“But I do not joy in my own success alone, but my joy is more full because of the success of my brethren,”
(Alma 29:14).
For the 2011 season, the Brigham Young Cougars will join Notre Dame, Army and Navy as the only independent college football programs in the county.
This independence shouldn’t come as any surprise.
A faith full of unity and brotherhood has taken one of its most prominent voices and spread it around the country.
And whoever made this decision deserves plenty of credit.
Brigham Young is a brand; a brand much too big for the Mountain West Conference.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has several central locations, but speak to any missionary and you’ll find that their travels circle the globe.
Then step inside a local church and find a family connection unlike any other religion I’ve witnessed.
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
(Ps. 133:1).
From father to son, mother to daughter and brother to sister, there is no greater support system than the one within in the Mormon Church.
Even the newest of its members get handshakes and hugs on Sunday mornings.
It’s a society that can function within itself.
It’s independent.
And soon the BYU football program will be as well.
BYU itself even has its own broadcasting network.
Now it has teamed up with ESPN in an eight-year agreement to televise BYU home games.
All on its own.
The Cougars have been a college football mainstay for years and can greatly expand its viewership for the first time.
One major positive: spreading their faith.
“And it came to pass that they did go forth, and began to preach the word of God unto the people, entering into their synagogues, and into their houses; yeah, and even they did preach the work in their streets,” (Alma 32:1).
Whether you agree with LDS beliefs or not, it was a no brainer to take this step.
Imagine performing at a comedy club in front of roughly 30 people. Then in a matter of moments someone offers the chance to perform in from of thousands.
Easy decision?
BYU made all the right moves.
Its big games will now be televised, its matchups will now be stronger and its message will now be heard by thousands of new listeners.
Not to mention that the last non-BCS university to win a national title (1984) will no longer be held back by its weak conference.
This season for the Cougars can be characterized as ho-hum — another 10-win year.
But in 2011, that’s a different story.
Eleven or more wins could result in a large bowl game, rather than another trip to the Las Vegas Bowl.
Of course, BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe has been saying competing in the BCS is not the reason for the change.
Factor in ticket sales, merchandise sales, better marketing, better opponents, television revenue, national presence, and an increase in viewers and Mr. Holmoe has plenty of reasons to be happy.
BYU should have no problem becoming an independent football program.
These new places will include some of the largest football stadiums and markets across the United States.
This is no longer about missionaries at the door, but the Brigham Young football team, followed by the schools commercials, headlining Saturday television.
For the university, this couldn’t have worked out much better.
“And there was one day in every week that was set apart that they should gather themselves together to teach the people, and to worship the Lord their God, and also, as often as it was in their power, to assemble themselves together,” (Mosiah 18:25).
Sundays shall remain a holy day of rest for the Mormon people, but Saturdays in the fall are about to get a lot more important.
Reach the reporter at nathan.meacham@asu.edu
