A former star goes on the record

Spring football is over, but in cleaning out the notebook, there are a few interviews that deserve a place on the record, this is one of them.

I was surprised because of the unexpected track this discussion took when this non-LDS athlete from the late-60s, shared his personal and even “spiritual” feelings about the direction Bronco Mendenhall is taking his alma mater these days.

This did not come from a Kool-Aid drinker, a blue-goggled fan who lacks perspective or credibility. It came from someone who has been around the block, a native Californian, who has been in the thick of corporate business in California and even tried a hand coaching high school before going back to the treadmill of big business.

It’s been more than a week since “The Galloping Greek,” Chris Farasopoulos (68-70), one of the best kick returners in the NCAA back in his days, shared his thoughts with me in an interview from California.

On this day last week, Farasopoulos called me on his cell phone on his way to work. He’d just returned from BYU and Bronco Mendenhall’s alumni day.

The most newsworthy part of the interview, I believe, was Farasopoulos’ perspective as one of the old school BYU guys from the days hardly a Cougar player went on a mission and the roster was filled with non-LDS players who partied. This was a day and age the honor code was a phrase somebody printed on something somewhere on campus.

He staunchly defends Bronco Mendenhall. And it isn’t because he bought him some barbecue from Ruby River last week.

Here is part of the interview:

“Bronco, well it’s amazing to me that he has the ability to do what he has done,” said Farasopoulos. “He has the leadership and vision and he’s been very unique and creative to get the old alumni back. It’s an unbelievable huge and powerful group of people who are coming back and they are excited to be associated with the program.”

“Someone once asked me, ‘why haven’t you been back?’ It’s not that I don’t feel welcome, but nobody asked. I really don’t feel like you have to be invited, so when you are invited it is really an unbelievable connection. Almost to the person, those players who came ahead or behind me, everybody is just thrilled to be given the opportunity to get together at something sponsored by the school. It is so much fun and that’s why it keeps growing and growing. I guess the true test is if BYU starts going 5 and 7 or 6-6 and start eating their young. That’s when you’ll find true alumni, if you’re a former player and that doesn’t bother you and you return after a 3-8 season.”

Farasopoulos is Greek Orthodox. He has twin daughters and one of them joined the LDS Church and is finishing her freshman year at BYU. The other twin is in college in California. Last week, Farasopoulos attended the team fireside in the American Fork Tabernacle.

With a debate still bandied about these days over Mendenhall’s insistent mixing of church and sport he’s got a big supporter in this former player, who never converted to Mormonism, yet defends it daily.

Said Farasopoulos, “For me personally, I really like the fact he’s tied the university and church standards and the unchanging standards of the university to the football program, I’m really happy to see it.

“After the first session, four years ago, when they sat us in the student athlete building with Bronco, there were some really uncomfortable people, a lot of questioning, if it would work, if it was the right thing to do. I wouldn’t say sparks were flying, but there was really a big question of what would happen to the non-Mormon athlete who got in trouble because there wouldn’t be anybody there to defend or help him because Bronco was simply saying it is this way or the high way.

“Back in my day you could go to LaVell or somebody if you made a mistake and they would bail you out. Bronco’s commitment is not about that. And I think that’s great. Guys want structure. They want to conform and comply and that is what football really is all about when you get down to it. But I tell you, there was a lot of doubt among former players there, they wondered if you could keep that high standard and high level of performance on the field. So, obviously, he’s proving everybody wrong because it keeps getting better and better and they’re winning championships.

“It has surprised a lot of people. I think there are still some doubters, but what he’s doing isn’t luck. To win 11 games a season, you have to make those things happen.”

Farosopoulous said he is not one of the doubters. He sees Mendenhall has acquired and developed some organizational skills and is succeeding. The Galloping Greek then preached about scriptures. That Mendenhall throws football in the mix with holy writ makes him happy – even if it absolutely fires up others in protest, especially some Ute fans.

“His unchanging vision, well, it’s tied to scripture. That’s what people don’t understand, that it is tied to scripture. Even for somebody like me, who is not LDS, I get it and approve. For me, it makes sense to hang things on scripture. I tell you from my heart, that I believe that the LDS Church is a Christian denomination. In some circles and in some of my circles, some people say that as heresy, but I’m not going to judge. I think there is inspiration and truth that comes from many places and I believe the Book of Mormon was not made up by Joseph Smith, that he got inspiration. Some people think I’m nutty for believing that but I don’t care. You’ve heard more of that than I have. I’m not even a member. I believe there is continuing revelation. From my perspective, if one person is called by God to be their spokesman, the Catholics call him Pope, the Greek Orthodox call him the Archbishop, the LDS call him their prophet and I don’t discount any of that.”

So, if scripture is there to help and it’s true, why shouldn’t it be applied to football, especially at a church sponsored school.

“Aligning the team with a true Christian foundation, is creative and is unique and for kids to come in, even non-LDS athletes, it is right, even if they have to pass through an ecclesiastical recommendation, then that is good. It is good for them. It’s good for BYU’s football team because you are not going to get people who have a different agenda.

“I can say without a doubt, that Bronco has, every time I’ve been near him, and it is this way with everybody I’ve spoken to, that he makes you feel like you are the only person in the room. He’s done that with me and he’s done it every time. Maybe he just remembers me when he was a little kid, but it isn’t me, it’s him. Those are engaging things that separate him from other people and things that I believe are making a difference right now with the program.”

Farosopoulos said he didn’t want to compare Gary Crowton with Mendenhall, it isn’t fair, but there is a big difference in their approach. Crowton greeted Farosopoulos, treated him with respect and made him feel welcome and was cordial. But Crowton didn’t have the right vision for what made BYU tick. “God help the person who follows LaVell Edwards — it was almost a suicide mission for Gary.”

From the perspective of Farosopoulos, a member of BYU’s athletic Hall of Fame, he believes Bronco views his coaching job as “his ministry,” to serve the school, the team and the Church.

“He can tie in sports and athletes, create a connection and bring it to young kids that fill these churches for firesides and that’s where I see his ministry. There were doubters back at that first meeting I spoke of. You should not mix sports and the church, they said. And, I’m sure there are still people who cringe when those two are mentioned together.

“But you see those BYU players singing songs in front and giving talks on discipleship at these firesides and on other topics and it is very impressive, very impressive indeed.”

For Farosopoulous, this stuff Bronco preaches? It isn’t Greek at all.