Summer Sports News Part 1: BYU Football

Our fearless leader, Taysom Hill, will throw
his first pass against UConn on Aug 29!

Oy, I haven't blogged in forever! Between moving to a new apartment and craziness at work and in life in general, I've just been swamped, and this summer has flown by way too fast. Unlike most summers, it's actually been quite eventful in the world of BYU sports this year . . . or maybe I'm just more aware of what's been going on, thanks to BYU Sports Nation.

Anyways, here's a quick recap of the major BYU football news from the summer. A similar basketball post is coming soon.

BYU Football-- Summer 2014

Kyle Van Noy was drafted by the Detriot Lions in the second round, joining Ziggy Ansah in the Motor City. I'm excited to see the "Elders of Defense" together on the field this year! No other Cougars got drafted (which is ridiculous), but there are a few free agents hoping to land contracts for the upcoming season, including Cody Hoffman (Washington Redskins), Daniel Sorensen (Kansas City Chiefs), Eathyn Manumaleuna (New England Patriots), & Spencer Hadley (New Orleans Saints).

There are TONS of new members of the BYU football team who have joined as freshmen, juco transfers, or graduate transfers (including about a zillion receivers who will collectively attempt to replace Cody Hoffman). Notables include:

• Devon Blackmon (WR)- He's "stupid fast"!
• Nick Kurtz (WR)- Tall, long arms, good runner-- seems similar to Mitch Matthews, IMO.
• Jordan Leslie (WR)- At UTEP in 2012, he had over 1,000 yards receiving, with a 19.1 yrd average per catch. This kid's gonna be good!
• Trey Dye (WR)- He took a monster hit at the scrimmage on Friday night (the likes of which would have rendered many people unconscious-- that video doesn't do it justice), but he just kept going. Seems like a tough kid with a lot of potential.
• Harvey Jackson (Safety)- This kid played for Nebraska. 'Nuff said. 

Bronson Kaufusi has shifted from DE to OLB. That'll be interesting. Michael Alisa has also switched positions, from RB to LB. 

I really don't think this is the huge deal it's been made out to be, but apparently BYU is not worthy of being a "Power 5" opponent. In other words, anyone is free to add BYU to their schedule, but it won't "count" as a really good, competitive game, and the ACC and SEC teams are going to start being required to play at least one of those really good, competitive games each year against a non-conference opponent. Who cares? BYU has the likes of Michigan and Nebraska on the schedule next year and plenty of other good games coming up over the next decade . . . I'm not worried.

The "Improper Benefits" scandal rocked BYU back in May . . . but so far, it's turned out to be, well, nothing. BYU is certainly not trying to cover up anything, they're self-reporting to the NCAA, and any repercussions or punishments, if any, will probably be very minimal.

UConn is less than 2 weeks away, and I'm pumped up! However, the season opener has become slightly dampened because of at least 2 self-announced suspensions (Devon Blackmon & Jamaal Williams) and at least 1 injury (Nick Kurtz). Last I heard, Kurtz is set to miss almost half the season, so he might even sit out the whole year with a redshirt, so he doesn't lose those months of eligibility. I'm really bummed about that-- I think he was one of the players I was most looking forward to watching this year.

Bronco accepted the "ice bucket challenge", as did Jarom & Spencer from BYU Sports Nation. Good times! Glad I'm not famous enough to get challenged . . .

Football season is not far away at all! Game on.

My 2014 New Year's Resolutions for the Cougars

I feel your pain, Cody.
From www.ksl.com

Oy, this has been a painful month. The BYU football team lost in rather spectacular fashion to Washington in the Fight Hunger Bowl, and the BYU basketball team has lost 4 games in a row for the first time in the Dave Rose era and finds itself in the bottom of the West Coast Conference. As disappointed as I am, I am definitely not a fair-weather fan, so I will continue to support the Cougars and hope things turn around in 2014. Here are a few things I think the football and basketball teams need to do to improve. Time for tough love . . .

1. Go a little less fast, a little less hard. BYU football had one of the fastest offenses in the country this year, snapping the ball to Taysom 684 times. While I think it was an interesting approach for Anae to use, and I guess it was worth a shot, it just didn't work. We need to go for quality instead of quantity. Playing smart is a lot more important than playing fast. Take the time needed to call good plays-- stop rushing it!

2. MAKE FREE THROWS. With the exception of Tyler Haws, who is still fairly reliable, I swear I have a higher free throw percentage than most of the BYU basketball team this year . . . sheesh. It's killed their ability to stay in the game more than once. It just doesn't look like they're taking things seriously, and they're letting the pressure get to them. I don't care what it takes-- If they have to do it again and again and again until they understand, so be it. They need to learn to get that ball in the hoop from the charity stripe. I get angry when they get fouled because it just means points that could have been . . . and that's not the way it should be.

