How to schollies work at BYU?

[tower912]

A basketball player is recruited and given a scholarship.   He plays his freshman year and then goes on a two year missionary trip.   What is the status of his scholarship while he is gone?   Does it not count against the total number of scholarships while he is on a mission, with the understanding he gets it back when he returns?   Does the NCAA make special accomodations?   Is he off scholarship while on his mission?   

[spartan3186]

While I am not positive, I believe the mission is kind of like the Co-Op program at MU. From what I understand the Mormon missions involve working rather than going to school. When not working you are serving the Mormon church and spreading the Mormon word. At least this is what I understand from talking to a Mormon friend. My guess is they are technically enrolled in school but only paying a nominal fee so it financing is not an issue. So my guess would be that they are off of scholarship while on the mission. I'm not positive, but that would be my guess.

[jce]

A Mormon mission work has nothing to do with BYU.  They are not enrolled in school.  From the wikipedia page:

"Missionaries are expected to pay their own expenses while on the mission, often with assistance from family and friends. In the past, each missionary paid his or her actual living expenses, but this approach created a disproportionate burden on missionaries who were assigned to more expensive areas of the world. In 1990, a new program was introduced to equalize the financial responsibility for each missionary and his or her family. Now, all young missionaries pay a flat monthly rate which is then redistributed according to regional costs of living. The cost of a mission as of January 2006 is USD$400 per month, which covers food, lodging, transportation, and personal items."

My guess is that the scholarships simply don't count because the kid isn't enrolled.  Coaches probably work with a student ahead of time to figure out if they are going on a mission, and when they plan on doing so, so that they can plan accordingly.