Does Anyone Else Think Missions Make BYU Sports Entertaining

I was going to say EXTREMELY entertaining, but ran out of room.



Seriously - missions really add a lot of entertainment!



I mainly had this idea hit me as I was reading this thread for some reason

http://www.mwcboard.com/www/forums/index.php?showtopic=22469



Consider all of the talent BYU recruits.

You usually don't even see these kids until 3 years after we grab them.

Then sometimes you have players like Haws, who just completely dominate their first year. Suddenly BOOM! They disappear for 2 years. New recruits come in, new players step up, new players get home from missions, and you forget about them.

Then 2 years later... oh yeah! ___________ Is coming back again baby! Remember how good/hyped he was?



No other school gets that, but we do. Yeah, it sucks to pull in great recruits and then have to wait 2-3 years to see them (assuming they serve), but it's also very fun and entertaining to get to factor in RM's along with recruiting during the off-season.

I believe it also holds a small advantage, in that BYU's team is not as predictable year to year. With other teams, you pretty much always know who is returning, and you have lots of experience playing against certain players. With BYU, the team's face make extreme changes each year, which I think keeps a lot of opponents on their toes.



Thoughts?

You know, I'd never have looked at it that way, but sure, I'll bite. You put it that way, I'd definitely agree that it makes for much more intrigue. Not sure if that's the same as entertainment, but I like your positive outlook on what we the fans tend to put too negative a spin on, considering how eternally important the service is. Thanks for a refreshing read!

:)

At first I was thinking this was going to be some sarcastic post. Like the out look. Lately we've had a good string of RMs being able to get back and contribute. I think a lot of this has to do with Rose and since the team is consistently doing so well the RMs want to come back and get in the lineup as soon as they can.

It is also hard on the team to have that revovling door. Rose has done a good job to get them to play together inspite of changes.

It'll be interesting to see how Rose incorporates returned missionaries. It's something he hasn't really had to deal with. His teams have to really revolve around RMs. So far, Trent, Lee, JT, Keena and Jimmer have led the way. The RMs have been complimentary players (Sam Burgess, Ben Murdock, Chris Miles, etc). But in the next few years his teams will really start to revolve around RMs (Chris & Kyle Collinsworth, Tyler Haws, Ian Harward, Nate Austin, etc). It'll be fun to see how their managed.

Currently, there are 3 RMs starting for BYU: Miles, Emery, and Hartsock. 3 others are on the team, but get little if any playing time: Anderson, Magnesson, and Zylstra. Two are true freshman with mission plans: Haws and Davies. (At least last I heard Davies has mission plans, but that could change.) So that makes 4 of 5 starters who have either served missions or will serve a mission. Not too bad for a basketball team. Rose has been fortunate to have several key players not serve who could have such as Plaisted, Cummard (yes, he went on one, but came back very early) and Fredette.



I'd say Rose is making pretty good use of RMs on this team and will continue to do so in the future. I think Rose finally has enough talent in the pipeline between non missions and those that are on missions that the program will not suffer for it.



But yeah, we see talent like Haws and Collinsworth come and go and it's frustrating when we could use them for 3-4 straight years. ;) I do think in time that Rose will land talent like Arnold was able to do and then we will see great things out of this program. I haven't been this excited about the prospects for BYU basketball since the Ainge years.

what do you know about changes to Davies' mission plans being possible? i hadn't heard about this.

currently Davies does not have mission plans, but if he changes his mind, he's young enough that he'll consider that option after next season... after his soph year.

craigoscarson wrote:
currently Davies does not have mission plans, but if he changes his mind, he's young enough that he'll consider that option after next season... after his soph year.

and it's probably only a matter of time before we have a 7-page thread on this

Isn't Davies young? I didn't think he turns 19 until after next season would start.

Mars wrote:

and it's probably only a matter of time before we have a 7-page thread on this

Only if you agree to come in at the very end of it and add something nonsensical.

1. Nonsensical is my word

2. There were pages and pages on that topic before I even touched it with my epic wisdom

craigoscarson wrote:
currently Davies does not have mission plans, but if he changes his mind, he's young enough that he'll consider that option after next season... after his soph year.

Thanks Craig, for some reason I thought I had heard that. Appreciate the correction.



That is good for the program to have some continuity.

Mars wrote:

There were pages and pages on that topic before I even touched it with my intellect - an intellect which is, at the least, ions ahead of Mars'.

Fixed it for you. :P

I'm flattered!