Ricks College enjoyed a celebrated athletics program, with, at one point, more alumni in the National Football League than BYU or the University of Utah, Dixon said.

Now, over five years since the change, BYU-I is enjoying a different kind of celebrated athletics program.

In the fall of 2002, the university instituted an innovational athletics program known as “intracollegiate” sports, which is athletic competition among the students of a university.

It was started with baseball, fast-pitch softball, volleyball, cross-country and soccer. Since then, football, swimming, wrestling, spirit team, track, tennis, and others were added.

Professionals such as Trent Shippen, (BYU) Athletics supervisor, Troy Dougherty (Iowa State), Athletics director and Philip Crane (Utah State), Athletics director, were brought in to help with the organization of the leagues.

Athletics Coordinators Doug Stutz, Justin Garner and Peter Stilling were already here to help with the leagues. “We would serve as mentors and advisors for them,” Dougherty said.

The main principle being taught through this program is leadership centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“We were given a charge to provide opportunities for students to coach, direct and lead within the sports,” Dougherty said. “[The gospel] will help them to see beyond the game and scoreboard.”

Leadership principles are being taught, as the teams are student-coached.

Shippen spoke of a principle of inclusion — including as many people as possible.

The success of the new athletics program hit a high point on Nov. 6, when a play from the BYU-I Football League was highlighted on ESPN’s SportsCenter’s “Top 10 Plays of the Week.”

“Even [ESPN broadcaster] Chris Berman saying “intra-collegiate football” will, if nothing else, provoke curiosity of what we’re doing here,” Dougherty said.

The popularity of the intra-collegiate athletics has grown since its establishment. In the fall of 2002, 404 athletes participated in the leagues. This fall there have been over 700 participants.

“The majority of kids have enjoyed the program,” Shippen said.

“[Students learn] principles that will make them better fathers, mothers, husbands, wives and, ultimately, better disciples of Jesus Christ,” Dougherty said.