up for BYU football, but that would put BYU football in a unique position within the landscape of NCAA football. What other institution would be backed by a non-booster parent organization like that? The closest I can think of would be somewhere like Nebraska where the state really has just one college football team and so all legislators would support bills to fund their team.

I think it is dangerous to think of our tithing money as being subject to possible allocation for BYU athletics. We shouldn't gauge our BYU football financial support by what we pay in tithing. That way of thinking has the potential to generate resentment toward one or both.

I also do not think BYU football fits as well within the mission of the Church as many believe, Bomani Jones notwithstanding. It is way, way down on the list, if it is there at all. The Church has many other more basic concerns and stewardships. And, add to that the fact that more Church member college football fans are likely fans of other teams than BYU (not just Utah or USU, but their local teams - I see this wherever I have lived), then you have the seeds of resentment if they see their Church funding a program that will directly compete with their own favorite team/school.

I just don't see the Church ever funding BYU athletics in any direct fashion, and for good reason.