3. Throw out the offensive line and start over . . .  again. Taysom carried way too much of a burden this year, and he took a real beating. He is super lucky that he made it through the whole season without a serious injury. He got sacked 38 times-- that's ridiculous. I think it's time to roll out the 3rd brand new offensive line in 3 years. They've gotta try something else because this just isn't working.

When Tyler is sad, it makes me sad :(
From www.vanquishthefoe.com

4. Bench Carlino. Sorry, I just can't handle his poor decision-making ability anymore. Put Kyle at the point, and sub in Halford, who can actually hit a 3 once in awhile. Matty also plays better when he has something to fight for-- if Rose takes him out of the starting lineup, I think he will play with his head on a little straighter. But he can't give him the starting job back easily-- he's got to really earn it.

5. Play to strengths. This could easily apply to both teams-- put the ball in the hands of the players who can do the best things with it. I think the rushing game is pretty solid next year in football, with Jamaal Williams, Adam Hine, and Paul Lasike, not to mention Taysom himself. The receivers will struggle, though, especially with the loss of Cody Hoffman, Skyler Ridley, and JD Falslev. If that means they need to run the ball more than throw it, so be it. They have to do what works. In basketball, the ball needs to be in the hands of Tyler Haws, Kyle Collinsworth, Skyler Halford, and Eric Mika. They get points. On the other hand, Nate Austin should almost never shoot the ball-- his role is solely rebounding and blocking. Unless the shot clock is gone, they should always be looking for a good shot-- not throwing up ridiculous prayers. We don't need heroes-- we need teammates.

6. Make the best of what they've got. Resist the temptation to panic! It's not looking like a deep run in the NCAA is in the BYU basketball team's near future. In fact, at this rate, they'll be lucky to make the NIT again. But now is not the time to throw in the towel-- take things one day at a time and don't let the emotion get you. Mika especially needs to control his temper and stop committing stupid fouls and getting technicals on top of it. They can still have a successful season if they start working RIGHT NOW. The football team's schedule is a lot easier next year, but that doesn't meant they can take a nap. They need to get their heads on straight and play hard, and they could come out with a 10-win season, prepping them adequately for another tough year in 2015.

Fingers crossed that 2014 sees more success on the court and the field!

BYU Football 2013 Seniors

I don't wanna say goodbye . . . :(
From www.heraldextra.com

This Saturday is Senior Day, and 22 seniors on the BYU football team will say goodbye to LaVell Edwards Stadium. Unfortunately, not all of them will be able to play in the game. Spencer Hadley injured his MCL in the Wisconsin game, and JD Falslev broke his hand in a non-football related accident and sadly ended his college football career a few weeks ago. Junior Devin Mahina and Sophomore Ryker Mathews are also likely out for at least the Idaho State game with injuries. Sophomore wide receiver Mitch Mathews injured his shoulder during the Wisconsin game and will have season-ending surgery. Geez, seems like we're going to have a hard time putting a full team on the field! Then again, we could probably still easily beat ISU even if we only played second and third-stringers. But Notre Dame? That's a whole 'nother story.

Anyway, here's my tribute to some of the star seniors on the BYU football team this year:

Michael Alisa- Alisa may or may not be done at BYU. He was injured before the Utah State game, hasn't played since, and won't play for the rest of the season. However, he has a redshirt available and may be able to return next year. I hope he does! He deserves to go out on a high note instead of ending his last 2 seasons with injuries. 

JD Falslev- I'm really bummed that JD won't be able to play anymore. He's the kind of football player you could make a movie out of-- he started out as a walk-on and then clawed his way to the starting lineup and became a great running back and punt returner. I don't know why in the world he was at a water park in November, but it still sucks to suffer an injury like that, especially when it wasn't even football-related. You will be missed, JD! 

Kaneakua Friel- I hadn't even heard of Friel until the first game of last season, but it seems like I've been hearing his name a lot ever since. He also started at the bottom of the depth chart and worked his way up. I love it when they do that . . . :)

Spencer Hadley- When Hadley first got suspended, my opinion of him dropped way down. But then when I read this story, it shot way back up. It takes a lot of courage to own up to your mistakes and really work hard to fix them, which Spencer did. As said before, Hadley is out for the ISU game, but they're hoping to have him back in time for Notre Dame.

Mike Hague- I think Hague is one of the unsung heroes of the BYU football team. He's one of those few seniors who joined the team back in 2006-- 8 seasons ago. He has endured a lot of injuries, but he has made some significant contributions to the team this year. He is one of the main reasons we beat Houston, with 1 sack, 5 tackles, 1 pass breakup, and 1 tackle for loss.

