Bronco tells why he believes BYU lost out on Manti Te'o

[Goatnapper'96]

I disagree. If I were a recruit who had a mission in mind, that would be relevant information for me.

The point is that if you are that recruit BYU has so many institutional advantages that there is no reason to mention it. It is like saying that Utah has mountains and then listing the height of the seven top peaks in Lousiana as comparison. Bronco has so much time and energy to dedicate to his job, why beat into submission the ones that are heading his way already? It is a given that if a mission is really important to you BYU is going to accomodate that and probably more easier than any other program. The issue I see with it is the balancing act Mendenhall must perform to appease the well intending mullahs who could create issues by presenting a public image of BYU football players bracing the pillars that hold the watchmen on the towers, yet fostering a perception that it is also accomodating of kids that aren't wanting that type of experience but are yet willing to live the rules. I thought he went too far to appeasing the mullahs his first few years and sensed he was scaling that back somewhat this year, with no mention of Fireside Tour 2009 and no slogan. That comment seems to be right up the alley of appeasing the mullahs and probably when speaking of losing a top notch recruit would be the right time to mention a mullah appeasing soundbite. Just not the place enough mullahs are looking or listening when one does a cost benefit analysis. Probably more borderline EFY loving top notch recruits would read comments in a sports blog like that than Mullahs. Bronco gets plenty of opportunities to pacify the mullahs and keep them in their own sense of carnal security that he is one of them outside of recruiting blogs.

[falafel]

What part of that is a joke? If a head coach (or the school in general) is not at all responsible, then why does the NCAA regulate these recruiting weekends so tightly? And better question...under your scenario, who IS responsible? Who is in charge that weekend?

Oh c'mon, DDD, you're acting like "chug a cool one" was on the freakin' list of activities.

[TripletDaddy]

Oh c'mon, DDD, you're acting like "chug a cool one" was on the freakin' list of activities.

Obviously it was not. But I am attributing at least some responsibility to the head coach. it is his gig. He is the host for the weekend. He is the one in charge. It is his program. Unless I am misunderstanding you, you seem to be saying that it isn't Bronco's fault or responsibility in any way, shape or form. I agree with SeattleUte in that, ultimately, it is his responsibility.

The bigger elephant in the room is that it appears a challenging task at BYU to pick 10 or so players to host recruits that are trustworthy enough to keep recruits from drinking. How hard can that be? This is a reflection on Bronco...at least in so much as he wants to portray the team to be something that it clearly is not.

I am already on record as not caring at all if the players drink beer. In fact, I don't want the HC to apply to our football team. I want to field the best team possible.

But from an organizational standpoint, Bronco clearly didn't have much control that weekend. Which is stupid. He puts the program in jeopardy by losing control. What if something much more serious happened while Bronco was off at home, not having much oversight?

[All-American]

The point is that if you are that recruit BYU has so many institutional advantages that there is no reason to mention it. It is like saying that Utah has mountains and then listing the height of the seven top peaks in Lousiana as comparison. Bronco has so much time and energy to dedicate to his job, why beat into submission the ones that are heading his way already? It is a given that if a mission is really important to you BYU is going to accomodate that and probably more easier than any other program. The issue I see with it is the balancing act Mendenhall must perform to appease the well intending mullahs who could create issues by presenting a public image of BYU football players bracing the pillars that hold the watchmen on the towers, yet fostering a perception that it is also accomodating of kids that aren't wanting that type of experience but are yet willing to live the rules. I thought he went too far to appeasing the mullahs his first few years and sensed he was scaling that back somewhat this year, with no mention of Fireside Tour 2009 and no slogan. That comment seems to be right up the alley of appeasing the mullahs and probably when speaking of losing a top notch recruit would be the right time to mention a mullah appeasing soundbite. Just not the place enough mullahs are looking or listening when one does a cost benefit analysis. Probably more borderline EFY loving top notch recruits would read comments in a sports blog like that than Mullahs. Bronco gets plenty of opportunities to pacify the mullahs and keep them in their own sense of carnal security that he is one of them outside of recruiting blogs.

