Which Mission Statement Is Better?

Which mission statement do you think better guides the athletic department to succeed and win championships? Don't get me wrong -- I don't think BYU needs to drop reference to the church, morality, etc., but there's not a lot in there about, you know, winning and how to get there.



BYU Athletics Mission Statement[/u]

Build a distinctive, exceptional athletic program that is fully aligned with the mission and values of Brigham Young University and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.



Three Program Pillars

Develop student-athletes into leaders.

Live faith-based values of morality, charity and honor.

Win at the conference and national level, while displaying world-class sportsmanship.





Baylor Athletics' New Mission Statement

Baylor Athletics is the "front porch" through which many people learn about the institution--and through which many students begin to consider Baylor for their university pursuits.



Key to Baylor's success are recruiting and retaining both male and female student-athletes who excel in their sports while also placing value on education and recruiting and retaining successful coaches who believe in the mission of the University. Athletics facilities must be fitted with the latest advances in training and support for student-athletes. Coaches must have access to technologies and teaching and training methods that provide the best opportunities for their students to grow and excel.

snoscythe wrote:

Win at the conference and national level, while displaying world-class sportsmanship.

FWIW I like BYU's better. I think that the above sentence best states we should look to college athletics to be.

ABYUFAN wrote:

Win at the conference and national level, while displaying world-class sportsmanship.

FWIW I like BYU's better. I think that the above sentence best states we should look to college athletics to be.

I think BYU's is more of a vision statement of ideals, rather than a mission statement of how they will go about achieving those ideals.

I like Baylors, it's about winning and how they plan on achieving it. Isn't that what sports is about? You play to win it's that simple. Sorry sports is sports nothing else.

Baylor is bad and should feel bad. The death penalty is too good for them.

One is a mission statement, the other is a list of goals. The Baylor one looks like it was written by a 5th grade English class.

I have often thought that mission statements are what bored organization behavior types come up when it is too hard to figure out how their organization is going to prosper. I have yet to see Saban or Coach K or any winning coach say thanks to our mission statement we are where we are today. And I have yet to see a losing coach or program say if we only had a better mission statement, our lot would be changed. But that is probably just me. In any event, what good is Baylor's mission statement when its program produces such indeceny? As for BYU's? What good does it do to say that our mission is to win games and championships? Doesn't everyone want that?

I guess I overestimated how many folks are familiar with Mission Statements vs. Vision Statements.



A good dichotomy/primer from Bain & Company:

"A Mission Statement defines the company’s business, its objectives and its approach to reach those objectives."

"A Vision Statement describes the desired future position of the company."



BYU has a vision statement of where it sees itself in the future without a path to getting there.

Baylor has a mission statement--an approach set forth for reaching its objectives.



A vision statement alone, or worse--a vision statement masquerading as a mission statement, is the corporate equivalent of a nothing burger--like BYU's "Mission Statement"--it's a great list of ideals, but how do the employees of the University implement that statement? That's why a true mission statement is the list of goals or actions that the organization endorses as the path towards achieving its mission or vision.



The vision statement is supposed to be the goal, and the mission statement is the plan. "A goal without a plan is just a wish." -Antoine de Saint-Exupery



BYU's is not a true mission statement that a staff member can look to in prioritizing action. Baylor's definitely is a true mission statement and one I think BYU would do well to look at in revamping the BYU athletics mission statement to being more than a platitude.



Carry on.

BoiseBYU wrote:
I have yet to see Saban or Coach K or any winning coach say thanks to our mission statement we are where we are today.

Funny you should mention Alabama, because I think they have great mission statements, even if the department statement is a bit longwinded:



Alabama Athletics Mission Statement:

The mission of The University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is to build and maintain a program that achieves academic success and wins championships in all sports by educating and developing the best student-athletes and by supporting and retaining outstanding coaches.

COMMITMENT TO STUDENT-ATHLETES:

We will commit to the total support of the educational, athletic and personal development of all student-athletes while training future leaders.

COMMITMENT TO COACHES:

We will provide coaches with the financial resources, facilities and support services needed to develop student-athletes to their full potential.

INTEGRITY:

We will demonstrate unquestionable integrity in all areas of conduct in total compliance with all University of Alabama, Southeastern Conference and NCAA regulations; including day-to-day interaction

with fellow staff members and student-athletes.

EXCELLENCE:

We will constantly strive for comprehensive excellence in all of our programs and support services.

RESPECT:

We will demonstrate diversity and inclusiveness within the Department of Athletics by providing a welcoming environment for all of our student athletes and staff, with a community engagement focus.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

We will carefully manage our resources by making decisions that are in the best interest of the Department of Athletics while embracing the tradition and upholding the image of the University.

INNOVATION:

In alignment with the goals in the University’s Strategic Plan, we will always strive to look for new methods to improve and enhance the services we provide to student-athletes, coaches and supporters.

