BYU is amazing. It certainly offers many things that Harvard for academics doesn't and Alabama for football doesn't. That is why I threw in the whole line that says "That doesn't mean BYU is the wrong choice, just that most will choose differently" and other similar one liners. If I had wanted to compare BYU to other schools in every way I could have written a post twice as long. I'll give one: if you want to go on a mission and play sports than you should pick BYU since numbers show you are much more likely to go while at BYU.

Still, ll I'm talking about is perception having an impact on student and athlete future prospects.

I know extremely successful individuals that got into fantastic grad schools and future careers who went to Southern Utah, BYU-H, North Dakota etc. I don't think I need to show evidence that the collective rate of future success at BYU is higher than these schools and that the collective rate of success is higher at Harvard and the collective rate for football players drafted is higher at Alabama. If you have evidence that shows contrary I would be happy to consider it. Such evidence is going to need to remove the cost of education though because that primary to what I am talking about.

I also never said it shouldn't be preferred. I did say that for me personally I probably would have gone to one of these other schools if costs were the same. That would have been a personal decision though, not a collective admonition for all those considering college. I didn't meet my wife at BYU so that is an influence. Most of my best friends are not from my time at BYU. I didn't find nor keep my testimony from BYU. Just my personal experience. I LOVED LOVED LOVED my time at BYU and try to convince youth to go there all the time because it is amazing in every way. I still think I would have chosen Princeton if I got in. Probably wouldn't have loved the experience as much but I didn't go to school primarily for the experience.

Again, all I'm saying is to each their own. Kids are successful elsewhere all the time and for good reason. BYU should be a no brainer when pitted against similar football schools but I understand what it loses most battles to the powerhouses and I don't blame it on our coaches. I see it for what it is, a kid seeing what he believes is a better opportunity to reach his dreams. No one should be faulting that kid for that and no one should use that decision as a primary indicator of the state or our program.