Cody Hoffman-  I'm at a loss for words on losing Cody. It's really going to hurt. I think I might even miss him more than Kyle . . . yes, seriously. He now holds pretty much all the records at BYU he possibly can, and I think those records will last awhile. I have loved watching him play football at BYU, and I really hope he makes it into the NFL. Best receiver in BYU history? As much as I loved Austin Collie, I still think he's a traitor for leaving early for the NFL, so I'm gonna say yes, Cody's #1! 

Eathyn Manumaleuna- I've heard Eathyn is kind of like Ziggy Ansah-- quiet and reserved off the field, but a beast when he puts on those pads and helmet and lines up across from an opponent. Manumaleuna and KVN have really been the core of the defense this year. I think it's funny how a few of the Countdown to Kickoff commentators can't pronounce his name. Bryan Logan just calls him "Moneymoneymoney" because he's going to be making moneymoneymoney next year in the NFL!

Skyler Ridley- I don't know why it didn't connect with me until today that Skyler is a senior-- darn it! I like him a lot. He's been a great alternative target for Taysom when Cody was injured or not in. He made the game-winning catch at Houston and had 4 big catches at Utah State. It's going to be really hard to replace him, for sure.

Daniel Sorensen- Daniel was one of way too many concussion victims this season. Thankfully, he was back pretty quick. The highlights of his senior year so far have included an interception at Houston and 9 tackles and an INT against Utah State. He's a really nice guy, too-- I saw him at the basketball Cougar Tipoff, mingling with fans and taking pictures with the little kids in the line to get the basketball players autographs. Most BYU "celebrities" probably would have booked it out of there, but not Daniel.

Justin Sorensen- I'm really glad Justin was able to come back healthy this year and end his career on a successful note. His bizarre injuries, including a brown recluse spider bite (shudder!), fractured ankle, and back surgery (I feel for ya, brother!) have really, really hurt the kicking game, but this year, he's been solid. As a fellow back surgery survivor, I'm actually extremely impressed that he has been able to be as good as he has this year-- I'd surely wind up in the hospital in a heartbeat if I tried to do what he does. He's 15 of 18 on field goals so far this year, which is stellar compared to going 6 of 12 all of last season and 15 of 25 the year before. Good job, Justin. :)

Uani Unga- He's Harvey Unga's cousin. Need I say more? Football blood must run in that family! He had 17 tackles against Utah State and was the best defensive player overall against Boise State, with 15 tackles, one TFL, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble. Geez, I'm getting tired just thinking about all that . . .

Kyle Van Noy- Last, but not least, Mr. KVN himself. He leaves BYU with impressive stats in just about everything. If you haven't read the articles from the Deseret News excerpted from The System about how Kyle was recruited, how he almost ended his BYU career before it started, and how he has thrived on the team, I highly recommend that you do so. You'll laugh, you'll cry . . . Ok, maybe I'm the only one who did those things. haha.

The remaining seniors on the team include Tyler Beck, Adam Hogan, Austen Jorgensen, Scott Lefrandt, Blake Morgan, Kevin O'Mary, Jason Munns, Skye PoVey, Manaaki Vaitai, and Richard Wilson. Way to go, Cougars! You will all be missed. I'm excited to be there at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday to watch you play for the last time and take down the Bengals. Go Cougs!

BYU Football: We're Finally on a Winning Streak!

Cody Hoffman goes for a catch against GA Tech

BYU football has now won 5 games in a row, become bowl eligible for the 9th year in a row, and has proven me wrong in many, many ways. Unfortunately, I don't think we have much of a shot against Wisconsin next Saturday (I'll let you decide whether or not I'm using reverse psychology with that statement . . .), but I'm pleasantly surprised by how this year is shaping up. If we could top it off with a win against Notre Dame and a bowl win, that is definitely a successful season.

I haven't blogged about football in awhile, so here's a quick wrapup of the last 3 games. 

Georgia Tech (Final Score: 38-20)

I actually went to this game with a borrowed sports pass-- my first attended game of the year! It was great to be back in LES, even if I was stuck in the stupid ROC section. Favorite moment? Definitely this grab by Cody. My first thought was, now THAT'S the Cody I've been waiting for! Where has he been hiding? Thankfully THAT Cody has stuck around since and is hopefully here to stay for the rest of the year.

The Georgia Tech game was a solid win, but BYU did start to fall off in the second half. The offense only had 12 yards in the 3rd quarter. Yikes. A pick 6 from Alani Fua early in the 4th gave them a little breathing room, and they hung on til the end. A W is a W, but you can't have the offense sleep for 15 minutes and expect to beat teams like Wisconsin and Notre Dame. That's definitely something they need to work on.

Taysom's on a throw . . . er, I mean roll!

