BYU's Jake Retzlaff opens up on being Jewish at predominantly Mormon school | College GameDay

BYU Cougars QB Jake Retzlaff sits down and discusses what it's like playing football on Yom Kippur while being one of three Jewish students at a predominately Mormon school.
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[@hg97111]

I’m a Jew myself, my best friend in high school was a member of LDS and now goes to BYU. I have a huge respect for the church of LDS and it’s so cool that BYU is embracing a fellow Jew’s culture.

[@romebigred2]

Our religion has tremendous respect and gratitude for the Jewish faith and people. We believe that the Jews are chosen people and have been promised specific birthrights from God. I love having a Jewish QB!

[@simonfuller4492]

I am also a jew and i train with LDS and went to highschool with LDS boys. Never met one i didnt like.

[@TommySanders-tp3ob]

As a ex mormon your missing a lot. Look at videos of BYU interviews and things LDS leaders say. They said to pay for tithing (10 percent of income to a 100b dollar church) before you pay for food. Being mormon is great for some people but very harmful in some cases

[@jonathanpusar5931]

I’ve only encountered respect from Mormons. Probably because we are both minority faiths and cultures that value education as a big part of their overall ethos.

[@DesertPrimrose]

I'm LDS and two of my best friends are Jews ❤

[@ProdigalSonMatt]

As a member of the church in Arkansas, it’s great to see the national attention. When BYU came here to Arkansas, they donated a lot of food to the local food bank, prayed for the state, beat the hogs on the field, and went back home 😂 class act!

[@SarahLCookCEO]

Thanks for sharing that!

[@davidbaker5501]

Wooo Pig

[@TommySanders-tp3ob]

Is it also a "class act" to be a 200b dollar church and tell poor families to pay tithing (10 percent of income) before food? Yeah the LDS church isn't great same with there school

[@DK412724]

I am LDS and grew up in predominatly Jewish neighborhood. I went to multiple Bar Mitzvahs and my best friends were all Jewish. We used to play football in the streets and religion was never an issue. With everything coming in full circle, now a Jewish player comes to BYU and is the starting QB of my favorite college football team.

[@davidfrey5654]

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we love ALL positive religions. We believe in allowing all religions to worship how, where and what they want to. And we're dang proud to have Jake as our QB and the man representing BYU.

[@danielcameron2313]

This is so true!

[@purpleyeti7440]

No you don’t. You guys believe the LDS cult is the one and only true “church” on the Earth. By far the most judgmental, hateful, egotistical and evil “church” to ever exist. Read the CES letter, you’re in a cult.

[@Knight-2099]

Greatly said 🙏🏻

[@zubenelgenubi]

He calls himself the "BY Jew at BYU"! Much Respect! Just stop throwing interceptions Jake!

[@Hh-lf6yl]

Naah you’re pretty judgmental guaranteed! You go to church on Sunday to check it off your list & don’t know what it’s like to be Christ like!!!

[@kiroolioneaver8532]

BYU is weird in that it is not the most racially/ethnically/religious diverse university...BUT you have a lot of students who can speak second languages and have spent two years of their lives living in other parts of the world (even if it means some white bread kid from We Farm Potatoes, Idaho has to serve two years in urban Atlanta, Georgia or The Bronx). That exposes them to different cultures, allows them to humanize others, makes them a bit more open minded and this is what separates it from say a Liberty University or Oral Roberts. Also Mormonism's history with persecution in the 19th century has made them much more tolerant of other minority religious groups like Islam.

[@coyotelong4349]

It actually IS pretty ethnically diverse, if you look at their sports teams as any example Pretty good mix of white, black, and Pacific Islander And of course the members of the team who are LDS can usually speak a second random language if they’ve been on a mission

[@kiroolioneaver8532]

@@coyotelong4349 The athletics programme is far more diverse than the overall student body. For an institution of that size (30 000) that's not a state institution (i.e. it draws from across the country) and is relatively affordable for out of state students (for LDS members its cheap, even for non-members its cheaper than many in-state tuition prices) to have (for example) only 1% of students be black is relatively low compared to other similarly sized institutions.

[@jonahbarnes5841]

I'd question whether or not BYU is overly homogenous. Religiously, of course not. But ethnically? It's pretty diverse. I had roommates from Germany, Jordan and Singapore. There might be fewer Mexicans, but half the student population had lived abroad for years and has been immersed in disparate cultures.

