BYU Sports/Missionary Tool Rant

[myboynoah]

The Church uses many BYU programs for its PR/Missionary effort. I remember the Young Ambos coming to Japan. The word went out through the wards to attend the performances and bring non-member friends. Church members were even enlisted to feed them sunday dinner. The same thing happened when another BYU performing group came to France. How many groups have we sent to China?

I remember the BYU football team coming to Japan when I was a missionary. The Church used that as well.

This isn't rocket science.

[DrumNFeather]

Eric Weddle was baptized while at the U. Where's the poll about Utah athletics as a missionary tool?

Sure his LDS girlfriend prior to college had something to do with it, but we all know it was being around an LDS sensitive coach like Urban Meyer, followed by the Moutain West's honest Abe, Kyle Whittingham.

[BoylenOver]

Originally Posted by Goatnapper'96

At present there are enough target rich ALUFs turning into enormous pussies about BYU's unfair advantage with mormons, the same front running ALUFs convinced BYU's demise was eternal 3 years ago because of the impediments resulting from BYU's religiosity, to mock that I get my fill. Orange is not of their ilk so I don't consider him an ALUF.

However, even with Garth and BoylenOver's best efforts PortlandUte might just drag down my star value. I have become his great big white whale!

uf.n has become hyper-sensitive about rivalry smack, and I can't help but laugh every time you call them pussies, and they continue to display how bad they really are.

[YOhio]

Originally Posted by myboynoah

This isn't rocket science.

Exactly. Research institution my ass.

[OrangeUte]

It is splitting hairs and verbage and all of that. But, there is a difference between a missionary tool (videos, tracts, etc) and a publicity tool like byu athletics, ambassadors, etc. That's my only point.

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by BoylenOver

uf.n has become hyper-sensitive about rivalry smack, and I can't help but laugh every time you call them pussies, and they continue to display how bad they really are.

You are correct.

I can't help but laugh at the chaos that Sir Napper creates there.

[SoCalCoug]

The church tends to use virtually everything possible as a missionary tool.

But I don't think its potential use as a missionary tool is anywhere near the top of the list for BYU football. Therefore, I wouldn't really call it a "missionary tool".

It's a sport that has traditionally been associated with BYU, in a culture that puts importance on athletics, and BYU's many alumni generally like it and support it. That's all it really is.

[Solon]

Originally Posted by OrangeUte

just a rant:

I stumbled across this blog article while in a pissy mood that my tithing money actually goes to fund BYU tuition, and immediately got into a pissy mood that there are still really people who believe that BYU sports are a missionary tool. I have lived out of the Mormon Bubble and in the mission field for quite a few years, and can absolutely tell you that I have never seen an incident of conversion that had anything to do with BYU athletics or athletes associated with BYU athletics.

There may be some good will or PR to the church from BYU's sports programs, but that is not a missionary tool in the sense that it brings in new converts or has anything to do with the holy ghost bearing witness. I have a hard time buying it when people say that BYU sports is a missionary tool. It is not, in my opinion.

so, poll!

http://gospelcougar.blogspot.com/200...f-tithing.html

We all know that the church's priority isn't missionary work any more. It's good PR. And, as long as the BYU fields a winning team, that's good PR.

[DrumNFeather]

Originally Posted by il Padrino Ute

You are correct.

I can't help but laugh at the chaos that Sir Napper creates there.

At the same time, it's pretty funny how closely UF.N is followed over on CB. I mean, it's hilarious every time someone on CB tries to talk about how irrelevant Utah is, all while linking to post after post about Bronco, or recruiting etc...and getting worked up into a frenzy.

Perhaps I am giving too much credit to the UF.N posters, but I think that a good amount of the posts over there are...not TIC so much, but pretty close because they know that it will garner some kind of reaction from the blue faithful. I'm sure though that there are a handful of people who actually believe what they are saying.

Also, it would be nice if Goat could mix things up a little bit...he's been writing the same post for a year now...time to get some new material buddy!

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by DrumNFeather

Perhaps I am giving too much credit to the UF.N posters, but I think that a good amount of the posts over there are...not TIC so much, but pretty close because they know that it will garner some kind of reaction from the blue faithful. I'm sure though that there are a handful of people who actually believe what they are saying.

IMO, you do give the zoots there too much credit. In the pre-Urban Meyer days, I would agree with you, but with the success that Meyer had, it brought out the unrealistic and zoob-like ninnies who have thin skin when it comes to anything that isn't kissing Ute hiney.

It's a shame that folks there are incapable of appreciating Napper, as he's very funny and a heckuva guy too.

Zoots suck.