Houston (Final Score: 47-46)

I'm pretty sure I lost at least 5 years off my life watching this game. Holy moley, that was stressful! It was just neck-and-neck the whole time. So much for thinking this would be an easy win . . .

I went to the BYU Broadcasting building to be in the audience for Countdown to Kickoff and watched the first half of the game with all the Cougar faithful there. At halftime, I decided to go home and watch the rest of the game on my own, though-- it was already getting really heated, and I knew if BYU didn't pull it out, those people were going to start a riot or burn the building down or something. And I may have been all too tempted to join them.

We actually have Alani Fua to thank for clinching this win, too. His interception in the final minutes of the game eliminated any chance Houston had to pull ahead with a field goal. But Taysom was also awesome. The Cougs definitely wouldn't have won without him.

Melanie, Me, Kailee, and Rachel cheering on our Cougars!

Boise State (Final Score: 37-20)

Last but not least, BYU beat Boise State for the first time ever last weekend. I think this was definitely the offense's best game of the year by far-- they racked up a total of 568 yards. Taysom was 27 of 41 passing for a total of 339 yards, 3 TDs, and no interceptions. BOOM, baby!

It was a dominant win, but it definitely could have been better. Once again, they had a lackluster second half, much like the Georgia Tech game. BYU scored 13 points in the last 30 minutes of play time, while Boise State scored 17, which like I said before, isn't going to cut it against the elite teams we've got coming up.

I think Taysom is just getting better and better, though, and so is the rest of the offense. His confidence as a QB is growing. I must admit, though, that I'm starting to get really scared he's going to hurt himself again. He claims he's being more careful than he was last year, but I'm not sure I believe him. Every time he gets tackled, I wince and hold my breath until he stands up and starts walking again. Anyway, I'm trying not to think negatively. I wish it had come one game earlier than it did, but Taysom is really pulling together a stellar sophomore season.

Next up, Wisconsin. I'm not sure how that game's gonna go, but I sure hope they at least put up a great fight!

BYU Football vs. Utah State Wrapup

Taysom's working that arm now!
From www.desnews.com.

So far, my predictions for the 2013 BYU football season have been radically wrong. In fact, the only game I've even correctly predicted the winner of was last week's matchup with Middle Tennessee State. While I'm obviously disappointed in the loss to Utah, I'm pleasantly surprised with the Utah State win. I guess we'll never know what would have happened if Chuckie Keeton hadn't left the game (and ultimately ended his season) at the end of the first quarter with a torn MCL and ACL. Poor guy. But overall, I saw improvement over the last 2 games, especially in Taysom Hill.

Taysom's pass efficiency rating shot up in the MTSU game (14 of 19 for 177 yards) and went up even more in the USU game (17 of 31 for 278 yards, his new career high). And the USU defense is definitely not one to laugh at, making it even more impressive. Now I've always been sympathetic toward Hill and have definitely NOT been one of his many critics this year. I don't know why some people have been laying 100% of the blame on his shoulders for the losses this season. It takes a lot more than a good quarterback to complete a pass-- it also takes a good call from the offensive coordinator, adequate protection from the offensive line, and a catch from a receiver, and in my opinion, all 3 of those positions have been really shaky this year. But thankfully, all of those people, plus Taysom, have seen improvement in the last 2 games, resulting in more completed passes and better ratings.

One thing I did predict correctly was the potential of Mitch Matthews. He finally ran into the spotlight in the USU game, catching 5 passes for 112 yards and 3 touchdowns. Considering he has never scored a touchdown at BYU before, that's amazing! I'm glad he's finally stepping it up.

I'm not quite sure what's happened to Cody Hoffman-- he just doesn't seem like himself this season. He was suspended for the MTSU game, and apparently there was a scare this week in practice, when they thought he might have broken his leg, but I guess it just turned out to be a bad bruise. He played pretty well in the Utah game, but in the USU game, he just didn't seem like Cody. Then again, he totally got robbed on the pass he almost caught in the endzone. Since when is it an interception when the ball gets ripped out of his hands after falling out of bounds? Worst call ever! It wasn't a TD, either, but they should have at least gotten another shot at it . . . Anyway, I hope he steps it up and comes back to be the Cody we all know and love in the second half of the season because right now, something's just not right.

I've also gotta give a shoutout to KVN for that awesome pick six, which happened only 10 seconds into the game. I think that gave BYU a huge shot of confidence that lasted throughout the entire game, especially since Taysom fumbled it and gave USU a TD on their first offensive drive. Kyle's TD made that a lot less painful. Way to go, KVN. You're my hero.

