Non-Mormon, Inactive, Ex-Mormon BYU fans

There is a thread on cougarboard about BYU fans who aren't mormon or inactive mormon. I thought I would share that someone started a yahoo group if anyone else is interested.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/non-ldsbleedblue

Thanks for the link! I just joined. Glad to know I'm not alone :)

So I'm not alone in the cougar world. :evil: Thanks!!!!

Non mormon BYU fanatic right here....first post

Not interested unless there's a polygamist Mormon BYU fansite.

colbyt3420 wrote:
Non mormon BYU fanatic right here....first post

Sweet! Welcome to the board.

Now, if all of you non-mormon, inactive, ex-mormon BYU fans would leave your address and phone numbers I have a special representative I'd like to come visit with you, maybe share a video or a free book...



:lol: :D

I'm actually curious about what conditions lead to a non-mormon becoming a BYU fanatic. Anyone care to chime in?

tmoney35 wrote:
I'm actually curious about what conditions lead to a non-mormon becoming a BYU fanatic. Anyone care to chime in?

Grew up in a Mormon family as a BYU fan. Being a die hard fan of BYU stuck. The church didn't stick...

Time to fess up. Which one of us is this?:BYU Fan.gif

hawkwing wrote:
Now, if all of you non-mormon, inactive, ex-mormon BYU fans would leave your address and phone numbers I have a special representative I'd like to come visit with you, maybe share a video or a free book...



:lol: :D

Lol, Well I'm pretty sure what those representatives would say, considering I was one of them myself for 2 years. I just don't believe the doctrine anymore.



I am a "cultural mormon" or "new order mormon". I still attend church sometimes, and still value many of the teachings. I just choose to accept what feels right and makes sense to me, and reject what doesn't. There are a lot of us out there. No doubt some in your own ward feel the same way as I do.

Wickchad84087 wrote:
Time to fess up. Which one of us is this?:BYU Fan.gif

HEY!!!! I thought I had destroyed that picture a long time ago. :bug: :bug:

hypercoug wrote:

Now, if all of you non-mormon, inactive, ex-mormon BYU fans would leave your address and phone numbers I have a special representative I'd like to come visit with you, maybe share a video or a free book...



:lol: :D

Lol, Well I'm pretty sure what those representatives would say, considering I was one of them myself for 2 years. I just don't believe the doctrine anymore.



I am a "cultural mormon" or "new order mormon". I still attend church sometimes, and still value many of the teachings. I just choose to accept what feels right and makes sense to me, and reject what doesn't. There are a lot of us out there. No doubt some in your own ward feel the same way as I do.

Yep, and of course I was kidding as you could obviously tell. I'm in fact glad that many inactive mormons still remain BYU fans, and nothing but good comes from it as our non-Mormon fan clubs grow.

hawkwing wrote:

hawkwing wrote:
Now, if all of you non-mormon, inactive, ex-mormon BYU fans would leave your address and phone numbers I have a special representative I'd like to come visit with you, maybe share a video or a free book...



:lol: :D

Lol, Well I'm pretty sure what those representatives would say, considering I was one of them myself for 2 years. I just don't believe the doctrine anymore.



I am a "cultural mormon" or "new order mormon". I still attend church sometimes, and still value many of the teachings. I just choose to accept what feels right and makes sense to me, and reject what doesn't. There are a lot of us out there. No doubt some in your own ward feel the same way as I do.

Yep, and of course I was kidding as you could obviously tell. I'm in fact glad that many inactive mormons still remain BYU fans, and nothing but good comes from it as our non-Mormon fan clubs grow.

I agree, it bothers me when people become ute fans out of spite just because they left the church. Lots of respect for those who stayed true to their team. You guys are real fans and should be proud of it.

Metal Bubba wrote:
Not interested unless there's a polygamist Mormon BYU fansite.

Indeed! And if I can calculate properly there is potentially LARGE fanbase to tap into if you get my drift...

I grew up LDS going to church every week and it is still the religon I base most of my faith on. But I cannot stand the shall I say lack of fun that is allowed in the church. I grew up following the cougs and even though I fit in more with the devils to the north I just can't bring myself to root for any team other than the cougs.I completely seperate it from everything else. To me rooting for BYU football is no different than rooting for the Steelers. None of my friends understand it, hell I have to admit there are times I dont understand it. But its an addiction that I have no interest in quiting. To me BYU football is just football.

BYU football stuck.......religion didn't

a1247 wrote:
I grew up LDS going to church every week and it is still the religon I base most of my faith on. But I cannot stand the shall I say lack of fun that is allowed in the church. I grew up following the cougs and even though I fit in more with the devils to the north I just can't bring myself to root for any team other than the cougs.I completely seperate it from everything else. To me rooting for BYU football is no different than rooting for the Steelers. None of my friends understand it, hell I have to admit there are times I dont understand it. But its an addiction that I have no interest in quiting. To me BYU football is just football.

Yeah I'm right there with you. I grew up on BYU football. I was a BYU football player for halloween more than once. I recorded a BYU/AFA game back in the late 80's I think it was, when Stacey Corley was at BYU and Dee Dowis was QB at air force. Corley ran 2 kickoffs back for a TD in the same game. As a kid I used to watch game over and over, and pretend I was him. When I was 10 years old, the first game I attended at cougar stadium was BYU vs Miami. I still have the little "Ty" they handed out at the game. What a game. 28-21. Then I went on a mission(one of the best things I ever did), attended BYU, went to all the games, and graduated and life went on... but nothing excites me, then and now, like the start of a BYU football game. I don't think I could give it up if I tried, and I could never like any other team as much as I do BYU.



Anyway BYU's my team. It always has been and always will be. I kind of feel that way about the church and mormonism in general. Mormonism is my tribe. Most active mormons cannot understand how difficult it can be to lose your faith in the church. It's devastating to come to the conclusion that what you have based your life on may not be everything you once thought it was. Being LDS is much, much more than believing certain doctrines - its a tribe, a culture, a way of life. On one hand I feel completely comfortable at church, as it is an environment I know better than any other. But at the same time I feel so out of place - it's just not me, and it is not my belief system anymore. It's like being a BYU football fan, but being forced to find a new team to root for because you cannot be accepted for what you are and what you believe. I would stay in the church and raise my kids in it if there were a higher level of tolerance for someone who doesn't fit the mold. Joseph Smith taught "I teach the people correct principles, and let them govern themselves". Over time the church has morphed more into a "do as the brethren say" type organization, where doubting or questioning is not welcomed. It just doesn't work for me or my family anymore.



Anyway, for me, BYU football is one way I connect with my roots and my past, while heading towards a future less involved with the institutional LDS church. But I'll always bleed cougar blue, and want to teach my kids about their family's mormon pioneer past, and try to share with them what I view as the positive aspects of mormonism.

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 parents were BYU fans I guess, but not all that interested in sports. My grandparents though, are rabid BYU fans. For a lot of the games, I go up to my grandparents' place with my wife and kids and we watch the games. They are getting pretty old now, but when they pass on it'll be great to have those memories.



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.