ESPN’s Bomani Jones: “BYU Football is the most visual public representation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”

Even with a 0-1 start, BYU Football finds it’s way into the national conversation, this time thanks to ESPN’s Bomani Jones.

During his daily podcast, The Right Time with Bomani Jones, the network personality talked about Liberty University’s desire to have a Top 25 football program. Jones said that he understood why Liberty would want to connect their faith-based school to a quality football program because of how successful BYU has been in carrying to the torch for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“BYU Football is the most visual public representation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...In terms of a public representation of (the church), that is non-controversial, it’s the football team.”

It’s no secret sharing the message of the Church is a primary objective of BYU’s football program, but it’s interesting to see those outside the BYU media-sphere to comment on that mission and their success in doing so. Jones continued his thoughts on BYU, discussing how university’s widespread fanbase (and faith base) will help put fans in the stands across the country.

“And it becomes a thing for them where if you have all these members of the church around the country, yo if BYU shows in your town there’s a good chance you’re gonna be sold out. Because your city has a Church of Jesus Christ...Yo Gabe (producer) did you know that (they) have a church in Harlem? It’s been there for 15 years! On Lenox! It’s a couple blocks north of the intersection of Malcom X Blvd and Martin Luther King Drive! A couple blocks north, Mormons! They out there, in their short sleeve shirts trying to talk to you about stuff. They there! My point being wherever they show up people are going to buy tickets to watch them play football. It’s a great way to carry the brand of your message.”

Jones isn’t treading any new territory here for BYU fans but it confirms that people understand what the church is trying to accomplish. There has been a lot of discussion in regards to BYU’s commitment to competing at the highest level of college football (specifically from a monetary standpoint) and will surely continue as the top programs continue to separate themselves from the middle of the pack.

You can listen to the full podcast below, with the BYU discussion starting around the 22:30 mark.