BYU football is the tail on the dog, right where it should be. I can't believe all the inane comments about how the school should MATERIALLY compromise graduate programs or any other academics in order to admit an unqualified jock.

Comments go on about how graduate programs are mediocre, ergo, not that important anyhow; how football is an important "missionary tool"; how BYU will become irrelevant without a big-time program; how students should be compelled to buy sports passes; how donors are going to withdraw support.

I presume these are trolls or anonymous internet know nothings. Unfortunately, they now seem to be the prevailing voices on this board. They seem to have driven many rational and interesting contributors away. (Where are you 'BamaCoug?)

A few facts: BYU is relevant because it's in the top 5% of universities (out of approx. 4000 in the U.S.); it's graduate programs overall are ranked number #70 out of 1976, Yewtville is #152 (bestgraduateprograms.com); and only about 1/3 of students actively attend or follow the football program. Twenty of U.S. News' top twenty-five universities have insignificant, marginal or no football programs (Alabama's #129); so much for irrelevance without great football.

I attended the annual meeting of the advisory council of one of the major schools where Pres. Worthen addressed the group. I asked him where BYU athletics, and football in particular, fit in the University's strategic plan. He enthusiastically supported it citing three reasons, one of which was studies showing that strong athletic programs are important to a total college experience. He also said they were sometimes the first exposure of future applicants to BYU. HE NOTABLY DID NOT MENTION IT AS A MISSIONARY TOOL. If that was significant, I suspect he would have said so.

Football DOESN'T bring high level companies to recruit on campus. Football DOES NOT motivate the more than 50% of students who never come to a game. Football DOES NOT attract top tier professors. Great academic standing is the magnet for all of these groups.

Football is entertainment and school spirit. I love BYU sports and football in particular. I never went to school here but love what the university stands for, love ALL the athletic programs, but appreciate its academic reputation most.

It seems that the visceral reaction of the majority of CB to any school action that doesn't accede to the football or basketball program is to condemn the school, denigrate its leaders and their motives at every level, and mock the academic and conduct standards that have elevated the school to where it is today.

I read comments of how the "donors" will abandon the school. I'm one of those donors whose name is recognized on a plague in the lobby of a major building. We continue to give in five figures every year. I know many of the other donors and none of them give or withhold based upon the results of any of the sports programs.

Too bad the trolls have taken over. This board used to be fun. Now it seems predominantly to be diatribes seldom supported by any factual substantiation or proportionality.

Consider your contributions. Are they constructive or persistently critical, condemning, and generally withholding the benefit of the doubt from the school, its leaders, coaches and players? If so, how does that quality you as a "fan"?