Faith and Football: A Tale of Unity and Division

In the world of college sports, faith and competition often collide, creating a mix of inspiring moments and unfortunate incidents. Recently, fans from Arizona and Colorado have been criticized for using religious slurs against Brigham Young University (BYU) teams, which is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This behavior highlights the worst aspects of mixing religion and sports, where young athletes face bullying and disrespect. On the brighter side, there are heartwarming examples of faith and sports coming together. Take the Bachmeier brothers, Bear and Tiger, who play for BYU. They were seen kneeling in prayer and making the sign of the cross in the end zone, showcasing their Catholic faith in front of a crowd that mostly supports a different religion. This moment was a beautiful display of acceptance and unity. Growing up as a Catholic in a predominantly Latter-day Saint area was challenging. There was always a fear of bias, like when the writer once pretended their high school was named after Joseph Smith to avoid potential prejudice. This experience led them to attend the University of Notre Dame, a Catholic institution. Sports can bring people together in unexpected ways. For instance, Manti Te'o, a Latter-day Saint, became an All-American football player at Notre Dame. Similarly, Ashley Dryer Lear, from a Latter-day Saint family, played in the Final Four with the Notre Dame women's soccer team. These stories show that faith and sports can coexist, fostering mutual respect and friendship. The 1993 movie "Rudy" is a great example of how sports can transcend religious differences. Rudy Ruettiger, now a Latter-day Saint, was welcomed back to Notre Dame, his alma mater, during a football weekend. This gesture of goodwill highlights the positive impact of sports on relationships. In recent years, there have been several instances of goodwill between Notre Dame and BYU fans. During a game in Provo, BYU police escorted Notre Dame fans to the stadium, and fans from both teams cheered for each other. These moments of camaraderie show that sports can bring people together, regardless of their religious beliefs.