In recent years Mormon athletes, especially those who play for BYU, have gotten a lot of face time in both the local and national media. Most of this coverage has focused on the outstanding play of an individual (think Jimmer Fredette scoring 49 points against Arizona) or BYU team (think ESPN College Gameday coming to Provo for the football game vs. TCU). We can’t forget about the other instances that are just downright unusual, such as BYU’s role as the victim to the feisty play of a New Mexico soccer player (shown below).
Though most of these portrayals of the BYU athletics program do bring greater visibility to the University and by association to the church, I’m not sure that they really contribute to the mission of the LDS Church. As the mission statement of BYU Athletics clearly dictates, it is through the visibility of not only the accomplishments, but also the positive examples of these athletes that the athletic program contributes to the mission of the Church.
Although the local papers often give us good coverage, it is nearly impossible to find any widespread (beyond the state of Utah) articles or clips that highlight the good examples of BYU’s student athletes. Still, I do remember a number of occasions where announcers have briefly mentioned the missionary service of some football players or the humanitarian work they’ve participated in. More recently they noted the family-centered priorities of Andrew George who returned to Utah during a road trip to see the birth of his baby, and then quickly flew back to Albuquerque the next morning on less than two hours of sleep to play in a game vs. New Mexico. If that wasn’t enough, he also managed to catch a 27-yard touchdown pass in the game.
In contrast to the stories that showcase these positive examples of BYU athletes, there are plenty more widely circulated stories that focus instead on improper or unsportsmanlike actions of BYU athletes. Consider for example the criticism that ex-BYU star Austin Collie drew in 2007 when he said, “Obviously, when you're doing what's right on and off the field, I think the Lord steps in and plays a part." More recently a lot of publicity has gone to this brief clip of Max Hall venting some pent up feelings after an overtime triumph over rival Utah:
I strongly believe that for the most part, BYU athletes are setting a positive example and are exceptional ambassadors for the church. However, on rare occasions when athletes say unsportsmanlike things in the heat of the moment or that are taken out of context, the media makes a big deal out of their seeming lack of honor.
Do you think that the BYU Athletic program, as it is portrayed in the media, contributes to the mission of the LDS Church?
I honestly don't think it does beyond raising awareness. People can say I saw that athlete do this and that in the game that was televised and connect that with Mormonism. But exposure is the only thing that's really changing. I feel like the media generally would much rather talk about how good someone is at a sport than their personal convictions. There seems to be a code in sports where religion isn't talked about beyond what's necessary or unusual. So, while some athletes may be exemplary members of the church, I don't think that's what media consumers are really hearing about.
ReplyDeleteNope. But yes. More yes than no. More often than not, especially on networks not associated with BYU, during a sporting event, there is almost always mention of someone's mission experience or the unique nature of BYU athletes. I agree that the media helps promote the mission of BYU athletics through their comments about BYU athletes on and off the field.
ReplyDeleteFor those negative comments and outbursts with the media (Hall or Tavernari) are understandable but the athletes should be able to have a better handle on their emotions especially when speaking with the media. How could are returned missionary playing for BYU outburst like that? Just watch american BYU deferred missionaries playing soccer on pday, it will be anything but heavenly.
More often than not the media helps promote and portray the unique experience that athletes at BYU have. There are negative acts or comments by athletes, which is almost expected but possibly less than any other university program. Compared to these negatives, the positives outweigh the negatives.
I'm sorry, as a BYU athlete, I can't help but comment on this one.
ReplyDeleteI also have to answer yes and no. As we just discussed in class, events with more "news value" that have more of an out-of-the-ordinary and/or scandal-ish nature are more entertaining and therefore receive more coverage. This works to BYU Athletics advantage and disadvantage.
In addition to the examples you provided, there have been other scandals, like the four BYU football players accused of raping a 17 year old girl at a party in 2004, or in 2008 when three BYU swimmers found were accused with car theft.
