NO, NO & NO! Tithing funds are used to pay for operating the university generally, but they ARE NOT used for athletics in any way, shape, or form! Sports are paid for by both any income they generate (ticket/advertising sales, TV money, concessions, etc) as well as a sizable Athletics Dept endowment created by donors and earmarked for this very purpose. The Brethren are extremely careful and judicious in the use of our tithes, offerings, and other donations, and athletics have not been, nor ever will be, paid for out of these sacred funds. Pretty cool, huh? Yet another reason, along with the HC, to be well-pleased with how things are done at BYU and the consistently high level at which its teams compete and conduct themselves in today's world of sports...