The demand for good football at a nonparty, academically-respected school exists. Throw in Christian affiliation (albeit nontraditional, and in the minds of some, not Christian) and BYU is marketable within a sizable enough niche.
Or it should be.
But instead, we insist on forcing Mormonism/strict Mormon lifestyle down the throats of any and all who will sign the dotted line at BYU.
Someone decided this would help the school somehow. In my estimation, it does not, whether you represent the school in some competitive endeavor or not.
If we'd simply recruit students who we believe can survive and thrive, then let the environment itself sell the virtues of Mormonism vs. constructing a quagmire of rules, it would be a better place. Not perfect, but overall, better. And certainly more appealing to those not of our faith or not completely died-in-the wool LDS.