Non-Mormon, Inactive, Ex-Mormon BYU fans

hypercoug wrote:

I think Mars brings up a good point - even though sports are seemingly inconsequential, they have the power to unite families, nations, etc. I love how things like the Olympics, World Cup, etc seem to help unite people.

I agree. And this is something that most women just do not understand. Fathers and sons bond over sports and competition, rooting for the same team. They bond over that time spent together, even though we are not sitting around talking about stuff. Great memories occur from watching games together, playing golf together, whatever.

Lawboy wrote:

I think Mars brings up a good point - even though sports are seemingly inconsequential, they have the power to unite families, nations, etc. I love how things like the Olympics, World Cup, etc seem to help unite people.

I agree. And this is something that most women just do not understand. Fathers and sons bond over sports and competition, rooting for the same team. They bond over that time spent together, even though we are not sitting around talking about stuff. Great memories occur from watching games together, playing golf together, whatever.

apparently that's what Twilight was invented for. I never would have believed in groups of 30 yr old women going crazy over a teenage vampire romance until I saw it for myself.



They can have it and I'll keep BYU sports, golf and my guns.



(btw - I'm real proud of this board for the restraint that they've shown with this thread. I fully expected some unsolicited preaching. Maybe we're more tolerant than some think.)

craigoscarson wrote:



(btw - I'm real proud of this board for the restraint that they've shown with this thread. I fully expected some unsolicited preaching. Maybe we're more tolerant than some think.)

Go to hell you pompus bastard!

(there - that better? ;) )

scientologist coug fan here........



do I really have to put tic?



ps - i'm slightly disappointed that there are no flat out non_mormon fans here... I guess they are just harder to come by.



speaking of... Does catholicmat still ever come by?

Mars wrote:


I've always wondered how much of our love of Cougar sports has to do with our relationships with family that also loved BYU, like our Dad, or Mom, or Brothers and Sisters. Even after parents pass on, we have those happy memories watching games together or spending time talking about the team.

That is a big one for me. My dad went to BYU in the late 60's/early 70's. I grew up a BYU fan. My dad is gone now but BYU football is one of the most important ways me and my brother bond.

I have since left the church while my brother is still active. Sometimes it seems like religion could tear us apart but it is important that we have something to tie us together.

I also appreciate the attitude of those on this board to those of us who are no longer believing Mormons. I was a little worried about starting a flame war by posting the topic.

I still remember sitting beside a Baptist minister at the USU game in 2002 (whenever BO was on the team) in Logan and he said that he and his wife attended all the BYU games at home an away. He was from Colorado and he said that in the 80's he became attracted to BYU's explosive offense and then came to know more about the players and really admired them and they became fanatic BYU fans.

Lawboy wrote:

I think Mars brings up a good point - even though sports are seemingly inconsequential, they have the power to unite families, nations, etc. I love how things like the Olympics, World Cup, etc seem to help unite people.

I agree. And this is something that most women just do not understand. Fathers and sons bond over sports and competition, rooting for the same team. They bond over that time spent together, even though we are not sitting around talking about stuff. Great memories occur from watching games together, playing golf together, whatever.

sexist

Italics wrote:
scientologist coug fan here........



do I really have to put tic?



ps - i'm slightly disappointed that there are no flat out non_mormon fans here... I guess they are just harder to come by.



speaking of... Does catholicmat still ever come by?

I would consider myself a flat out non_mormon fan.

Italics wrote:
scientologist coug fan here........



do I really have to put tic?



ps - i'm slightly disappointed that there are no flat out non_mormon fans here... I guess they are just harder to come by.

I am not a Mormon. My wife is - I'm not.

colbyt3420 wrote:

scientologist coug fan here........



do I really have to put tic?



ps - i'm slightly disappointed that there are no flat out non_mormon fans here... I guess they are just harder to come by.



speaking of... Does catholicmat still ever come by?

I would consider myself a flat out non_mormon fan.

But didn't you say you technically grew up mormon (unless my memory fails me - which is very possible)? I guess when I say "completely non-mormon," I am referring to those who had absolutely NO mormon/BYU foundation, but along the road of life became a BYU fan one way or another. Again, it's probably hard to come by, and understandably so.

Count me among those who no longer believe in, attend, or support the church, but do support their LDS friends and family and BYU athletics.



Some of my ex-Mormon friends can't understand how I can separate the church from BYU sports, but to me it's no different from "conservatives" who love U2. You don't have to buy into the whole message to enjoy the show.

Mars wrote:


I've always wondered how much of our love of Cougar sports has to do with our relationships with family that also loved BYU, like our Dad, or Mom, or Brothers and Sisters. Even after parents pass on, we have those happy memories watching games together or spending time talking about the team.

My dad was never into BYU football. In fact after I started getting my season tickets I took my dad to his first BYU game.



My love started when my older sister was watching a BYU game because she thought Steve Young was "HOT". I remember I was about 6 at the time and falling in love with the high power passing game. It was so fun to watch. Then my uncle who was a BYU grad and the biggest BYU fan took me under his wing and helped guide me on my path to BYU football addiction. He's since moved on, but I know when I am at LES watching the cougs coming out of the tunnel taking the field my uncles still right there watching and rooting with me.