I'm not sure how the rest of the season is going to go, honestly. It could totally go either way. If they can keep up the momentum, they could win a lot more games. Or if they get more suspensions or injuries (the concussions for Jamaal Williams and Adam Hine were really scary, and unfortunately, Michael Alisa is now out for the season . . . I really hope no one else joins him), they could lose a lot more games and not even become bowl eligible. But if the trend continues with my predictions being the opposite of the truth, I guess that means we have a shot at beating Boise State, Wisconsin, and Notre Dame. But of course we've gotta start with Georgia Tech and the Homecoming game. Fingers crossed! Go Cougs!

BYU vs. Utah: I Hate the Holy War More Each Day

2014 and 2015 are going to be glorious college football seasons . . . why? Because BYU won't have to play Utah. I swear I'm the only person in the state of Utah who hates the "Holy War" and wishes it would just go away forever.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I don't hate the University of Utah. But I do strongly dislike "fans" of the University of Utah who hate BYU more than they like the University of Utah (and in my experience, that encompasses the majority of Ute "fans"). They are much more concerned with bashing BYU, the honor code, and the LDS Church than they are with cheering for the Utes. It seems like it's impossible for Utah fans to be civil (and that's true for a few BYU fans, too, but not nearly the percentage as it is with Utah), and that makes the rivalry not fun anymore. In fact, it never was much fun.

The last few weeks, some very strange things have been going on related to this football game that kicks off in a little over 24 hours.

First, a video emerged that apparently depicted a Utah football player with a towel over his head, pretending to baptize Utah linebacker Brian Blechen. I haven't seen the video, and I don't intend to watch it, but that's exhibit A of Utah's completely disrespectful attitude toward BYU. And then Kyle Whittingham made it even worse by saying no disciplinary action would be taken: "We have addressed this issue with our players. And although it was poor judgment on their part, there was absolutely no malice or disrespect intended towards any particular religion or rite."

What if the tables were turned and it was BYU players making fun of something that's sacred to the majority of Utah players and fans? Bronco would have suspended them and kicked them out of the university before you could say "Cosmo". But what does dear old Kyle do? Make excuses and brush it off. If there really wasn't any "malice or disrespect intended", then why did the guy have a towel over his head? He knew very well what he was doing and what the reaction would be, and he didn't want to take responsibility for it.

Then Spencer Hadley got suspended for 5 games. As usual, BYU didn't reveal the reasoning behind it (only saying it was an Honor Code violation), but the Deseret News reported late last night that it was because he was allegedly caught "partying in Vegas with [a] booster". Ok, that is a dumb move by Hadley, and he deserved to be suspended if that is what happened. However, the way the situation apparently came to light is what makes me angry.

Apparently a self-proclaimed "die hard Utah Utes fan" took photos and a video of the party Hadley attended and emailed them (mostly likely under a pseudonym because they haven't been able to figure out who this guy really is) to Utah’s assistant athletics director of compliance, who was then obligated to send it on to BYU. Really? REALLY? The intentions were obvious-- if this "fan" was just trying to be a good person and report a violation, he wouldn't have mentioned that he was a "die hard Utah Utes fan". That is exactly the kind of Utah "fan" I can't stand. You are so concerned about making BYU look bad that you decided to tattle-tale on one of their players? Are you still in freaking Kindergarten? And did he send it to BYU, the people who ultimately should have known about it? No, he sent it to Utah, proving that he wanted to make sure they knew about it first. Really? REALLY?  I'm not upset that Hadley got caught,. What he did was wrong, and while I'm disappointed with the suspension, it's totally justified. I'm just upset with the WAY he got caught, and that it was because of someone who had absolutely no business whatsoever in the matter-- a Cougar-hater masquerading as a "Ute fan".

I hate to say it, but I saw a reader comment on one of the news articles I read this week (I think it was one about the mock baptism) that said, "Proving Max Hall right, one day at at time..." I've always believed Max was a little out of line, but man, this week has made me side with his infamous comments more than I ever have before. I don't hate all Ute fans, or "everything about them", but there definitely are some real *class acts* out there who make those Utah fans who actually are Utah fans (instead of BYU haters) and are capable of being civil and respectful fall into obscurity.

The game that will happen tomorrow is arguably the most important Holy War EVER, or at least in my memory. After this, they will take a 2-year hiatus, so the stakes are huge. Not only is it the last chance seniors like Kyle Van Noy and Cody Hoffman have to beat Utah, but it's also the last chance of everyone who's not a freshman -- including Taysom Hill, Jamaal Williams, Bronson Kaufusi, and pretty much the rest of the team. 

Oh man, I've never meant this more than I do right now. BYU HAS TO WIN TOMORROW. I seriously don't know what I'm going to do if they lose. It's been 4 years since BYU won the Holy War, and it will be another 3 years before they get another shot at it, and by then, both teams will be completely different. I can't handle 3 years of Ute arrogance. However, I guess whatever happens, I can at least take comfort in the fact that I won't have to endure this stress again for at least 3 years.

