BYU football Op Ed: The entire program needs a united goal and vision

How important is football, anyway?

Well, to be totally honest… in the grand scheme of things… it isn’t that important. It’s a luxury.

Some, quite frankly, seem happy just to have BYU field a team. Others want BYU to improve facilities and put more money into the staff budget.

In my opinion, there’s no problem with this at all. It’s a good thing to have an active fan base that has strong thoughts on the direction of the program. The trouble might be the religious aspects that undoubtedly creep in when talking about BYU.

I’ve been saying for years that the LDS Church should treat BYU football as a missionary tool and brand. Get BYU into the public spectrum for fun reasons (good football). The Church has undertaken a number of investment/business ventures, so why not add BYU football to that list?

On the flipside, the argument seems to be that the return on investment for BYU football isn’t what City Creek (in Salt Lake City) is. That’s probably true.

Plus, imagine leaders of the LDS Church. In one meeting, they’re attempting to figure out the most efficient way to help hurricane victims. Or how to improve the homeless problems in Salt Lake City (keep in mind that these funds come from different areas – it isn’t like tithing funds are directly going to athletics, and that will likely never change).

Then someone comes in pitching more money for a football team.

It’s hard to think – even for the biggest fans – that these things are on a similar plane. LDS Church leaders are dealing with much bigger things than football.

Still, with all the negative publicity that BYU (rightly or wrongly) has gotten in recent years, would it not be a profitable campaign to have the Cougar football team be that fun, always on upset watch team?

It all brings us back to the original idea. Figure out what you want BYU football to be.

Are you happy just to have program? A thing students and fans can go to on a Friday or Saturday night for some fun? Or is BYU going to embrace its history (instead of solely relying on it) and create more of it in new era of college football.

It comes down to money.