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Dick Harmon wrote a nice article about how the Ricks football era will come to an end after this football season. He notes the following about former Ricks players that are still on BYU’s roster:

BYU has five of those Ricks players. The list includes defensive captain Cameron Jensen, 2005 leading receiver Nate Meikle (gray-shirted at Ricks), all-conference tight end candidate Jonny Harline, linebacker Dan Bates and offensive lineman Erik Freeman. Spencer Franz of Rexburg is listed on Idaho State University’s roster and 2001 punter Kip Facer is at UNLV.

Just a quick glance down that list and even this year BYU is gleaning value from the former Rick’s football powerhouse. At least Anae admits that the loss of Ricks football has had an effect on BYU football:

“No question, it’s had an impact on BYU football, a direct impact,” Anae said. ” It was an excellent training ground in two ways and purposes. First, it was a training ground for kids to learn and understand the Honor Code and to understand standards and how important lifestyle off the field was in college. Second, academics were also important.
“But that mesh between faith and academics on a junior college level was exhibited there at Ricks just as it is here on a four-year level. To get the kids we did there at Ricks, who were non-LDS, turned out to be almost a proving ground for them. BYU would be interested to see if they could fit in here, and it was an easy transition for many of those kids.
Anae said BYU placed recruits at Ricks. “Some were not academically qualified for a four-year school, and others were either overlooked or late bloomers. For me, who has been on both sides of it, there is no question in my mind it (the end of football at Ricks) has had a negative impact on BYU football.”
Declared Anae: “There is nothing out there to replace it. There is not a faith-based institution like Ricks on the junior college level.”

Sure, as a BYU football fan I definitely miss the great recruits we got from Ricks. However, I think the worst part of losing Ricks football is the social impact on the city of Rexburg. I’ve never lived in Rexburg, but I’ve been there a number of times. There really isn’t that much to do. A football game would be a great activity on a Saturday. I know that church leaders are worried about the number of people getting married. Maybe if they reinstituted Ricks football (although I guess it would have to be called BYU-I Football) then more people would hook up at football games and get married. Well, probably not, but we can always hope right?