I shall now begin my preparations to lock my doors, turn on the TV, and start praying . . . Heaven help us all.

Virginia Recap & Texas Preview

I had a dream last night that BYU beat Texas 9 to 7 on a last-minute field goal. If that actually happens, I am naming myself the official BYU sports psychic. Unfortunately, I don't think that's very realistic. I'm pretty sure BYU is going to lose . . . but all I really care about at this point is that they put up a good fight and don't get creamed.

That's one dirty jersey . . . and one sad Taysom Hill.
From www.timesdispatch.com

I've heard a lot of people whining about how terrible Taysom Hill was at quarterback in the Virginia game . . . honestly, that thought never even crossed my mind during the . . . what was it? 9-hour long game . . . or at least it sure seemed like it! I think Taysom is gonna be just fine. He just needs to get rid of the jitters and find a rhythm. The situation was far from ideal in Virginia-- the ball was wet, he didn't have Cody to throw to, and I think it was the longest game EVER. All I know is Taysom walked off that field at the end of the game with a previously-white jersey that was practically black, caked with dirt, mud, and grass. He worked his tail off in that game and, even though the Cougs came up short, I don't think he is to blame at all.

So who is to blame? A combination of a lot of things. Partly the weather, partly the 2-hour rain delay, partly Cody's hamstring, and partly the offensive line. Alright, it was in large part the offensive line, IMHO. They have GOT to get their heads on straight or it's gonna be a really long season . . . Robert Anae announced pretty quickly after the Virginia game that they are already going to shake up the starting O-line for the Texas game this afternoon. Not sure if that's a good sign or not-- I just really hope they find something that works.

I went to the BYU Football Stadium Party on Wednesday evening and someone asked Bronco if Cody was going to be able to play on Saturday (today). His response was: "They're telling me 'possibly.' What does that mean? I'm not sure. I assume it's somewhere between probably not and likely." Ah, typical Bronco. I really hope the Hoff can get out on the field today, but of course, I'd rather have him sit it out than get injured even worse.

What's gonna happen tonight? Unless my dream really does come true, I have absolutely no idea. Kick off in t-minus 6 hours . . . let's go, Cougars!

BYU Football 2013 Player Predictions

It's almost game day!!! Well, I guess I subscribe to the belief that "every day is game day", but you know what I mean. It's almost the REAL game day! BYU kicks off with Virginia in less than 48 hours. As we get set for the 2013 season, here are some of the players I think will make a huge impact this year.

Kyle Van Noy

I know, I'm starting with the obvious. Kyle is just about on every pre-season national award watchlist anyone's ever heard of . . . and several no one has. I'm sure a lot of that has to do with his amazing performance against SDSU in the Poinsettia Bowl last year, but I think he's capable of even topping that. I've found it kind of interesting that BYU has kept Kyle's play totally under wraps for the last 8 months-- I don't think he's participated in a single open practice or scrimmage game where the public or media was allowed to watch. I hope that means he's scary good! I think KVN just might be the "next Ziggy" who becomes a top-10 NFL draft pick. And to think his career at BYU almost stopped before it started . . . Talk about redemption! It's no wonder he and Brandon Davies are good friends. Everyone deserves a second chance. :) I know Kyle wants to win, and he really, really wants to beat the Utes. I approve! As I've said before, KVN has a really good shot at becoming the #1 defensive player of all-time at BYU.

From www.cougarboard.com

Cody Hoffman

I'm so glad Kyle & Cody took my advice and decided to come back for their senior seasons at the Y. :) Cody is already #5 on the BYU receiving yards record list at 2,718. He's 4th in receptions with 203 and 3rd in touchdowns at 28, but only needs 2 more to break Austin Collie's record of 30 TDs. He also only needs 3 more games of 100+ receiving yards to break Collie's record of 11. I predict that during his senior season, Cody will become #1 on all of these record lists, and those records will last for a very long time after he's gone. Seriously-- this guy could catch a football blindfolded and with Crisco all over his hands . . .

The Hoff! Found this one on Pinterest.

Michael Alisa

Coming back from a broken arm midway through last year, I think Mike will really rack up major yardage. He's got good hands, he's fast, and I think he'll make some big contributions to the team this year. In the 4 games he played in last year, he only averaged 52.5 yards per game and only scored one TD, but I think he'll be a lot stronger this year. He'll go out on a high note as a senior.

Jamaal Williams

He's finally legal at age 18, and even though he comes across as cheesy in most interviews, he's ruthless on the football field. He already set records as a freshman, and I think he'll definitely continue to do so as a sophomore. He didn't perform great in ALL the games last year, but overall he picked up 775 yards and 12 touchdowns. With 3 years left, he has a good chance to join the short list of BYU’s all-time best running backs.