I don't see it that way. If I were a recruit wanting to go on a mission, it would be absolutely appropriate for a coach to tell me that very few recruits who wanted to serve missions and went to a BCS school ultimately end up going. If a mission wasn't that important to me, not a big deal. If it was, that is a very relevant fact.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Obviously it was not. But I am attributing at least some responsibility to the head coach. it is his gig. He is the host for the weekend. He is the one in charge. It is his program. Unless I am misunderstanding you, you seem to be saying that it isn't Bronco's fault or responsibility in any way, shape or form. I agree with SeattleUte in that, ultimately, it is his responsibility.

The bigger elephant in the room is that it appears a challenging task at BYU to pick 10 or so players to host recruits that are trustworthy enough to keep recruits from drinking. How hard can that be? This is a reflection on Bronco...at least in so much as he wants to portray the team to be something that it clearly is not.

I am already on record as not caring at all if the players drink beer. In fact, I don't want the HC to apply to our football team. I want to field the best team possible.

But from an organizational standpoint, Bronco clearly didn't have much control that weekend. Which is stupid. He puts the program in jeopardy by losing control. What if something much more serious happened while Bronco was off at home, not having much oversight?

Maybe Bronco was testing to see which recruits would be best to get work study time at the HC office.

[SeattleUte]

while Bronco was off at home

Freaking brilliant allusion. I commend you for not yielding to the temptation to write, "off at home tipping a cold fruit punch with friends and family."

[ERCougar]

Really? There are no football-related reasons why an LDS player might want to play somewhere else?

I'm sorry, but that was a dumb thing to say.

He's a football coach. I want our football coach to say "there is no football-related reason to go anywhere else" and to believe it.

[byu71]

I don't see it that way. If I were a recruit wanting to go on a mission, it would be absolutely appropriate for a coach to tell me that very few recruits who wanted to serve missions and went to a BCS school ultimately end up going. If a mission wasn't that important to me, not a big deal. If it was, that is a very relevant fact.

Well then do you also think Mendenhall should warn a kid who indicates a mission isn't in his plans that there will be plenty of pressure on him to go if he goes to BYU. If we are going to be honest, he should tell the kid, there are a lot of people around here who believe going on a mission is your highest calling in life pre 22 years of age. They will pressure you in whatever ways they can. If you are looking for support against this pressure, don't come to me. I may not pressure you, but I certainly can't be one who says it is up to you and your parents.

Why do you think so many kids, seems like a lot of them Poly's, choose somewhere else to go on the last day. They don't want to face the pressure from parents and ward members until they finally have to. They also have been members long enough to realize that although teenagers are taught girls who have sex before marriage are "sluts", once the slut gets pregnant the ward and parents welcome her with open arms and forgiveness. She is not cast out. So why not wait until signing day to announce you are a slut.

[TripletDaddy]

I don't see it that way. If I were a recruit wanting to go on a mission, it would be absolutely appropriate for a coach to tell me that very few recruits who wanted to serve missions and went to a BCS school ultimately end up going. If a mission wasn't that important to me, not a big deal. If it was, that is a very relevant fact.

I'd also want to know why notable BYU alums such as Steve Young, Todd Christensen, Gifford Neilson, Robbie Bosco, Mark Wilson, Danny Ainge, and Dale Murphy didn't go on a mission, despite attending BYU. Time permitting, I would ask why Max Hall quit his mission then found safe haven at BYU.

All of those would be very relevant facts, esp in light of Bronco's claims.

I wonder how Bronco would explain the discrepancy?

[falafel]

Obviously it was not. But I am attributing at least some responsibility to the head coach. it is his gig. He is the host for the weekend. He is the one in charge. It is his program. Unless I am misunderstanding you, you seem to be saying that it isn't Bronco's fault or responsibility in any way, shape or form. I agree with SeattleUte in that, ultimately, it is his responsibility.

The bigger elephant in the room is that it appears a challenging task at BYU to pick 10 or so players to host recruits that are trustworthy enough to keep recruits from drinking. How hard can that be? This is a reflection on Bronco...at least in so much as he wants to portray the team to be something that it clearly is not.

I am already on record as not caring at all if the players drink beer. In fact, I don't want the HC to apply to our football team. I want to field the best team possible.