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP:

We will embrace opportunities to serve in national leadership roles in order to ensure that the voice of Alabama Athletics is represented on the national stage and that we can fully advocate for the betterment of intercollegiate athletics.

And the football team mission statement, penned by Nick Saban himself (underlining is his as well):

In our pursuit of victory we will be relentless and yet disciplined. We will always be the better conditioned team on the field and commit ourselves to one goal--winning a National Championship.

snoscythe wrote:

I guess I overestimated how many folks are familiar with Mission Statements vs. Vision Statements.



A good dichotomy/primer from Bain & Company:

"A Mission Statement defines the company’s business, its objectives and its approach to reach those objectives."

"A Vision Statement describes the desired future position of the company."

Actually I think that BYU's mission statement does exactly what you're saying it should:

A Mission Statement defines the company’s business...

BYU's says that the Athletic Department's "defined business" is to "Build a distinctive, exceptional athletic program that is fully aligned with the mission and values of Brigham Young University and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." That's a clear statement of the business of the athletic department. Maybe the word "build" leads you to conclude that everything stated therein is something to take place AFTER the program is built, but I think that that is too narrow of a reading of that word in the context of the statement.



Your primer continued that a mission statement also:

(defines) "its objectives and its approach to reach those objectives."

And BYU's does that as well it says "Three Program Pillars

Develop student-athletes into leaders.

Live faith-based values of morality, charity and honor.

Win at the conference and national level, while displaying world-class sportsmanship."



A "program pillar" is not something that you strive to have, it is something that is currently being done to support it's building of a "distinctive, exceptional athletic program".



Stated another way, BYU is not eventually wanting its student athletes to win on the conference and national level - that is something that is being done now. BYU is not asking its student athletes to someday "live faith based values" that is something that is being done now. BYU is not asking its student athletes to by and by "display world-class sportsmanship" that is something that is being demanded of them now.



We can disagree with each other as to what a good mission statement is, but it comes across as condescending to assume that people who do not agree with you just don't know what mission statements are...

ABYUFAN wrote:

I guess I overestimated how many folks are familiar with Mission Statements vs. Vision Statements.



A good dichotomy/primer from Bain & Company:

"A Mission Statement defines the company’s business, its objectives and its approach to reach those objectives."

"A Vision Statement describes the desired future position of the company."

Actually I think that BYU's mission statement does exactly what you're saying it should

No, it doesn't. It doesn't come close. It is a vision statement masquerading as a mission statement.

ABYUFAN wrote:

We can disagree with each other as to what a good mission statement is, but it comes across as condescending to assume that people who do not agree with you just don't know what mission statements are...

Anyone who thinks BYU has a stonger mission statement than Baylor's doesn't understand the difference between a mission statement and a vision statement. I feel 100% confident in making that statement as someone who spends a lot of time with mission and vision statements.



True, everyone is entitled to an opinion, but there are informed and uninformed opinions. If that comes across as condescending, so be it.

snoscythe wrote:

snoscythe wrote:

I guess I overestimated how many folks are familiar with Mission Statements vs. Vision Statements.



A good dichotomy/primer from Bain & Company:

"A Mission Statement defines the company’s business, its objectives and its approach to reach those objectives."

"A Vision Statement describes the desired future position of the company."

Actually I think that BYU's mission statement does exactly what you're saying it should

No, it doesn't. It doesn't come close. It is a vision statement masquerading as a mission statement.

ABYUFAN wrote:

We can disagree with each other as to what a good mission statement is, but it comes across as condescending to assume that people who do not agree with you just don't know what mission statements are...

Anyone who thinks BYU has a stonger mission statement than Baylor's doesn't understand the difference between a mission statement and a vision statement. I feel 100% confident in making that statement as someone who spends a lot of time with mission and vision statements.



True, everyone is entitled to an opinion, but there are informed and uninformed opinions. If that comes across as condescending, so be it.

So BYU's three program pillars are a "desired future position" of BYU Athletics? :roll:

snoscythe wrote:

I have yet to see Saban or Coach K or any winning coach say thanks to our mission statement we are where we are today.

Funny you should mention Alabama, because I think they have great mission statements, even if the department statement is a bit longwinded:



Alabama Athletics Mission Statement:

The mission of The University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is to build and maintain a program that achieves academic success and wins championships in all sports by educating and developing the best student-athletes and by supporting and retaining outstanding coaches.

COMMITMENT TO STUDENT-ATHLETES:

We will commit to the total support of the educational, athletic and personal development of all student-athletes while training future leaders.

COMMITMENT TO COACHES:

We will provide coaches with the financial resources, facilities and support services needed to develop student-athletes to their full potential.

INTEGRITY:

We will demonstrate unquestionable integrity in all areas of conduct in total compliance with all University of Alabama, Southeastern Conference and NCAA regulations; including day-to-day interaction

with fellow staff members and student-athletes.

