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The Problem

So, BYU is a school owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This is known, and the players and students of BYU are held to a standard that others are not. This may be fair or un-, but it true, and the actions of these kids reflects not only on the school but on the Church in general. Surely people know there's a difference between the athletes at any school and the rest of the student body, or the rest of the institution in general (the athletes from Kansas University surely do not represent Kansas or Kansans...) But they become a very visible face on the university and sponsoring institution. And in the case of BYU, it's more acute, perhaps, because the Mormon Church is known for being made up of people of relatively high moral and ethical standards. So when stuff like this happens, it reflects poorly on the athletes, the school, and the Church:




http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2015/12/3/9839950/nick-emery-byu-punch-utah-basketball

The quote at the end of the first story is "Not good, BYU. Not good."

Now, cheap shots are common in any sport, and many players and teams are guilty of such unsportsmanlike conduct, much of which is tacitly approved by coaching staffs. But BYU (again, however fair it may or may not be) is expected to perform to a higher standard. With taglines like "Honor, Spirit, Tradition" and with the idea that the school acts as an ambassador for the Church, it is a lot harder to reconcile these kinds of flagrant, dirty, cheap shots with the desired image...

So, yeah. Lose, BYU, if you must, but lose with grace and honor, rather than tarnish the reputation of the school and the Church with your cheap shots and foul mouths.



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