Taysom Hill (also from Pinterest)

Uani Unga

I've heard nothing but praise for this inside linebacker. A transfer from Oregon State, Uani Unga will help at least as little bit to fill the void left by Brandon Ogletree. He may not be the leading tackler on the team (although he could be), but I think he'll make some very solid contributions on defense.

Mitch Mathews

I've heard a lot of buzz about this guy in the off-season. Apparently he's turned into a very talented wide receiver. It will be interesting to see how it pans out, but from what I've heard, he's got a lot of potential and just might give the likes of Ross Apo & Skyler Ridley a run for their money. Mitch is 6'6" and has really long arms, so I see him making some impressive catches this season and cementing his position as a starter in 2014.

Bronson Kaufusi

He tackled opponents on the basketball court in the offseason, and now he's ready to do it without getting fouls called on him! I think Bronson will help fill the void left by Ziggy Ansah. I've heard he's gotten stronger and faster since last year, and I think he'll be another major contributor on defense. 

Taysom Hill

Of course, I can't forget our starting QB. Without a good performance from him, all these other guys can't do squat. I think as long as Taysom remains injury-free this year, we're in good hands. Robert Anae has definitely been teaching him to slide instead of run head-on into linebackers, so hopefully that's a good sign! He also has a capable backup in Ammon Olson, but I'm more comfortable with Taysom at the helm. He's got a good arm, a good head on his shoulders, and he's very athletic. I think it might start out a little shaky while he gets used to the pressure, but after muddling through a few games, he'll bring good things to the Cougars this year.

Rise up, Cougar Nation! It's time for football!

My 2013 BYU Football Predictions

Taysom Hill throws a pass at the
Fall Scrimmage on Aug 10.

 For the first time in 10 years, sadly, I am not buying season football tickets or an all-sports pass (I absolutely refuse to call it by its new name or give it any credit because it has been completely ruined now). Anyway, I hope to still attend a few of the games, but for the most part, I will likely be watching them from my couch. I'm still psyched, though! Go Cougars!

My predictions from last year were partly right, and partly wrong. So much for Brandon Doman doing a great job . . . Anyway, BYU is coming in at #36 in the pre-season polls, meaning at least some of the critics think they've got a good shot at a successful season. However, the recent loss of cornerback Jordan Johnson and some injuries at nose guard could make the defense really shaky, especially to start out. I hate to say it, but maybe the new "go fast, go hard" policy is a little too fast, too hard. We've gotta keep these players healthy, or this is going to be a really rough season!

Anyway, I'll probably write another post focused more on the players, but I've decided to take this one game by game.

August 31 at Virginia
I think the adrenaline of a new season will carry us through this game. KVN, Cody, and Jamaal will bust out of the gate running, and while it will be a tough contest, I think BYU wins by 7.

September 7 vs. Texas
This is going to be a really tough home opener. Texas will be coming off an easy peasy home win against New Mexico State, and I think BYU might be a little battered from Virginia, even if they pull out the win. BYU will probably hang in there through the first half, but will fall behind in the end. BYU loses by 14.

September 21 vs. Utah
We'll be coming off a bye week and still be angry from the loss to Texas. Plus, it's UTAH, and Kyle, Cody, and the rest of the seniors who have never taken down the Utes will come out with a lot of rage. I don't care if BYU loses all their other games this year-- they HAVE to win this one! So I say BYU wins by 10.

September 27 vs. Middle Tennessee State
MTSU finished last season 8-4, which certainly isn't terrible. If BYU comes into the game unprepared or cocky coming off a win to Utah, it could get shaky. I think BYU might fall behind at the beginning, but they will come back strong in the second half. BYU wins by 14.

October 4 at Utah State
Ah, the Aggies. The team BYU doesn't care about at all, yet they think we are a bitter rival. Whatever. I'm actually a little nervous about this game. I think it will be close, and the home field advantage might be BYU's demise. I'm going to hope my reverse psychology works on this one . . . BYU loses by 3.

Backup QB Ammon Olsen

October 12 vs. Georgia Tech (Homecoming)
Time to pull out the Tradition, Spirit, Honor jerseys! Yeah, not so sure that's a good thing. Oh well, at least it's only for one game. We creamed GA Tech last year, but I don't see that happening again. BYU still wins by 7, though.

October 19 at Houston
Houston had a losing season last year, 5-7, and got creamed by the likes of Tulsa, SMU, and East Carolina. BYU should (knock on wood) dismantle these Cougars easily, I say by 24.

