Heap(s)ing It On

While Jake Heaps, BYU’s prize football recruit, said it wasn’t a foregone conclusion he was going to BYU, others would disagree – particularly those who wanted him to go to his No. 2 choice, Washington.

Former Washington assistant coach Dick Baird, on Dawgman.com, wrote “He chose the one school that represents his religious upbringing and it should not have been a surprise to anyone. Washington and coach Steve Sarkisian didn’t lose this kid; he simply decided to go where he was already headed – BYU.”

Baird sounded as though he felt BYU has an unfair advantage, due to its religious affiliation, as well as the LDS Church’s missionary program.

“Somehow, BYU has been able to communicate almost at will with him and they have done so through the church. The LDS is one of the fastest growing churches in the country and they are organized all the way down to the ward level. It is very difficult to beat them on a Mormon kid because they pull out all stops to keep their young in the fold.”I

He went on to say the deferred eligibility rule that allows athletes to serve LDS missions without losing eligibility “gives BYU an unfair advantage over every other school in the country.”

Baird called the age difference when players return from missions “a huge advantage in maturity.”

You can read all his remarks at http://washington.scout.com/2/870128.html.

How about some input on the subject? Is the turnover LDS missions create offset by the age advantage? Do top LDS players feel obligated by religion to go to BYU? Is LDS “ward” recruiting an unfair advantage?

Or are Baird’s comments just sour grapes from a former opposing coach?