A terrible realization about BYU

[LA Ute]

I just heard that the money (I think all of it) for the broadcast center came from Rex Maughn.

Rex Maughan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maughn already has ties to BYUtv, per the wiki article. He and his wife donated a BYUtv satellite receiver that was placed American Samoa.

I may be wrong, but I think he has given a ton of money to ASU too. So if he supports a PAC10 school heavily, he must be a good guy.

[falafel]

Do you have more information about that? $50 million is a lot of money to come from private donors. Are you talking about individuals, or perhaps a large "private donor" like Deseret Management, or whatever the Church holding company is called these days?

I just heard that the money (I think all of it) for the broadcast center came from Rex Maughn.

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_Maughan"]Rex Maughan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Replace_this_image_male.svg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7e/Replace_this_image_male.svg/150px-Replace_this_image_male.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@en/thumb/7/7e/Replace_this_image_male.svg/150px-Replace_this_image_male.svg.png[/ame]

Maughn already has ties to BYUtv, per the wiki article. He and his wife donated a BYUtv satellite receiver that was placed American Samoa.

[falafel]

Do you have more information about that? $50 million is a lot of money to come from private donors. Are you talking about individuals, or perhaps a large "private donor" like Deseret Management, or whatever the Church holding company is called these days?

I don't have any more info. I got it from Jay Drew's blog.

By the way, that new broadcasting facility east of the Marriott Center that everyone is talking about as it relates to BYU's plan for independence if it comes to that?
It is completely paid for, and was funded by private donors.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogs/b...rence.html.csp

[PolyCougar]

And I'll explain this carefully for YO. (Try to keep up, buddy, OK? ) Sometimes fans for both schools try to claim that their school's advantages are just the results of the ingenuity and industry and general superiority of their favored school, when in reailty, in many ways their school started the game on third base. That's OK, it's not their fault. It's just the way things are.

Hey man... agreed. BYU has a ton going for it because of its LDS affiliation for sure. I do kind of wish a lot of fellow Cougs would quit trying to hide that at times. I think its just the thought of tithing money (a commandment, that for some reason is seen by many as the only money the church has to spend) being used on a school in any capacity (especially athletics) that turns BYU fans into University funding economists in explaining the financial structure of the School, while turning rival school fans inside out (I wonder how Utah super-fan Elder Wirthlin could've explained this).

I embrace the fact that I cheer for a church school, and deal with the bevy of problems and ridicule that already creates for us. Its a church school... oh well... we get to use church stuff. I'm wondering why everybody would be so mad about BYU promoting the opportunity to use the truck built by the church anyway... just because they may hate BYU doesn't make the church own the school any less.

I don't know how much money was donated to build the broadcast facilities or fund the disgustingly sick truck (which I've worked in... and it is AWESOME!!!). I do know that donor money I've worked with in my dealings with BYU Broadcasting could've almost done it alone, when it comes to the truck (one donor put in a quarter of a mil on just one project). But I know that BYU can tap these donors because of the LDS affiliation, and see no problem with that... they can say "no". It's not like they're telling donors their souls will be damned if they don't. And I'm guessing the truck wasn't built for BYU Sports, just a nice benefit for the school in general (I'm wondering if the Tab Choir, who is also self-sustained, may have pitched in too).

I guess I don't see it as unfair... just a nice perk for being part of the church. Whats wrong with that? And if bigger TV deals and more money come into the school because of Athletics, and the truck, and the facilities, then doesn't that mean investment money back to its owner... the Church?

[LA Ute]

Totally. BYU fans really need to own up to this because its so common for them to deny that the school benefits from church ownership.

I saw you doing that very thing just the other day. I was embarrassed for you.

I'll own up to the advantage, but this line of thought is similar to the "missions give BYU [and to a lesser extent Utah] a huge advantage on the field." Piffle. While it can be definite advantage in certain respects, at least in the non-skill positions, on balance I think it's less than a wash, given the number of players who never return or who lose a great deal in development. If it truly were an advantage, you'd see players seeking similar exemptions for Peace Corps or other voluntary service (which would no doubt be given as long as they didn't play or train during the period). Moreover, at most, non-BYU coaches (and even many BYU coaches) are indifferent to missions, and most actively discourage them. If they're an advantage, why don't more encourage this?

As for the school generally, does anyone think the Church isn't the reason BYU wasn't invited to the PAC-10? And no, I do not regard the snub as religious discrimination. But even the snub is helpful in certain respects, as it fosters, for better or worse, a "circle the wagons" mentality and gets the faithful to dig a little deeper.

I've never bought into the missionary advantage thing. (Although I've always thought one question should be explored: Does the higher percentage of balding players give any advantage due to easier helmet fitting?)

To my mind, each school in this rivalry has its own peculiar advantages. Fans just need to get over that. If Utah got a great stadium upgrade due to the Olympics, so be it. That's what happens with public venues in Olympics cities. Same goes for tax support for the University. There are plenty of downsides to Utah's public ownership and general situation as well.

If BYU has all kinds of facilities and fan support and money because of the Church, well, that's just part of being BYU. On the negative side of the ledger, the often-reflexive opposition and support that comes from being a Church-sponsored school also go with the territory.

And I'll explain this carefully for YO. (Try to keep up, buddy, OK? ) Sometimes fans for both schools try to claim that their school's advantages are just the results of the ingenuity and industry and general superiority of their favored school, when in reailty, in many ways their school started the game on third base. That's OK, it's not their fault. It's just the way things are.

