One of the hot topics surrounding yesterday’s news about Manti Te’o coming to Notre Dame was how his mission would impact his football career. Charlie Weis address the matter on Wednesday.
So back a long time ago, we talked about the possibility of his choosing to go on a mission which would either be a year or two years, okay, following his freshman year.
So his intent is to come in here and play, try to help us win as many games as we can this year, and then he will make a decision after that time to decide whether or not he wants to go on a mission or not, but this will it will be with our blessing if that what he decided to do.
So if he played his freshman year, and went on a mission for two years, would he come back in year four as a sophomore. We would respect his wishes, if that’s what he decided to do.
From the sounds of that, it doesn’t sound as though his mission is 100% set in stone and that Manti will be making the decision on his mission at the end of his freshman year at Notre Dame. From what Weis said, his mission wouldn’t necessarily be two years as everyone assumed it would be and could be as little as a year should he choose to go on the mission.
UPDATE: According to LDSDomer in the comments below, there is not an option for a one year mission.
Notre Dame and Weis were well aware of all of this for a while and from the sounds of it, Weis made sure that Te’o was very comfortable at Notre Dame with regards to his faith during his visit.
We knew that long before he came here and one of the things we did with him when he came here was made sure he met with the local Bishop of the LDS Church, there’s professors here on campus that are Mormons and that’s actually a rather significant group of students that are Mormon, as well. He got a chance to visit with all of those people while he was here.
I’m sure that type of effort definitely went a long way in making Te’o feel comfortable with Notre Dame and played a role in his decision to sign with the Irish yesterday.
No one is going to hold a gun to this kids head and make him go on a mission. It is entirely up to him. I doubt they will stop allowing him to attend LDS service if he doesnt go on his mission. I am not saying there is an exception to the length of the mission, but going at all is up to him.
Honestly, two years off would absolutely destroy his football career. Football is unlike other sports where he could practice on his own. Live action is the only way to maintain your body at the collegiate level. He could lift weights, but would fall dramatically behind the rest of his recruiting class.
i just want to jump on here and make prediction for the 2010 recruiting class…with the way things ended this year and how they irish really play on the field this season, the irish will have the #1 recruiting in the county!!! o yeah about the mission every player at byu goes on a mission and they all play just fine!! yeah there 26 year on seniors but thats ok!!
David:
My little brother had a professional baseball career in front of him, there are NO exceptions. Its two years or nothing.
I am afraid there is really no exception to the two years. The only way to serve less than two years is to (1) reneg on your commitment and voluntarily stop (very uncommon, but we are always free to chose); (2) have mental, emotional, physical problems and stop (more common, e.g. illness, back problems, etc.); (3) do something that would make you unworthy to serve (less common, but happens).
I read a comment somewhere that no star lds athlete has gone on a mission and come back worth a darn. There are a few that have (Bryan Kiehl-Giants, Bret Keisel-Steelers, Aaron Francisco-Cardinals, Chad Lewis-Eagles, John Beck-Dolphins, Ray Lewis-Ravens, just kidding). But the reality is that most never regain their form.
This will be interesting to watch play out. I am soooo pumped about this recruiting class, next season and 2010 recruiting class. GO IRISH!
yeah but i doubt you have a bright college football career ahead of you. There are always exceptions
ldsdomer,
Thanks for pointing that out. I was just going off of what Weis said yesterday at his press conference. I’ll update the post in a bit.
Just to clarify the clarification. I am LDS and can speak authoritatively on this having served a mission myself, they are only two years, there is no one year option. Otherwise, love the site, thanks a lot for the info.