of college sports fans in the state of Utah DO equate BYU with the Church, albeit negatively.

I'm referring to all the ALUFs who are morally outraged any time anyone associated with BYU shows that they're human - ALUFs who scream in self-righteous indignation that BYU isn't living up to its obligations to Church members (but who never seem willing to acknowledge that they, as members, aren't living up to their obligations to the Church every time they tear down its most visible institution).

I wonder how many of the BYU fans you're talking about would feel less defensive/protective of BYU if it wasn't constantly being attacked and torn down by all the ALUFs in their midst.