EXCELLENCE:

We will constantly strive for comprehensive excellence in all of our programs and support services.

RESPECT:

We will demonstrate diversity and inclusiveness within the Department of Athletics by providing a welcoming environment for all of our student athletes and staff, with a community engagement focus.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

We will carefully manage our resources by making decisions that are in the best interest of the Department of Athletics while embracing the tradition and upholding the image of the University.

INNOVATION:

In alignment with the goals in the University’s Strategic Plan, we will always strive to look for new methods to improve and enhance the services we provide to student-athletes, coaches and supporters.

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP:

We will embrace opportunities to serve in national leadership roles in order to ensure that the voice of Alabama Athletics is represented on the national stage and that we can fully advocate for the betterment of intercollegiate athletics.

And the football team mission statement, penned by Nick Saban himself (underlining is his as well):

In our pursuit of victory we will be relentless and yet disciplined. We will always be the better conditioned team on the field and commit ourselves to one goal--winning a National Championship.

Thanks I just think that whether you have a mission statement or a vision statement (or both), or whether your mission statement or vision statement is worded well or not is of very little import in whether you will have a successful program. Thought exercise: if BYU copied Baylor's or Alabama's mission statement for its own, would our team be noticeably better? I just don't see it. And even if Baylor copied our vision statement, do we think there would not still have been the corruption etc we have seen there?

BoiseBYU wrote:

BoiseBYU wrote:
I have yet to see Saban or Coach K or any winning coach say thanks to our mission statement we are where we are today.

Funny you should mention Alabama, because I think they have great mission statements, even if the department statement is a bit longwinded:



Alabama Athletics Mission Statement:

The mission of The University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is to build and maintain a program that achieves academic success and wins championships in all sports by educating and developing the best student-athletes and by supporting and retaining outstanding coaches.

COMMITMENT TO STUDENT-ATHLETES:

We will commit to the total support of the educational, athletic and personal development of all student-athletes while training future leaders.

COMMITMENT TO COACHES:

We will provide coaches with the financial resources, facilities and support services needed to develop student-athletes to their full potential.

INTEGRITY:

We will demonstrate unquestionable integrity in all areas of conduct in total compliance with all University of Alabama, Southeastern Conference and NCAA regulations; including day-to-day interaction

with fellow staff members and student-athletes.

EXCELLENCE:

We will constantly strive for comprehensive excellence in all of our programs and support services.

RESPECT:

We will demonstrate diversity and inclusiveness within the Department of Athletics by providing a welcoming environment for all of our student athletes and staff, with a community engagement focus.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

We will carefully manage our resources by making decisions that are in the best interest of the Department of Athletics while embracing the tradition and upholding the image of the University.

INNOVATION:

In alignment with the goals in the University’s Strategic Plan, we will always strive to look for new methods to improve and enhance the services we provide to student-athletes, coaches and supporters.

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP:

We will embrace opportunities to serve in national leadership roles in order to ensure that the voice of Alabama Athletics is represented on the national stage and that we can fully advocate for the betterment of intercollegiate athletics.

And the football team mission statement, penned by Nick Saban himself (underlining is his as well):

In our pursuit of victory we will be relentless and yet disciplined. We will always be the better conditioned team on the field and commit ourselves to one goal--winning a National Championship.

Thanks I just think that whether you have a mission statement or a vision statement (or both), or whether your mission statement or vision statement is worded well or not is of very little import in whether you will have a successful program. Thought exercise: if BYU copied Baylor's or Alabama's mission statement for its own, would our team be noticeably better? I just don't see it. And even if Baylor copied our vision statement, do we think there would not still have been the corruption etc we have seen there?

If they copied Alabama’s conditioning and changed the goal to a commitment to winning every game, I think they would be better next year.



Bring back the quest for perfection!!! Lol



But really, BYU athletics doesn’t know what it is. If they had to make a real mission statement they might have to figure that out.

Find me another college football fan board in existence that has an argument over whether a statement is a "mission statement" or a "vision statement". I feel very confident that you can't! We are wonderfully weird here at Cougar Corner! :)

cougarapologist wrote:

Find me another college football fan board in existence that has an argument over whether a statement is a "mission statement" or a "vision statement". I feel very confident that you can't! We are wonderfully weird here at Cougar Corner! :)

You echo my sentiments - although you are much kinder. My thoughts are going along the lines of, "What the??? Who gives a hoot about any of this?" But, according to the comments, some people do. So, carry on, you valiant mission statement barons. Onward. Upward. To the fight!

FWIW I sustain Snoscythe as the Board Mission Leader.

Can't believe I read the whole thing.

Any mission statement (or vision statement for that matter) which uses the words “front porch” gets an automatic DQ from me.



BYU’s statement could be better.

Jarhead wrote:

Any mission statement (or vision statement for that matter) which uses the words “front porch” gets an automatic DQ from me.



BYU’s statement could be better.

😂😂