I agree but that is not common with FSU's program either. It is a built in by-product with BYU because of their religious beliefs. They frequently have players on their team who are 22-25 years old because of the "mission trips" they are required to go on.
This is true. I don't mean this as a statement toward you, but I just find a lot of the dialogue that surrounds the BYU program to be overly critical and intolerant of their religious beliefs. They do not require students to go on missions (Jimmer chose not to go on one). I find it no different than any other student choosing to leave school for two years to pursue other endeavors and still having eligibility left. If that's what the student wants to do and the school will still accept them upon returning, that's their choice.
It has nothing to do with their religious beliefs. I haven't seen any significant intolerance toward them regarding their religion in.....well....ever. But the fact still remains that however they end up with grown men on their team, whether by choice of the player or not, the end result is the same. They seem to frequently have players who are ove the age of 21. Does it come with disadvantages? I'm sure it does. Just about everything in life comes with pro's and con's. But I firmly believe it comes with a lot of advantages as well. I really don't think these guys that stay out of the game for their two years of missionary work don't keep themselves connected to the game in some form or fashion. There's no way a player (on average) could totally get out of the game physically and mentally for two years and then come back to play at the same level as other D-1 players who've been at it for two years. I'd be willing to bet they're still working out and I'm also sure there is a playbook stuck in that backpack with their Bible.
That's just common sense BB. Frankly I hadn't realized what an advantage that is...even though we could still beat'm!
I guess just knowing LDS members who have been on missions, I just see those two years as being far more of a disadvantage in player development than any advantage by them being two years older. Agree to disagree.
I would agree if we knew that for those two years the player didn't do anything football related to keep him somewhat "up to speed" and connected to the program while he was gone on missions. But I think a little common sense should lead us to there's noway you could routinely have kids stay COMPLETELY away from the game for two years, with no physical training such as weightlifting, cardio etc. and not as much as look at a playbook then come back and somehow catch up with other players who have already got a two year jump. The odds of that happening are slim to none.
It was for the money partially... it was also so they could have a better way of outreach for the LDS church through their own TV network.
Let's not forget that if they do make it to a BCS game, they do not have to share that BCS payout with other conference members. Independence does have its advantages...
...So when he was hired in 2005 he made $450,000. Interesting. I guess according to Bronco you can make nearly half a mil per year and still be an amateur.
That competition is over. Utah just has to use the fact that they are in a BCS conference, and BYU is an independent Non-AQ team.
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