article published by Sports Illustrated that appeared in the September 4, 1985 special College and Professional Football Preview edition.

The article is impressive because SI writer Gary Smith actually went out to the far flung missionary assignments (Bolivia, Brazil, South Africa) of three BYU football players and saw what they actually did day in and day out rather than safely stay stateside and conduct interviews with players and coaches in a sterile studio.

The article is fresh even 30 years later. You have first hand accounts of missionary life, and the real, unfiltered thoughts and comments of the players/missionaries themselves in regards to their missions as well as to their unknown future football lives. You are also exposed to the inner turmoil about the decision of whether or not to serve a mission expressed openly and bluntly by Steve Young.

I think it is still a classic SI Article and can be used to help educate fans of other universities on the realities of missionary life for a football player; what they are actually doing during the two year absence. They are definitely doing nothing that would enhance their physical skills or schematic football knowledge. Quite the contrary.

You can click on the first link and then page through the article, or click on each link separately. I hope the links work. Enjoy.

http://www.si.com/vault/issue/44477/86/2

http://www.si.com/vault/issue/44477/88/2

http://www.si.com/vault/issue/44477/90/2

http://www.si.com/vault/issue/44477/92/2

http://www.si.com/vault/issue/44477/94/2

http://www.si.com/vault/issue/44477/96/2

http://www.si.com/vault/issue/44477/100/2

http://www.si.com/vault/issue/44477/102/2