[@kiroolioneaver8532]

@@jonahbarnes5841 The demographic information is publicly available and for an institution of its size (35 000+) its not nearly as diverse as other institutions of similar sizes (even the University of Utah has much more diversity where a third of the students are students of colour and also come from a much wider religious background obviously). I also addressed the bilingual students and the living abroad in my initial comment (which I think does help make up for that relative lack of diversity).

[@jonahbarnes5841]

@@kiroolioneaver8532 what's more diverse? Having 30% Hispanic students? Or having 10% Hispanic plus 10% Polynesian plus 10% Asian plus 10% indian?

[@westongrant1702]

As a BYU fan obviously I'm glad for our team that he decided to play, but I would absolutely support him if he decided not to, as I hope all others in the BYU community would as well.

[@nuggetoftruth865]

I absolutely love ESPN shining a light on this aspect of the BYU community. Well done, and thank you!

[@nuggetoftruth865]

Also, thanks for using the full name of our church in the beginning. I understand the usage of Mormon as a more well-known term for general viewers, but that clarification was refreshing to hear. Using "LDS" as a shorter term instead of Mormon might also work well since it avoids perpetuating that older nickname.

[@jarednielsen8105]

We are cheering for you today Jake and Cougar nation!! Go out there and shine!

[@jeffreyelliott2428]

I’m LDS and BYU Alumni. I’m so excited to have Jake Retzloff as QB1 at my school, not only because he’s playing so well but also because now the Jewish community get this chance to see the respect our church and school has for their people and religion. Go Retzloff and go BYU!

[@bigsnacksjenkins]

Great piece 👏👏👏

[@Stevedavidoff]

Hank Greenberg, in 1934 in the middle of a pennant race when he grappled with the decision of whether or not to play baseball on the Jewish High Holy Days; after consultation with his rabbi, he decided to play on Rosh Hashanah, but refused to play on Yom Kippur, instead spending the day at the synagogue. Having endured his share of antisemitic abuse in his career, Greenberg was one of the few opposing players to publicly welcome African-American player Jackie Robinson to the major leagues in 1947.

[@simonfuller4492]

I am a Jew and i have had nothing but positive interactions with LDS folks. Some of my best friends and training partners to this day are LDS and id trust those boys with my life.

[@bobbq8380]

Thanks for calling us Lds brother. Many ignorantly and spitefully call us Mormon. Often to belittle us and defame us. We are Christians too with different beliefs but still respect other faiths we aid often too. Best wishes kind sir 🙏

[@PJ-mb3ue]

Way to keep it positive espn

[@tbarron1631]

We all fasted with Jake a day later on Sunday instead of Saturday

[@DerGlaetze]

I miss my now deceased Jewish brother-in-law dearly. We used to tease and joke to each other. I use to tell him he needs to be careful since he married a Mormon American princess. He would always get a good laugh from that. It’s great to see the Cougars have a really cool mench in Jake.

[@loumos8364]

Cougar nation loves this kid. We love that he wears his faith with honor and pride. @BYJEW

[@michaelsheflo]

love this! BYJew is awesome.

[@qrandle1]

This was way better than the CBS profile

[@Scott-kc5fg]

I grew up a member of the LDS Church and although I am not a member anymore I still love BYU Football. I think embracing diversity is essential especially in our current environment where differences or “different “ are creating divides between us.

[@atravismoore]

We will welcome you back with open arms if and when you’re ready, brother. Better yet, Jesus Christ will catch you in His embrace as soon as you turn to Him. With love and respect.

[@byuftbl]

My cousin was like that, was inactive in the church but always stayed loyal to byu to his unfortunate end. He took his life around the start of the year. I hope BYU has a good season beyond this so I can dedicate a season he would’ve been proud of to him 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@yaantsudnbesdai972]

I'm LDS originally from SoCal (lived most my life in Utah) and have always been a big BYU fan. It's quite 'swanky' and cool that a Jew is a BYU quarterback in my opinion. I've always liked the flag of Israel a lot as well: It has a really cool star emblem and it's blue and white...like the colours of BYU.

