flak for saying that he doubted Manti would go on a mission; but as usual, it turns out Bronco was right. It's pretty much a given that a highly touted LDS athlete that does not go to BYU (and to a lesser extent Utah) will not go on a mission. And yet everyone complains because our players are older. Love the double standard.

[LiveCoug]

^^^^

Exactly. If missions are an advantage, shouldn't ND be pushing Teo hard to go?

[TripletDaddy]

So Bronco took alot of flak for saying that he doubted Manti would go on a mission; but as usual, it turns out Bronco was right. It's pretty much a given that a highly touted LDS athlete that does not go to BYU (and to a lesser extent Utah) will not go on a mission. And yet everyone complains because our players are older. Love the double standard.

I agree with this sentiment but it is also a bit disingenuous. It is also not the best point to be making in a year when BYU lands to top recruit in the country and that guy almost immediately announces that he will NOT be going on a mission.

Many of BYU's most famous football and hoops exports did not go on missions, either.

It is probably fair to say that if the person goes to BYU, the odds are highest that he will go on a mission, but even then, there is still a remarkable number of athletes that don't go on missions at BYU.

[John McClain]

I agree with this sentiment but it is also a bit disingenuous. It is also not the best point to be making in a year when BYU lands to top recruit in the country and that guy almost immediately announces that he will NOT be going on a mission.

Many of BYU's most famous football and hoops exports did not go on missions, either.

It is probably fair to say that if the person goes to BYU, the odds are highest that he will go on a mission, but even then, there is still a remarkable number of athletes that don't go on missions at BYU.

I don't believe my sentiment was disingenuous in any way. BYU allows its players to make their own decisions and I don't believe they push them one way or another. Some of those players may go on missions from peer pressure or societal pressure (like many non-athlete missionaries that I have known), but I rather doubt it is coming from the coaches. On the other hand, it is well known that coaches at other institutions push hard on LDS players to avoid going on a mission, for their own purposes. As a result, as Bronco has noted, the odds of going on a mission if the player does not go to BYU lessen dramatically.
If a BYU player chooses not to go on a mission, it does not bother me. By the same token, having served a mission, I know what value it has for a young man and I congratulate those who do serve. But it is horse hockey for programs (and fans) to complain that BYU has an advantage because of its older players if they are consciously taking the tack that LDS players in their programs should not go on missions. That is what is disingenuous.

[Commando]

So Bronco took alot of flak for saying that he doubted Manti would go on a mission; but as usual, it turns out Bronco was right. It's pretty much a given that a highly touted LDS athlete that does not go to BYU (and to a lesser extent Utah) will not go on a mission. And yet everyone complains because our players are older. Love the double standard.

Bronco's always right, and the haters hate him for it. Truth burns.