As we all know, after 18 months an athlete's Letter of Intent expires, and they become recruitable athletes once again. Since a mission is 24 months long, this expiration date is likely to occur somewhere around the 1 year mark of their missions (depending on when they actually report to their missions).

Speaking only of myself, by the 1 year mark of my mission I was at my most focused point. I knew that college loomed out there and that I would have to apply, but that was a long way off and I didn't want to think about it. Indeed, I didn't want to have to be emotionally involved in anything except my mission.

Even letters home were fun, but I didn't dwell on the news. I was concerned, but I left it up to my family to deal with it, and I tried to go about my work.

Now, imagine you are a blue chip football recruit that even non-draft devotees have heard about. Once that LOI expires, imagine how many letters would start flooding to the mission office. Imagine how many newspaper articles and videos would start arriving at you apartment via UPS. Imagine getting messages on your answering maching from every Division 1 head coach and recruiting coordinator "just wanting to see how you're doing and talk about your future." Imagine your family letters detailing what schools had called, and what they said.

Since as a missionary your future is now, anything that distracts you from the present is a burden. It would be very difficult to remain focused on what you are doing with accomplished, successful people trying to kiss up to you and trying to spoil you. I respect anyone who could go through that and remain a successful missionary.

When I got to the point on my mission when I had to apply for college, I was disturbed that I had to deal with it. I was so in the moment, that filling out a college application seemed an affront. In addition, the last thing I would have done if I was a recruited athlete was comtemplate what school would be likely to go to the best bowl game, or what school was ranked higher in the BCS standings, or how many people were on the depth chart in front of me.

Instead, I had a lot of discussions with fellow missionaries who wanted to transfer TO BYU where they could be among fellow memebers of the church and friends from their missions (or, if they couldn't get into BYU, what the application deadline was for BYU-Idaho (Ricks then) or UVSC). I knew many more return missionaries that transferred TO BYU then AWAY from BYU. After all, after serving your God and your Church for 24 months, it is understandable that many of these people would want to attend their Church's school.

I can't imagine being an RM athlete, and suddenly finding myself a couple months after my mission at Arizona getting dragged along to an after game party, or attending film sessions on Sunday afternoons. Or, going on a recruiting trip a few weeks after my mission, and having my escort tell me about the yewtin' party he had heard about, and how many "friendly" women would be there.

I feel for anyone in that position of having to decide where to play football (or basketball), and I have to believe that after a mission, most athletes would be MORE disposed to going to BYU, rather then less. Indeed, after your mission president tells you that your duty post-mission is to get an education and to prepare for a family, where are you going to find the most likely candidates to start a family with?