Wow, what a quote: "We expect our athletes to follow rules on and off the field and show up on time," said Hauck, who hasn't said when Kessman will rejoin the team.

Seems to me that a lot was made about the Cappacino thing when he was suspended from BYU when everyone knew that he was not suspended for that but was suspended for not coming to practice on time and missing team meetings.

mountaincougar wrote:

...why did BYU insist on recruiting people who, falling off the rule wagon is just a matter of time, not if at all. I would be interested to hear the why of this one, if anyone knows.

Not to change this to a religious discussion but couldn't the same question be asked of Heavenly Father on behalf of several people we individually know who seemed like they were born with the personality to "fail this life"? And He would probably answer with something related to agency and hope. I can see the point to your question and don't mean to trivialize it with a trite answer but I'm glad we have the staff af BYU who are willing to take some risks even when they seem like dead ends. I would rather see that and see one success story than no risks and zero success stories.

Go Cougs!!!

J. Child
Ammon, ID

While I agree with some of ammoncougars' points, the failures always seem to be thrown back in our faces and affects the university as a whole and , potentially, it's reputation. Without knowing the background of each individual, it is hard to cast an ironclad policy as far the risk goes. But some of them, when we know the type of risk involved, are better off going somewhere else where church funds aren't footing the bill. Just my opinion.

frdbtr wrote:

Wow, what a quote: "We expect our athletes to follow rules on and off the field and show up on time," said Hauck, who hasn't said when Kessman will rejoin the team.

Seems to me that a lot was made about the Cappacino thing when he was suspended from BYU when everyone knew that he was not suspended for that but was suspended for not coming to practice on time and missing team meetings.

Actually, Kessman was suspended for far more than perpetual tardiness and absenteeism. While it involved a beverage, it was not a cappuccino, and it was not at a Starbucks. However, Kessman could have earned his way back on the team like the other players involved at the party. He and his father chose to instead lie to the media about the incident, which burned any bridges he might have had back to Bronco. If you want to come back to Bronco's team, lying to the media in an attempt to make BYU and BYU football look petty and arrogant is not the way to do it. He was wise to leave after his foolish actions, because he had a LONG way to go to get back into Bronco's good graces.

I'm still trying to figure out why this is still such big news. Continuing to post the details of Kessman's travails at Montana will only pump up the already overinflated egos of Ryan and his father, and perptuate interest in the lies that they spread to the media upon his overdue departure. Who cares? The guy couldn't hack it at BYU, and the team is better without him. Apparently he can't hack it at Montana either. I say, who cares? Let's let it go.

SFCougar wrote:

Slugger wrote:

The thing that somewhat puzzles me is, or maybe I should say is a philosphical question...when athletes leave BYU football or are kicked off the team because they either a) violated a team rule/honor code or b) knew they likely would, most often their careers come to a skidding hault entirely. Is this a reflection of each individual athlete and their personal abilities to live by the rules, sacrifice and work hard? Or is it the lingering affects of leaving a religious school with strict behavior expectations (ie, damaged reputation, ego, dignity, self esteem)? Very few have left BYU to go on to productive careers at another college. The Kessman situation seems a bit stupid really, on his part, not the school's. So maybe it was an innocent latte or cup o' joe, the fact is it was a rule that he should have known and signed his name to. Getting upset at BYU for kicking off the team doesn't necessarily mean they are the only school with rules. Rather than learning the lesson and bettering one's self, some of these athletes take out their mistakes on BYU and then go on to...make more mistakes. And unfortunately, by then it may be too late and their college career dreams are gone.

It is not always the case that athletes leave BYU after some mistakes and go on to repeat them. How about Reno Mahe? Didn't he leave after some issues, went to a JC and then came back to have a great BYU career and continues to make it in the NFL? I think it really depends on the character of student-athlete involved.

Like I said, "very few..." not all. Mahe is a great example of a kid that learned from mistakes and matured and bettered himself. There are a few other examples, though I can't name them right now. I just find it interesting from a philosophical and sociological perspective. We all know religion is a powerful influence, for good or for bad. When people make mistakes pertaining to religion they often rebel against that religion and develop hatred for it, which only spreads to other parts of their character and behavior. Just an observational question to throw out there. CJ Ah You went on to have a solid career at Oklahoma and Ofa Mohetau has seen the field alot at Texas Tech. I know not everyone is cut out for BYU, myself included. Lifelong member of the church, graduate of both seminary and institute, served an honorable mission, blah blah blah. But yet I never cared to even apply to BYU. I just knew I would be a better fit somewhere else. I just wish some of these young men had the fortitude and foresight to see how they could mature and grow by making sacrifices, all while getting a great college education and the experience of a lifetime of playing D1 football for a historical program? I guess maybe I expect too much... But sincerely, good luck to Kessman and all those that leave BYU. I have no ill feelings and wish them well.