[@andrewfilmsdrums]

In the LDS church we have something called the Articles of Faith. This is one of them: We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

[@kyleredfearn96]

I have a lot of respect for the Jewish faith. I’m glad he’s found a home at BYU, we love him!

[@zubenelgenubi]

He calls himself the "BY Jew at BYU"! Much Respect! Just stop throwing interceptions Jake!

[@byuftbl]

He hasn’t thrown any more interceptions than your average QB though.its gonna happen, and its not always their fault. The defense can cause an interception desire a QB throwing it perfectly (defense could jump up and tip a well thrown ball) Sometimes they just make a bad play/decision. But we’re undefeated so I don’t think it’s hurting us much what he has thrown.

[@coachanderson2704]

I'm Mormon too, and live in Provo. I think this is pretty cool. He went to Centennial High School that is a powerhouse football school.

[@rygarisfun8164]

Retzlaff is the best! Awesome video

[@Myself-zg1vl]

GO GOUGS!

[@rockrun3732]

The bit about choosing to play on yom kippur is interesting in the context of LDS tradition. Can't count how many sunday school lessons I heard in my life about the star LDS athlete making the "right choice" to skip the big game on Sunday and stick to his morals. Only not on weekends when BYU is playing tho 😆😆

[@blakeburton3137]

Haha, great point, I was thinking the exact same thing. Maybe it depends on the situation/person. Then again, I think a lot of Church members/leaders disagree with the idea of “doing what feels right for you” or “relative truth”. 🤷‍♂️

[@Culinaryduet]

Sandy Koufax famously refused to pitch Game 1 of the 1965 World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers because it fell on Yom Kippur. To me it sounds backwards to his faith to play

[@corinnewalker1275]

Yes, each decision of what to do on Sunday is a personal decision.

[@rockrun3732]

@@corinnewalker1275 Yes agree! It would be lovely if everyone would remember this and not try to impose their own decisions on others, nor perpetuate the idea that church teachings apply differently to different people based on the value some of us might ascribe to certain individuals.

[@mattkominsky7308]

As a Jew myself it’s amazing to see Retzloff succeed at a school like BYU. 😊😊

[@farroyossi]

Love this ❤

[@bobbq8380]

We are not accepting that nickname Mormon anymore. We are Christian and I accept any faith that teaches tolerance. I have respect for my Jewish brethren who are very important people to me.

[@Twizzybeatzz]

Would love to see you re-title the video to get the name of the Church correct, ESPN!

[@byuftbl]

Well then most people wouldn’t lniw what church it is. Like it or not, people know us as Mormons. When speaking to a wide audience about a church, they use what most are going to recognize. I’m LDS and don’t have an issue with it

[@geoffreygoldsmith7909]

This is awesome! My dad is LDS and I’m Protestant. Ours might not be a Judaism connection but the principle is the same. Jake’s got a great attitude!

[@byuftbl]

Here at BYU we don’t mind if our QB is LDS, Jewish, Hindu, Atheist, or whatever other religion. We care if they are a good player and can win us games. So far, he’s helping the team wins games. Also I think it’s cool someone Jewish is leading a team of mostly LDS kids. I hope they go undefeated (of course as a byu fan selfishly I want them to go undefeated) because this kid, team, and coach deserve it! GO COUGARS!

[@Alan-jg4lf]

That's the spirit! I'm a proud Muslim BYU student

[@scottstewart537]

Israel had 12 sons, Jake’s just part of the family!

[@nolanbowen8800]

Judah and Ephraim have a long relationship going back to Moses, Joshua and Caleb.

[@tweedle_g]

ESPN being respectful about Religion for once...wow

[@bobbyqroberts]

I am Jewish. Very. The greatest regret in my academic career was getting hired on an academic faculty at BYU in about 1975. I came close.

[@Stevedavidoff]

You will also make headlines not playing on Yom Kippur

[@gheller2261]

Frankly, that would have been the better story and sent a more meaningful message and I wish he had made that choice.

[@byuftbl]

@@gheller2261I don’t. I’m a byu fan and I wanted to win. I’m sure God would forgive him if he did wrong.