BYU is also recognized for good things, like the football team giving a fireside prior to each game, hours of service, and giving up training and competition to serve missions. Just recently, Bronco Mendenhall was interviewed on ESPN about this very subject (missions) and why his program of living right on and off the field is working so well.
Here's the real deal in my opinion: Most athletes are promoting the mission of the church in quiet ways that probably don't garner the attention of the media. I also have to say that when athletes make it far enough, the media DOES care about personal conviction, (think of all the cool segments on individual athletes during the olympics).
So for those choice few who don't promote the mission of the church, who don't keep the honor code, and who, on occasion break the law, I say, where were you during those hours of meetings we (athletes) sit through where they pound the honor code, heightened media exposure, and that we're held to a higher standard, into our heads? We sign extra forms. We're taught how to give good interviews. I think Max Hall definitely missed that one.
Cecily Lemmon
Your post reminded me of something I saw on a girl from high school’s facebook status back in January. This girl from my high school runs track at Eastern Oregon and this is what her status read, “That BYU soccer girl I feel deserved everything she got from New Mexico…they are ruthless there, I wish I would’ve hit that girl with my baton!!!”
ReplyDeleteI remember thinking WOW, when I read this and wondered what this girl must have done. Of course, me thinking that no one from BYU would cause someone to feel like that, figured that some misinterpretation or something must have happened. I never bothered to ask the girl what the BYU athlete did to her to make her say this. But I think this does say a lot about how the athletes from our school really do represent BYU and the Church in general whether in person or clips people see in the media.
From the media playing the clip of the soccer game so much, this non-member from Oregon was able to make the reference to the soccer match when she had a bad encounter with someone from BYU, and decide that all BYU athletes deserve to be punched in the back and thrown around by their hair. Her thoughts may have also tied back to things she saw in the media about Max Hall and his comments about Utah as well, but I am not sure. If it were not for the media portraying these things, I don’t know how this girl from my high school would have made connections as to why BYU is so “ruthless.”
From this experience, I would have to say that the way BYU athletes have been portrayed in the media does not contribute to the mission of the Church. If anything it has given people references to point out exactly opposite of what the Church would want.
I think that it does. There aren't people waiting in line to be baptized after every BYU football game (probably because it's on The Mountain), but everyone who hears about BYU knows that it is owned by the Church. This knowledge is in large part because of athletics. Every time a game is televised the announcers mention someone's missionary service or the name of the Church. It doesn't automatically convert into people joining or even investigating the Church, but it at least brands the Mormons in a way that people can relate to. I'm sure that this helps people to be more open to the gospel when the opportunity comes.
ReplyDeleteLike above, yes, and no. As previously mentioned, when BYU sports are on spotlight through non-BYU associated networks and programs, I feel as though BYU sports is depicted in a manner that is more often than not shining on the Mormon faith and religious factors. A lot of what I think the media portrays of the athletics here is based often on what they already know of BYU as an institution, and from there make their judgements as to whether or not they deem the portrayal appropriate for how they conceive BYU athletics to be.
ReplyDeleteI also think there are times when specific athletes get called out for all the wrong that they have done or maybe a current scandal they were involved in. Another instance where the media will take an occurrence and run with it, with possible exploitation of BYU in a negative manner. To this, reflections should be on the individuals expense and not the university, but often the two are combined and the school is more to blame.
I would say that, on a whole, the BYU Athletics department does contribute to the mission of the church. And why is that? Because it gets the word out there that Mormons are real people. It demystifies the Mormons, disambiguating us from polygamists, Jehovah Witnesses, and whatever else uneducated, lazy, and irresponsible journalists associate us with. Insofar as BYU teams win, they also portray Mormons as successful, which is always a good thing.
ReplyDeleteAs far as aberrant behavior among athletes goes, as long as the athletes remain human, bad stuff is going to happen to at least some degree. But no one would argue that such poor behavior is the rule.
One more note concerning Max Hall. His comments were a bit abrasive, yes, but were they untrue? I'll let this picture do the talking.