BYU Team Culture

Tell It Like It Is wrote:

[quote]

Post note: I don't understand the BYU philosophy on no alcohol or caffeine. Moderate amounts of alcohol, particularly wine, are healthy. And caffeine has a plethora of scientific proven health benefits. The religion always seemed to be kind of weird in that respect. I don't drink but I've got to have my caffeine.

How is it possible that there are still people who think Mormons can't drink caffeine? I understand the whole misconception due to no tea or coffee. But a prohibition on caffeine has NEVER been true. It's been corrected so many times that it seems to me anyone who thinks they can't drink caffeine has a very surface level (mis)understanding and should be cautious about giving "advice" to others regarding the Mormon faith.

To answer OP's question, you would be a fantastic addition to the team. Yeah there is a Mormon culture at BYU. Yeah the non-Mormons are the overwhelming minority among the general student-body. However, it is less so among athletes. Yeah you're still in the minority, but athletes have different personalities. By virtue of the fact that there is more racial and religious diversity, the athlete environment will buffer the culture-shock.

I am a Mormon, but I am not from Utah and I did not grow up around the Mormon culture. I was definitely a believer of it young, but I dated non-Mormon girls in High School, I said naughty words, got into some trouble, and I felt very uncomfortable with the idea of attending BYU. I was convinced to go on a visit though and I ended up choosing it over the other schools that were recruiting me. BYU's winning history, the culture among its athletes, the facilities, and its affordability are all what convinced me to attend. Also Utah is pretty cool with lots to do.

Some on this thread have given great advice, others have not. The only way to know is to go on a visit.

Living in Utah and having run against BYU, I would say BYU's culture is all or nothing. There have been several elite high school runners who've gone to BYU and become national studs, but for every one of them I'd dare say there are two more who flamed out and quit running or never amounted to much or were just always injured. There doesn't seem to be middle ground. You either become an awesome college runner or you never make the team and become frustrated and/or burned out and quit. Elite high school runners are a dime a dozen at BYU, and they can afford for several to burn out as they sift to find the gems (and they are one of the best programs in the nation at turning those gems into amazing runners).

Going over the edge wrote:

Living in Utah and having run against BYU, I would say BYU's culture is all or nothing. There have been several elite high school runners who've gone to BYU and become national studs, but for every one of them I'd dare say there are two more who flamed out and quit running or never amounted to much or were just always injured. There doesn't seem to be middle ground. You either become an awesome college runner or you never make the team and become frustrated and/or burned out and quit. Elite high school runners are a dime a dozen at BYU, and they can afford for several to burn out as they sift to find the gems (and they are one of the best programs in the nation at turning those gems into amazing runners).

I know people love to say this about top programs, but in BYU's case it's just not true. I followed the program closely for years and tried to walk on myself. BYU's attrition rate due to injury/burnout has been lower than other schools. On top of that, you see good improvement from top to bottom. Some rise more than others, but they churn out a lot of 14:00-14:20 guys.

I've seen quite a few go on missions and lose their passion for running. They come back fat and out of shape, and for one reason or another, the fire never comes back. I dare say they lose more to this than injury/burnout.

Joseph Smith wrote:

Ask Jim McMahon.

This is still the baller move to end all baller moves.

This sums it up: "‘All you have to do is tell them I’m not interested.’ But I have to say I’m not interested for five years before I get out. It was every day. You get hounded by it."

I'll say a few things about the program as I've been in it and close to it for years. What I say is fair for both sides of the coin and my reason for posting is to just provide some info for you to make your choice easier.

Here goes:

1. Ed is a great coach with a calm demeanor who will always make you feel like he cares.

2. The team atmosphere is great as the guys have a lot of fun and work hard.

3. I don't know many who LOVE the school, most are annoyed at things but stick through it.....

4. I don't know many who HATE the school, many understand the quirkiness of the culture and deal with it.

5. You will get more money and have a chance to make a roster and gain experience elsewhere should you want to maximize you college experience.

6. You may not make a traveling team for a couple years....then maybe give up the running career. (many do this but could have gone elsewhere and had 4 years of memories with teammates traveling and competing.)

7. The cream may rise to the top, but it will rise many other places as well.

Summary- If you feel like you would like the byu school experience and the Mormon culture wouldn't annoy you, byu is a good choice. If you don't know if you would make the traveling team within your first couple of years, you will likely not make it. If you would like to have a more traditional college experience (yes there are good runners out there that drink coffee and have a beer or two) then another school will be out there for you. If you want your best chance at running as a freshman and getting right into traveling with the team and gaining those experiences; another school is possibly the more appropriate play.

My .02 good luck!

alshaw wrote:

How is it possible that there are still people who think Mormons can't drink caffeine? I understand the whole misconception due to no tea or coffee. But a prohibition on caffeine has NEVER been true. It's been corrected so many times that it seems to me anyone who thinks they can't drink caffeine has a very surface level (mis)understanding and should be cautious about giving "advice" to others regarding the Mormon faith.

