In 2014, the roster for the BYU football team listed 62 players who had served full-till missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
In 2015 on the BYU men’s basketball team, 10 players on the roster had served a mission including Mr. All-Everything point guard Kyle Collinsworth.
That is 72 players between two teams. Pretty remarkable for a group of young men.
Mar 17, 2015; Dayton, OH, USA; Brigham Young Cougars guard Kyle Collinsworth (5) drives the ball while defended by Mississippi Rebels guard Ladarius White (10) during the first half in the first round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at UD Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
These players were called by their church to serve in various locations around the world and share their testimony with those around them. They had to wear a white shirt and tie every day, learn to cook for themselves, say their prayers daily, bear with all hardships that came upon them without their families to protect them, and basically had to mature in a hurry.
It is a choice that many of these young men don’t hesitate to make because they believe that the blessings that come from serving a mission are greater than they could possibly imagine.
BYU is known for having a lot of returned missionaries on all their various athletic teams and in times past there have been coaches and even broadcasters who have talked about how BYU athletes are more mature and sometimes bigger and stronger than their opponent.
It is true because someone like Nick Emery, who will be a freshman on the BYU basketball team after serving his mission and will be 20 years of age, will be competing against guys that are 18 or 19 and just out of high school.
The question that it raises for me is does that give BYU an advantage? With the way that college coaches have opened their doors to returned missionaries attending their school and playing for them it would appear that they believe that it is an advantage.
Nov 29, 2014; Berkeley, CA, USA; Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Christian Stewart (7) looks to pass the ball against the California Golden Bears during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
What coach wouldn’t want a young man who is able to take care of himself and is mature enough to make good decisions? Plus most of the time returned missionaries are more developed physically as well as mentally and spiritually that it helps in those big games where someone needs to step up.
Sep 20, 2014; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Taysom Hill (4) stiff-arms Virginia Cavaliers safety Anthony Harris (8) as he rushes for a touchdown during the second half at Lavell Edwards Stadium. The Cougars won the game 41-33. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
I am writing this on a Sunday because it is a topic that at times many people wonder about. Athletes may come back from their mission a little rusty and a little out of shape at times but because of the work they had to do for two years and that they chose to do it makes it easier with the work ethic they have developed to get back into game shape and to work hard.
As fans, what are your opinions on this matter and do you believe that it gives BYU an advantage on and off the field?