BYU sports is going nowhere. In fact, BYU sports is the most visible arm of the church. You lose BYU sports, you lose a brotherhood that extends well beyond sports. The fact that our athletic programs can thrive in spite of our honor code, our extreme minority standing as a religion, our no Sunday play rule, our geographical location (Provo is not South Beach), and the fairly distorted view of Mormons by the rest of the world is miraculous in itself.
My grandmother raised Merrill Bateman and I assure you that this is something he would never stand for unless there was a reason. Just to avoid a few incidents (in what happens to be the cleanest program in the country) is ridiculous.
Spiritual matters and decisions like these don't happen as a result of an incident or two. A spiritual matter and decision could happen just as easily during a national championship season where all members of the team are return missionaries with current temple reccomends and 4.0 GPAs.
We're not the church of gutshot/kneejerk reaction to an incident. That's not how inspiration happens.
This rumor is total bs, and while whoever told you it can justify it with the mission of the church, there's zero chance that there's serious discussion about removing the highest profile program at BYU. (athletics dwarfs anything else that happens at BYU as it pertains to profile)
There's much much much more good that comes from BYU athletics than the few rare incidents.
Are some embarassed about what one athlete said about an entire university? sure
Should they be the 1st to forgive and aknowledge that people make mistakes and say things in the heat of the moment? absolutely
Is a kneejerk reaction appropriate? absolutely not
(BTW - rumors in this church are dime a dozen. I remember people in church spreading claims that thousands of missionaries were getting patriarchal blesssings saying that instead of a mission, they they'd be in a war.... the last war... I have yet to meet anyone that has ever been able to confirm that rumor and of course, that was 12+ years ago. A time where there was no war, no draft, and certainly no last war...)
I have a sneaking suspicion that Ricks College athletics was a finanical and organizational nightmare and had nothing to do with divine inspiration.
The truth is almost always more reasonable than the rumors; even in a church where inspiration is a key element in decision making.
The appropriate reaction to a rumor like this should be in the immortal words of officer Barbrady:

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