[@Culinaryduet]

Sandy Koufax. He famously refused to pitch Game 1 of the 1965 World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers because it fell on Yom Kippur.💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻 THATS REAL FAITH❤

[@XIN3OHd]

Great example of different flavors of Judaism, Retzlaff and Koufax are parts of different Jewish interpretative communities

[@gheller2261]

It's not so much faith as respect for one's upbringing and background. Koufax was a high holidays Jew in terms of observance and going to shul like the vast majority of American Jews.

[@adamfoldes81]

@@gheller2261 also don’t forget Hank Greenberg didn’t play on Yom Kippur either back in 34

[@byuftbl]

That was him. That was his choice. This is Jake. This is his choice. He did what he felt was right for him. You don’t get any say in judging him for that.

[@adamfoldes81]

@@byuftbl and I wouldn’t to play or not to play is a personal decision

[@stephenwilson9872]

Stupidity is hating or judging. Peoples. On. Can. Not actions

[@bkm83442]

I wonder if anybody has told Retzlaff that the BYU colors blue and white are derived from the Jewish techelet and the tallit -- just like the flag of Israel.

[@mapleva]

I saw that Saturday, I wonder if he was aware of Sandy Koufax, who famously wouldn't pitch on Yom Kippur.

[@itsmeevan027]

You wonder if an elite Jewish athlete from Southern California, who on the video says he was looking for Jewish role models while growing up, is aware of one of the best and most famous pitchers of all time, who made a living playing about 20 minutes from where he grew up? Yeah - I think he knew about Sandy Koufax. And he would have been living in southern California when Shaun Green sat out of a playoff game for the Dodgers on Yom Kippur.

[@user-je1go9mw5y]

So? Did he win the game on Yom Kippur?

[@byuftbl]

Yep he did! BYU is 6-0

[@rufussweeneymd]

BYU is the only place where Jake is a gentile 😂

[@manuelgalvan7162]

Praise Yahweh ,not only did he play his tail off. He walked it off with an amazing throw to win the game 🙌🏽

[@nathangerber1547]

Latter-Day Saints have a huge respect for the Jews. God has not forsaken them nor forgotten the covenants He made with them.

[@mygtispeeds]

Judaism and LDS faith have so much in common considering the doctrinal foundation around symbolism, priesthood and temples. Facts. Love this piece

[@lylestavast7652]

G'mar chatima tova ! Thanks for playing through Yom Kippur...

[@dylanroberts8478]

Respect Temple Beth Israel

[@adansanchez8839]

He plays football. And I'm sure the players at BYU a majority aren't Mormon either .

[@houseitgoing7711]

Yes, there are several non-LDS football players (and basketball players as well), but the majority, by far, are LDS church members.

[@Alan-jg4lf]

I wonder if they'll give him the 2nd Anointment 🤔

[@JediMasterHilljr]

For all those calling the church a cult….look up the standard definitions of cult and apply it to Jesus and His church in the first century. Yep - it perfectly fits a cult. Please stop with the name calling and incorrect accusations.

[@Alan-jg4lf]

I mean, your church adheres to 90% of the BITE model for authoritarian control 🤷🏼‍♂

[@kentjensen4939]

The real name is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

[@garrettcrowley9187]

Just sayin…. BYU blue and Israel blue….. very similar…. Coincidence??? I think not!!!!

[@maverick214]

I guess he doesn't have to wear the secret pajamas.

[@royalThills]

It would have been a stronger message for the Torah of the LORD to sit out the game and obey the commands rather to succumb to the pressure of the world and sin. But each person has to work out their faith and salvation with fear and trembling.

[@byuftbl]

I don’t want to believe in a God that I am trembling in fear of. Maybe he doesn’t either. Maybe he likes to believe God is kind, forgiving and loving and will understand his choice, still loving him anyway.

[@royalThills]

Oh He is all of those things and so much more! He is a Just Judge as well. Read the Bible for yourself and see the instructions that are FOREVER, and see the Blessing and curses that go along with his instructions… He ain’t kidding. He wants us to be Set apart because He is Set Apart. And it speaks about working out your Salvation with fear and trembling in the New Testament.

[@royalThills]

This guy has been breaking Torah Commands his entire college football career by playing on Saturdays!! Keep the Shabbat Bro! What else is new with him?!?!?!

[@byuftbl]

Sorry all Jews aren’t perfect like you apparently…. 🤷🏻‍♀️ (yes, assuming by your comment you are) Maybe he’s not an (orthodox)? The one that follow everything exactly to the t? (I’m not sure which is which) but I know there’s Jews who aren’t as letter of the law as others.