So then, what's the deal with the no alcohol doctrine? If a member of the church has a brewski with some buds during the Super Bowl or something, they'll face the wrath of the church and be thrown out? ?

I disagree that the notion of him getting more money elsewhere is incentivizing. The reason being if he's run a 4:12/9:05 as a junior he has a very good chance of being a scholarship athlete on the BYU team. Even if he doesn't though, BYU is so affordable compared to other colleges that it negates that point.

As good a distance runner as you are, and as good as you might get in the last year of HS and in college, I would be looking into the BYU's, CU's, NAU's, U of O's if I were you. Not because other schools can't end up being just as good for you, but they aren't as likely to propel you into running success as these schools are. These may be the "aim high" schools for you, but certainly within reach with yourHS times. If BYU is on your radar then do the damn visit and don't let LRC make up your mind.

What's The Deal? wrote:

alshaw wrote:

How is it possible that there are still people who think Mormons can't drink caffeine? I understand the whole misconception due to no tea or coffee. But a prohibition on caffeine has NEVER been true. It's been corrected so many times that it seems to me anyone who thinks they can't drink caffeine has a very surface level (mis)understanding and should be cautious about giving "advice" to others regarding the Mormon faith.

So then, what's the deal with the no alcohol doctrine? If a member of the church has a brewski with some buds during the Super Bowl or something, they'll face the wrath of the church and be thrown out? ?

Having a beer will not get you thrown out. It isn't right, but everybody has their own vices. I have Mormon friends who go to bars with me- they don't drink, but they don't hate me because of alcohol. Having a beer once a year probably isn't cause for being thrown out.

Inquiry minds want to know wrote:

dismissed for Honor Code violations wrote:

My whiteness didn't save me from the wrath of the Honor Code, lol. Also the guy who did the dismissing was black, so..... maybe I was racially profiled?

Were you on the football team?

Lacrosse. Almost certain racial profiling.

John Utah wrote:

They are Mormon, like 98% of the rest of the student body. If you are not Mormon don’t even consider BYU.

Mormons are absolutely the most successful American group. They have tremendous discipline and purpose. Don't knock them. Go to BYU and emulate them.

ggilder wrote:

John Utah wrote:

They are Mormon, like 98% of the rest of the student body. If you are not Mormon don’t even consider BYU.

Mormons are absolutely the most successful American group. They have tremendous discipline and purpose. Don't knock them. Go to BYU and emulate them.

Do you have any statistics to support that outlandish statement?

heyyo wrote:

ggilder wrote:

Mormons are absolutely the most successful American group. They have tremendous discipline and purpose. Don't knock them. Go to BYU and emulate them.

Do you have any statistics to support that outlandish statement?

Took that hook, line, and sinker, didn'tya?

heyyo wrote:

ggilder wrote:

Mormons are absolutely the most successful American group. They have tremendous discipline and purpose. Don't knock them. Go to BYU and emulate them.

Do you have any statistics to support that outlandish statement?

Joseph Smith wrote:

Ask Jim McMahon.

The BYU experience: Is that why he's crazy now?

Marie Osmond is plenty out there, too.

you're wrong wrote:

What's The Deal? wrote:

So then, what's the deal with the no alcohol doctrine? If a member of the church has a brewski with some buds during the Super Bowl or something, they'll face the wrath of the church and be thrown out? ?

Having a beer will not get you thrown out. It isn't right, but everybody has their own vices. I have Mormon friends who go to bars with me- they don't drink, but they don't hate me because of alcohol. Having a beer once a year probably isn't cause for being thrown out.

C'mon man!...what's with their no drinking policy? (that's the question here - not whether or not a member gets thrown out for having one beer a year). And what's wrong with having a beer or glass of wine once a day? What's with taboo on alcohol? A glass of red wine every day has health benefits. Weird religion for vilifying alcohol. ? If you're LDS, I'm putting you on spot with this - no spinning.

I am going to offer my opinion on YBU from the perspective of a mormon dad who isn't a zealot. YBU is a tough place if you are not into massive group think. My son went there from the South and did terrible. He did not fit in socially and never adjusted to the weirdness of the place. He was used to going to school with all non mormons and although he did drink or drug he got along great with those who did party. YBU was cult like for him as a mormon.

Having said that as a nonmember you will be treated warmly. Missionaries or a fellow teammate will take it upon themselves to convert you. It's not unheard of for mormon girls to date to convert. YBU girls want to marry a returned missionary, and they marry at 18. It's wild to watch a girl who wasn't allowed to date till she is 16 get married at 18. My biggest issue is I would not want the BYU name on my resume unless I dreamed of working for the CIA. Anyway good luck whatever you do.

I wonder what their divorce rate is? I think Maria Osmond got divorced?