Langi Drama

[Qman]

My email to my dad apparently went astray, but I finally got an answer. He wrote:



So it seems like my dad's agreeing with the mission president who indicated that helping out with this type of thing was not unusual in the least. If the mission president himself had tried to persuade Langi to switch from the U to the Y, then I can see a problem. But I don't see any issue at all with the mission president helping out with some legwork once Langi told him he wanted to transfer, just as he would have done with any non-football playing missionaries who needed help. As my dad said, the missionaries themselves are not able to do that type of thing, given their strict correspondence rules.

This jives with my experience and those I have spoken with.

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

Am I wrong to suggest that when it comes to a mission president helping a previously committed athlete reverse course and transfer to BYU, they are opening themselves, the church and the BYU coaching staff to some serious allegations and scrutiny? I understand that it's not legwork that a missionary can do on his own during his mission, but is it too novel of an idea to suggest that the right thing to do is let Langi get home from his mission first before contacting BYU about possible interest, and also get together with Whit for a sit down upon his return?

There's new rumors starting to swirl that an even "bigger" LDS recruit will be transferring to BYU upon returning from his mission. I have yet to hear a name, and this is speculation on my part, but I immediately thought of Chase Hansen. The more this happens, the harder I find it to believe that BYU and potential transfers are not sending out "feelers" back and forth through church personel during mission time. I realize it's just an accusation on my part, but common sense would dictate that these things just don't magically happen without some backroom dealing.

 

[bigb]

Am I wrong to suggest that when it comes to a mission president helping a previously committed athlete reverse course and transfer to BYU, they are opening themselves, the church and the BYU coaching staff to some serious allegations and scrutiny? I understand that it's not legwork that a missionary can do on his own during his mission, but is it too novel of an idea to suggest that the right thing to do is let Langi get home from his mission first before contacting BYU about possible interest, and also get together with Whit for a sit down upon his return?

There's new rumors starting to swirl that an even "bigger" LDS recruit will be transferring to BYU upon returning from his mission. I have yet to hear a name, and this is speculation on my part, but I immediately thought of Chase Hansen. The more this happens, the harder I find it to believe that BYU and potential transfers are not sending out "feelers" back and forth through church personel during mission time. I realize it's just an accusation on my part, but common sense would dictate that these things just don't magically happen without some backroom dealing.

I can totally understand where you are coming from. Yes, it could appear that way. However, I choose to take the BYU coaching staff (and Utah's as well, since they claim it as well) that they don't actively recruit missionaries. Maybe that's me being a naive optimist?
I also could see where these athletes are suddenly wanting to be around the church standards 24/7 post-mission. After living that for 2 years, it kind of becomes part of your being.

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

I can totally understand where you are coming from. Yes, it could appear that way. However, I choose to take the BYU coaching staff (and Utah's as well, since they claim it as well) that they don't actively recruit missionaries. Maybe that's me being a naive optimist?
I also could see where these athletes are suddenly wanting to be around the church standards 24/7 post-mission. After living that for 2 years, it kind of becomes part of your being.

I get all that, and in the end, even if a kid does get recruited by BYU on his mission, it's just best to let him go on his way and follow his path. I do believe there was some shady stuff involved with BYU and Riley Nelson's dad during Riley's mission but in the end, BYU got what they deserved which was, well, Riley Nelson. These things tend to even out.