[PaloAltoCougar]

I am not saying it's wrong for BYU to have all the advantages that come from being Church-owned. I just think people should own up to the fact that there is such an advantage.

I'll own up to the advantage, but this line of thought is similar to the "missions give BYU [and to a lesser extent Utah] a huge advantage on the field." Piffle. While it can be definite advantage in certain respects, at least in the non-skill positions, on balance I think it's less than a wash, given the number of players who never return or who lose a great deal in development. If it truly were an advantage, you'd see players seeking similar exemptions for Peace Corps or other voluntary service (which would no doubt be given as long as they didn't play or train during the period). Moreover, at most, non-BYU coaches (and even many BYU coaches) are indifferent to missions, and most actively discourage them. If they're an advantage, why don't more encourage this?

As for the school generally, does anyone think the Church isn't the reason BYU wasn't invited to the PAC-10? And no, I do not regard the snub as religious discrimination. But even the snub is helpful in certain respects, as it fosters, for better or worse, a "circle the wagons" mentality and gets the faithful to dig a little deeper.

[YOhio]

I am not saying it's wrong for BYU to have all the advantages that come from being Church-owned. I just think people should own up to the fact that there is such an advantage. There are disadvantages too - to recruiting, for example, and public perception. But I think those are pretty much balanced out - at least - by the enormous support the Church has given, and will always give, BYU. Everything BYU boosters can brag about regarding BYU is a direct result of the Church's ownership.

Totally. BYU fans really need to own up to this because its so common for them to deny that the school benefits from church ownership.

[Portland Ute]

It wouldn't surprise me if the equipment is not going to be used for free. I will bet there is some kind of charge that goes from the athletic program to the church for the use of the equipment. A good business tries to get the most out of their assets. Is it possible someone thought, hey here is a way to get some revenue from our asset.

If the "truck" and "broadcast center" were really "Church" assets and not BYU assets, they'd be in SLC at Church headquarters and not at BYU.

These are BYU's to do with as they please.

[byu71]

It wouldn't surprise me if the equipment is not going to be used for free. I will bet there is some kind of charge that goes from the athletic program to the church for the use of the equipment. A good business tries to get the most out of their assets. Is it possible someone thought, hey here is a way to get some revenue from our asset.

[Portland Ute]

Do you have more information about that? $50 million is a lot of money to come from private donors. Are you talking about individuals, or perhaps a large "private donor" like Deseret Management, or whatever the Church holding company is called these days?

I am not saying it's wrong for BYU to have all the advantages that come from being Church-owned. I just think people should own up to the fact that there is such an advantage. There are disadvantages too - to recruiting, for example, and public perception. But I think those are pretty much balanced out - at least - by the enormous support the Church has given, and will always give, BYU. Everything BYU boosters can brag about regarding BYU is a direct result of the Church's ownership.

I never thought about this much while I was growing up and going to school in Utah, but after I moved to California and got to know a number of really decent, perceptive people who were not LDS and either grew up in Utah or went to the U. or USU to college I was able to appreciate a different perspective on how overwhelming it must sometimes be to be other than Mormon, or other than a BYU fan, and living in Utah. Just something to keep in mind.

My guess is that if you "follow the money", it leads back to the same place.

[LA Ute]

The broadcast center and equipment were paid for by private donors.

Do you have more information about that? $50 million is a lot of money to come from private donors. Are you talking about individuals, or perhaps a large "private donor" like Deseret Management, or whatever the Church holding company is called these days?

I am not saying it's wrong for BYU to have all the advantages that come from being Church-owned. I just think people should own up to the fact that there is such an advantage. There are disadvantages too - to recruiting, for example, and public perception. But I think those are pretty much balanced out - at least - by the enormous support the Church has given, and will always give, BYU. Everything BYU boosters can brag about regarding BYU is a direct result of the Church's ownership.

I never thought about this much while I was growing up and going to school in Utah, but after I moved to California and got to know a number of really decent, perceptive people who were not LDS and either grew up in Utah or went to the U. or USU to college I was able to appreciate a different perspective on how overwhelming it must sometimes be to be other than Mormon, or other than a BYU fan, and living in Utah. Just something to keep in mind.

[Tim]

For starters, I'm sure every school in the MWC and the WAC hates BYU.

Everyone on CUF, CB, and UF hates you. What does that say about you?

(I'm one of the people who hates you, btw.)

[Jarid in Cedar]

The broadcast center and equipment were paid for by private donors=tithing payers.

fixed

[falafel]

Hmmmm. I am beginning to see a pattern here. BYU, a Church-owned school, using $50 million worth of state-of-the-art equipment purchased with money generated by Church-owned assets, is broadcast on Church-owned station KSL and satellite behemoth BYUTV, and covered by Church-owned newspaper the Deseret News. I am beginning to see how non-LDS people living in Utah (and elsewhere) might see that combination negatively. Not to mention ALUFs. Somehow, we keep on keeping on.

The broadcast center and equipment were paid for by private donors.

[LA Ute]

The sky is the limit for TV money for BYU athletics when KSL is involved...

Hmmmm. I am beginning to see a pattern here. BYU, a Church-owned school, using $50 million worth of state-of-the-art equipment purchased with money generated by Church-owned assets, is broadcast on Church-owned station KSL and satellite behemoth BYUTV, and covered by Church-owned newspaper the Deseret News. I am beginning to see how non-LDS people living in Utah (and elsewhere) might see that combination negatively. Not to mention ALUFs. Somehow, we keep on keeping on.