Andy Staples, a writer for Sports Illustrated (and one whom I’m not familiar with) posted an excellent article last week about the challenges that active LDS athletes face in choosing a school and the possibility that they may leave for 2 years for a mission. I was an average athlete in high scho0l, and never had any dreams of even playing in university/college. I can only imagine how exciting it must be to be that good, and also to worry about what might happen to your scholarship and your abilities if you leave for two years.

A few highlights from the article…

On dealing with a potential school:

“I basically told them, ‘This is me,’” said Te’o, from Laie, Hawaii. “I’m LDS. I’m thinking of serving a mission, and I want that to be available to me. If that’s not in the cards for your university, I have to respect that, but I have to consider others.”…

Considerations other than serving a mission:

LDS players also must consider how their faith will mesh with the campus environment at either a secular school or one run by a different faith, and they must prepare for a backlash from some in the LDS community should they choose a school other than Brigham Young, the Provo, Utah, university run by the Mormon church…

Pressure to stay:

“The pressure came more from just knowing that your team is counting on you. You are in the mix of things. You have been practicing with them every day. They know you. You know them. So to all of sudden say, ‘I’ve got to leave you for a couple of years’ gets really hard for the young man to do. … The pressure to stay once you’ve gone there is tremendous”…