Coach McBride

[Central Coast Ute]

Just listened to his segment on Hans and Scotty from yesterday. He said his wife took his car keys. He was trying to be a good sport about it but you can tell it’s bothering him. I remember when the same thing happened to my grandfather and he took it hard. It can’t be easy seeing this happen to yourself. I’m 45 now which means Ron McBride has to be pushing 90. It’s sad seeing people age.

One thing he mentioned was he had a conversation with Taunuvasa and asked him why he left the Utes. He told him that God called him to the tds. McBride then said Kalani Sitake is his home teacher. If that’s not direct tampering I don’t know what is. As a member of the LDS faith, I hate to say this, but the Utes should probably focus on non LDS kids if they are that easily manipulated. It means fewer LDS kids will get an opportunity, but the way CFB is going, fewer kids will get an opportunity anyway and non LDS kids won’t have members of the opposing teams coaching staff “randomly” assigned as home teachers and manipulated by their faith the switch schools.

[UteThunder]

Focusing on LDS athletes is part of what re-built Utah football from the dumpster fire it had become in the 70s and 80s. Turning our back on those recruits will send us right back to the bottom.

[Central Coast Ute]

I get it and I’m not sold on not taking any. But developing a kid to have his home teacher come in from byu is complete bs. Since joining the P12, we have fewer lds kids than we did in MWC days. There’s plenty of non lds talent out there.

[Charlie]

Was he living in Provo? Would not think Kalani would be his home teacher in SLC. If he was living in Provo that lean began when he moved there or did not move to SLC.

[D T]

My understanding, his wife’s a zoob student.

[Larry B]

Yeah, God told him to go to BYU. It had nothing to do with the fact that, from several sources, he was offered twice as much NIL as he was getting here 🙄

[Tony (admin)]

God writes the checks.

[Ute Dub]

As an LDS person, it bothers me that he cites God as a cover for getting a bag. Even if God did tell him it’s the right thing to do, he doesn’t need to share it as though it’s the only factor. The bag was a factor. I got a bag and felt it was right. That’s all he needs to say.

Just my .02 cents.

[Larry B]

Exactly! I don’t blame any player leaving to get paid more money. I don’t like it, but it’s just the way the game is played. Hell, if a company offered me twice the paycheck to do the same job, you couldn’t stop me from taking it.

But to say “God called and told me to transfer” is so disingenuous. I guess my question to him would be, why did God wait until NIL was involved to tell you you belong at BYU?

[Rick Walker]

Agreed. I also think that if I were him I would’ve cited the fact that he’s now married to a student at byu as a major reason for leaving to go there along with the fact that they payed better. To a religious person, that sounds like God blessing your life.

[J Rocksville]

I don’t think we should stop recruiting LDS athletes. I think the U offers a different experience, that is likely appealing to a lot of LDS athletes. I also think, judging a lot by what I hear from my wife who is a family therapist, that there is a large and growing group of more nuanced LDS people out there and I suspect that population will only continue to grow in size and in voice. They certainly would prefer a more diverse experience than what BYU can offer.

BYU is certainly a “special” place, and there are lots of people that want that experience too I suspect. But it’s a bubble, for better or worse. My personal opinions aside, I think over time the number of LDS recruits that prefer a more diverse and real-world collegiate experience will gradually outnumber the ones that find the BYU experience to be appealing.

[Central Coast Ute]

I’m not saying we should stop altogether. Obviously if you can get some kids you should take them. It just irks me that they can certain home teachers to certain people and then say God wants you at byu. They can claim that wasn’t tampering because it was just a religious contact. Football coaches should not home teach players. Especially from another team.

[Kellso]

Coach Mac is a Utah jewel.

[utefansince79]

Makes sense to recruit and offer great local LDS athletes, even if they indicate they want to serve a mission (usually after playing one year).

Of course in the NIL $$$$$ era, far fewer players are playing their entire career with one school.

[ALUF]

Hard time believing this story as it’s called ministering and not home teaching now. Has been for the past bit

[DataUte]

I was going to say this as well. McBride was probably joking with that one. And honestly, even though they handed him a bag of money, his fiancé (proposed in Jan, might be his wife now?) is there and I think there’s just some ‘ease’. Sure, he says it was God, but I am fine with that. Remember, these kids are in their early 20s and still figuring life out.

Do I think he would have been developed better at Utah? Sure. Can he make the league either way? I would think a better bet with Utah. But whatever. We’re going to lose some for various reasons, even NIL, it just hurts more that it was TDS with potential ‘tampering’. But the fact is the LDS players/community is going to be very intertwined in SL and Utah counties. Should we stop recruiting LDS athletes? No, absolutely not. For all the good and great ones we’ve had, to throw the baby out with the bathwater for a few ‘stolen’ from TDS, it’s been good to get the in state talent, regardless of these nuances and/or missions.

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