[@SO-if3yn]

He looks German…..😳

[@zubenelgenubi]

He LOOKS like an American!

[@gheller2261]

Definitely does not have typical Jewish features. If I had to guess, I would not be surprised if his dad is not Jewish.

[@Banjies888]

Wow what a crazy idea that would be. Tell me, where do you think Ashkenazi Jews in America came from?

[@byuftbl]

…..there were Jews in Germany…..what do you think the holocaust was?

[@SuperWalktrough]

Wow the bots in the comments glorifying the morman cult is crazy

[@byuftbl]

They aren’t bots and we are not a cult. I am an inactive Mormon and guess what they did? Nothing. They let me just go, and don’t try to come get me and don’t ostracize me for leaving either. We are all over the world openly and freely living our religion how we want. We get council from prophets but they do not force us to do anything. Cults like to stay largely out of society. Some don’t, but that’s rare. We’re a religion, like us or not. But we are one, a fully recognized and free will based religion. Cults are anything but.

[@logicallgaming]

ah yes, Byu is definitely known for accepting others... with their first non white athlete coming in 1970 (around 50 years into their school's existance) and their first black starting qb coming in the 2000s. Good for them.

[@jacksonhaslam2753]

First, you do know that BYU was one of many schools that had their first black athletes in the 70s? And that's athletes. The first black student came in 1939. And honestly, it wasn't until post WWII that we really started getting big enough as a school to really make a name for ourself. We were under like 2000 students before like 1950. And as for your starting quarterback argument, who cares? You don't deserve the starter position unless you have the talent to back it up, and decades before 2000 hosted the most talented quarterbacks in BYU history. Why should any athlete get the starting position based on the color of their skin? And if you wanna go that route, ever heard of Leon White? A black guy who was one of our best players in 84 and won Defensive MVP. Want me to keep going?

[@dansherwood9851]

Yes, keep going!

[@ProdigalSonMatt]

Don’t look into the history of the SEC schools then…

[@tilkanuts]

@@ProdigalSonMatt Or America for that matter.

[@lylestavast7652]

BYU started in 1875. The first black player to score a touchdown for them lived across the hall from me in 1975.

[@kevinm9246]

It's kind of funny how BYU wants him to play on his sabbath and holy days. BYU refuses to play on the mormon sabbath..

[@arynnelson371]

Uhhh what. The school never said they want him to play on his sabbath. He is choosing to

[@tjaw09a]

BYU would respect his decision if he decided not to play. Nice try attempting to call out hypocrisy where there isn't any.

[@carterkal2918]

Nobody ever asked him to play

[@kevinm9246]

@@tjaw09a BYU does not give the other players the choice. There is no choice for them.

[@benjaminmaughan2957]

​@@kevinm9246What are your sources for that claim?

[@purpleyeti7440]

I feel for that man. Going to a university owned and operated by a cult has got to be the absolute worst.

[@mrvroom188]

Fred Warner lil bro. You should be ashamed, fellow niner fan.

[@purpleyeti7440]

@@mrvroom188 I feel bad for him too. He’s an amazing player, but I can only imagine how difficult his time at that cult school must’ve been.

[@mrvroom188]

@@purpleyeti7440morals? How terrible!

[@chorb2000]

@@purpleyeti7440 in other interviews he's talked about how it's been a great experience for him

[@chorb2000]

Booo 👎👎 no to bigotry

[@PesoJunkies]

did we ask ???

[@ChiefsLakersYankeesandKnightsl]

Wow so edgy🤓

[@PesoJunkies]

@@ChiefsLakersYankeesandKnightsl your a chiefs fan i hate you more than anything on this earth

[@jeffersonsharp2292]

No. Who's this we? Did anyone ask for your opinion? And yet you gave it anyway, which is your right. You see, nobody has to ask. People can speak and others can choose to listen. You don't have to listen. It's really really not that complicated.

[@PesoJunkies]

@@ChiefsLakersYankeesandKnightsl cheifs fan i got real hate for yall

[@PesoJunkies]

@@jeffersonsharp2292 jefferson i compare you two the ground i walk on you mean nothing to me worthless person