The best thing about it is that it’s one of the tell tale signs that times are good in Provo. When people start complaining about our NIL, the mission advantage, our policies, or “BYU not living up to its values,” you can just about bet your house that it means we’re winning and/or poised to win some more.
BYU has run one of the absolute cleanest programs in the nation while actually winning meaningful games. We refused to get into the under the table, illegal, direct payments to players that has been absolutely rampant in college athletics. We further hamstrung ourselves with a number of additional regulations involving both academics and the honor code that go above and beyond what’s required.
Nowadays, BYU is actually taking the handcuffs off a substantial alumni network, which is invested in the program and willing to donate financially. It’s above board, it’s legal. Now BYU is in a P4 conference and doesn’t have to try to compete with schools like Utah at a total disadvantage. There are financial advantages. Again, it’s all above board.
But people like PK do not seem like it. At a minimum, the article alludes to BYU selling out its values, if it isn’t claiming this outright. In my mind, there’s only one thing to do:
When criticized by folks who like BYU to be tucked away in a corner, hemmed in by their own self-imposed restrictions, BYU is on the right path. Pour it on. Keep it up. Turn up the volume. Lame little puff pieces like this are a reliable sign that the school and its student athletes are succeeding.