What has been hard for me is all the friends I grew up with who rooted with me for BYU and has now also drifted away from the church, they can't seperate the the church from the team. Its so hard seeing them wearing the colors of an open sore (i.e red) instead of the cougar blue that as kids we all loved. They can't understand how I can continue rooting for the cougs. But thats ok because I can't understand how they can turn there backs on a team that helped give them so many of there childhood memories.

Ddawg wrote:
I am not a Mormon. My wife is - I'm not.

Ah, the "Larry King special"! :lol:



;) :)

And......i have a brother-in-law that grew up baptist(no longer bapist, religious, but thinks the lds religion is a sham) that is now a BYU fan. He grew up in N.C., now lives in Colorado, only lived here for a short time, but I guess I have profound influence. :skeptic:

In 1984 I was 35 and totally inactive. Lived in Georgia at the time. I was always an avid BYU fan. But when we won the National Championship, something started to change. I purchased a ton of BYU stuff: class ring (I graduated from the Y in '76), pennants, plates, etc., and had them hanging all around the house. It was hard looking at them all the time but not living up to church standards. In 1988 I changed my life around, my wife got baptized, later got our family sealed, and have been a 100% card- carrying active LDS member since. I know a lot of things happened in my life to bring that change about and allegiance to the Cougs was not a major part. But I also believe that my feelings towards the football and basketball teams helped keep me connected through that period of inactivity and, in some way, played a part in the eventual softening of heart that had to happen on my way back.



So when our teams are having bad years and my Puke friends razz me about rooting for the lowly Cougs, I just tell them that it's about more than football. They never seem to understand. But then again, they don't have to.

1967cougar wrote:

So when our teams are having bad years and my Puke friends razz me about rooting for the lowly Cougs, I just tell them that it's about more than football. They never seem to understand. But then again, they don't have to.

C'mon, give them a break. They're Ute fans, there's not a lot they do understand. :P

My parents have always loved BYU and the church, I have always loved BYU athletics. Since probably early in high school I have always considered organized religion something that people use to get them through the night, something to help them when loved ones died, or something to give them a reason to be a good person. I have no ill will toward religion, well most religion, I say to each his own. I feel like god truly knows the intent of our heart and attending a meeting on sunday isn't really going to sway him. Be a good person, cheer for BYU and you'll be alright in the end.

On my mission there was a family that had us over for dinner every week (this was one of only 2 regular dinner appointments I ever had on my mission, so I definitely remember it fondly). The man of the house was a wonderful husband and father. He loved the Church, but didn't believe in it in a literal sense. He attended church every Sunday and held several callings (it was a small branch so there was a lot of work to be done by a few people, but he would refuse any calling that required using the Priesthood). He thought the Church was a fantastic organization and the best way to raise children and keep a family together.



He was one of the most active member missionaries in the ward and often had investigators over for dinner or meetings. He would always allow the missionaries to share spiritual thoughts with his family (they all believed) and would listen respectfully and never challenge or disagree with the messages. He and I had several long conversations, he respected what we were doing and we respected his feelings. Definitely one of my favorite people from my mission.

I am an active member and my best friend is not. He grew up in the church but hasn't been active for probably 20 years. He is the biggest BYU fan I know and our friendship started in December of 1996 when I started working at the company he was at and he came by to say hi because I had my BYU flag up on my wall. We have never missed a BYU football game without some discussion between us.



Because of BYU football, we have had multiple discussions about religion over the years. I don't know what affect it has had on him, and frankly I don't worry about it. He is my friend, we have BYU football as a common denominator between us, and his involvement or lack thereof in my religion doesn't change anything. Too many are too quick to judge others in their situation.



I am impressed that that hasn't happened in this thread.

1967cougar wrote:
In 1984 I was 35 and totally inactive. Lived in Georgia at the time. I was always an avid BYU fan. But when we won the National Championship, something started to change. I purchased a ton of BYU stuff: class ring (I graduated from the Y in '76), pennants, plates, etc., and had them hanging all around the house. It was hard looking at them all the time but not living up to church standards. In 1988 I changed my life around, my wife got baptized, later got our family sealed, and have been a 100% card- carrying active LDS member since. I know a lot of things happened in my life to bring that change about and allegiance to the Cougs was not a major part. But I also believe that my feelings towards the football and basketball teams helped keep me connected through that period of inactivity and, in some way, played a part in the eventual softening of heart that had to happen on my way back.



So when our teams are having bad years and my Puke friends razz me about rooting for the lowly Cougs, I just tell them that it's about more than football. They never seem to understand. But then again, they don't have to.

I think that it's cool that we have non-mormons/inactives that are die hard BYU fans. I also think that the above story is the best of the bunch. I believe in being tolerant, but I also believe in standing up for my beliefs. Not that our beliefs are being attacked here, but remember that we went Independent not for more money, but to spread our faith. I truely feel sad for those that have left the Church and I invite everyone to read the Book of Mormon, pray, and do what God would have you do. God still speaks to us through personal revelation and through a living prophet. Whether you accept the Gospel or not we still love having anyone and everyone as BYU fans.