I don't think Bronco deserves zero responsibility. I'm reacting to the fact that SU apparently wants Bronco's head for this episode. He seems to equate Bronoc's lack of control over 17 year old kids miles away from home to knowledge that the event was going to occur and being fine with that.

Your point about Bronco not knowing which kids to assign as hosts is well-taken. But weren't the hosts freshmen anyway? I mean, we're still talking about 17 and 18 year old kids, away from home. My freshman year at BYU was a disaster, and the vast majority of it was because I was out of the house for the first time in my life. But I'm not going to blame my RA for not having a better sense of what was going on on my floor or what time I was going to bed. I'm the one that decided to do whatever I did.

But from an organizational standpoint, Bronco clearly didn't have much control that weekend. Which is stupid. He puts the program in jeopardy by losing control. What if something much more serious happened while Bronco was off at home, not having much oversight?

I don't think you really have any basis for this point. You don't know how much or how little control Bronco had, or whether he was on campus or at home, or when he came or left. Are you really suggesting that if some recruit decided to sneak out in the middle of the night, get drunk, and got in a car accident and killed someone, that Bronco could have prevented all of that by being on campus instead of in his own bed? Do you want Bronco patrolling the halls all night with his maglite and PR-24?

Also, how did SU get you to step in and argue for him? I have no quarrel wit you!

[byu71]

I'd also want to know why notable BYU alums such as Steve Young, Todd Christensen, Gifford Neilson, Robbie Bosco, Mark Wilson, Danny Ainge, and Dale Murphy didn't go on a mission, despite attending BYU. Time permitting, I would ask why Max Hall quit his mission then found safe haven at BYU.

All of those would be very relevant facts, esp in light of Bronco's claims.

I wonder how Bronco would explain the discrepancy?

I find it rather amuzing that one of the most popular firesides shown on KBYU is one involving Murphy, Young and Ainge. The place was packed.

I don't know if they had to sign something saying they would during there talk indicate not going on a mission was the worst decision of their lives, but like it or not they are listened too because we are proud of their athletic success.

Sadly, I don't think the crowd was huge because of the excellent RM piano player. They didn't even let him talk.

[All-American]

I'd also want to know why notable BYU alums such as Steve Young, Todd Christensen, Gifford Neilson, Robbie Bosco, Mark Wilson, Danny Ainge, and Dale Murphy didn't go on a mission, despite attending BYU. Time permitting, I would ask why Max Hall quit his mission then found safe haven at BYU.

All of those would be very relevant facts, esp in light of Bronco's claims.

I wonder how Bronco would explain the discrepancy?

I don't see the problem. Some don't go. Some do. If you DO want to go on a mission, you should know that it will be very difficult to do so if you go to a BCS team. If you don't, that's great too.

[byu71]

Quit saying Bronco has resposibility. Blame it on TBS. Bronco probably read all those articles about how important religion was in the kids life. Like Bronco, the kid said religion was more important than football.

[All-American]

Well then do you also think Mendenhall should warn a kid who indicates a mission isn't in his plans that there will be plenty of pressure on him to go if he goes to BYU. If we are going to be honest, he should tell the kid, there are a lot of people around here who believe going on a mission is your highest calling in life pre 22 years of age. They will pressure you in whatever ways they can. If you are looking for support against this pressure, don't come to me. I may not pressure you, but I certainly can't be one who says it is up to you and your parents.

Why do you think so many kids, seems like a lot of them Poly's, choose somewhere else to go on the last day. They don't want to face the pressure from parents and ward members until they finally have to. They also have been members long enough to realize that although teenagers are taught girls who have sex before marriage are "sluts", once the slut gets pregnant the ward and parents welcome her with open arms and forgiveness. She is not cast out. So why not wait until signing day to announce you are a slut.

Yes, I think recruits ought to be made aware of the culture of BYU, including honor code and other expectations. It doesn't sound like this isn't happening. If anything, Bronco is TOO upfront about what recruits can expect, from the sound of it.

[Mormon Red Death]

would ask why Max Hall quit his mission then found safe haven at BYU.

Goatnapper will tell you its because he has such a big heart and gigantic balls