October 25 vs. Boise State
Thank heavens we don't have to play on the smurf turf this year! As much as I like the color blue, that's just too much. . . Anyway, I think this will be a tough contest, and the Cougs will cave under the pressure of a national spotlight, especially if we have anyone out with injuries, which is almost unavoidable by this point in the season. BYU loses by 17. 

November 9 at Wisconsin
Um, yeah, BYU's gonna get crushed in this one. Gary Anderson will finally get his revenge . . . BYU loses by 28.

We're ready to rumble!!!

November 16 vs. Idaho State
We'll come back after 2 losses in a row to make a comeback against the Vandals on Senior Day. BYU wins by 21.

November 23 at Notre Dame
While the Fighting Irish have lost their starting QB to academic suspension and some of their other stars to graduation, including the infamous Manti Te'o, they will still be a tough team to beat, especially on their home turf. BYU loses by 14.

November 30 at Nevada
Kyle Van Noy's homecoming game will be a great way to send him off to the NFL. I predict KVN has his best game of the season and BYU wins by 24.

So . . . I guess that means I think we're going 7-5 this year. In all honesty, if they can even get up to 8 wins, I'd count that as a very successful season, considering this brutal schedule. Hope they prove me wrong and pull out a few of those tough ones. Go Cougs!

Making New Friends at the BYU Cougar Fan Fest

Got to meet a few of my favorite Cougars tonight at the BYU Cougar Fan Fest. I dragged my mom along with me to be my photographer, but I think she had a good time, too. My favorite comment from her during the evening was, "Wow, they seem so lifelike!" haha. Love all these guys!

Ty Haws

Nate Austin

Cody Hoffman & Taysom Hill

Michael Alisa

Bronson Kaufusi

Bronco!

Took me a while to get the pads on, but Ziggy had the same problem, and now he's in the NFL!
So I'm considering trying out to be a walk-on next year . . . whatddaya think? :)

BYU Spring Football 2013

Great catch!

I know, I know, this post is long overdue. But better late than never! The BYU spring football game was a lot of fun this year. It was a beautiful day, and I got totally fried in the bright, hot sun. Today it snowed (argh!), but I still have my peeling sunburn to remind me that spring IS here, dang it! :)

At the spring football game, I actually got to sit on the front row at about the 40 yard line, thanks to a friend who is a sign language interpreter and got us seats with all the deaf and hard-of-hearing people. So I had a great view of the field and could hear a lot of what the coaches and players were saying to each other.

What I learned:

Wow, we've got a lot of quarterbacks. I spent a good portion of the game trying to figure out who all of them were. My conclusion was that we've got Taysom Hill (of course), Ammon Olsen (who injured his knee in the spring game, but should be fine by fall), Jason Munns (a senior who hasn't had much playing time), Billy Green (freshman), Tanner Mangum (also a freshman, but I was REALLY impressed with him. I was surprised to see him because I thought he was already on his mission. If he's still around in fall, I hope they redshirt him so he can have 4 good years after his mission, or if he's decided not to go on a mission after all, at least 2 good years after Taysom's gone), and Christian Stewart (not to be confused with Kristen Stewart, thank heavens. Don't worry, I checked. haha. He was a walk-on redshirt freshman in 2008, then he went to Snow College, and now transferred back to the Y).

Work it, boys!

Offensive Coordinator Robert Anae likes to yell. A lot. Hmmm... I have mixed feelings about this guy. I'm not sure if he's a good motivational force, or if he's just annoying and kind of scary. I guess we'll see soon enough.

Our kicking game still needs some work. It's better, but oh boy, I fear what might happen if our special teams can't pull it together by fall.

I like the new offense. No more huddles (they're aiming for a snap every 13 seconds-- wow) and no more running quarterbacks head-on into 300-lb linemen (meaning hopefully no more injuries). It's a lot faster paced and is set to be really exciting and fun to watch. I just hope it doesn't get frantic and disjointed. Last year, Taysom Hill missed more games (7) than he actually played in (6), yet he was still the #2 rusher on the team. And he's a quarterback. That's not right . . . Something's gotta change, so I'm glad that it looks like it has.

Favorite Quote of the Day:

I wish I knew who it was, but after a QB sack, the defensive player who was credited with the sack came over to the sideline and said to another player, "I don't know why they gave me the sack-- I didn't even touch the guy! I guess it was just because I was the last one to fall on top of the pile." My friends and I busted up laughing and had to quickly restrain ourselves when he looked over at us. Yeah, sorry, despite where we're sitting, we're not deaf! :) I'm glad they at least have a good sense of humor and really enjoy playing the game.

QB Tanner Mangum

Predictions for the upcoming 2013 season:

Cody Hoffman is going to SMASH several of Austin Collie's records. Yes, he didn't even play in spring because he's still recovering from shoulder surgery, but I'm mentioning it now anyway. Cody only needs 13 catches, 538 receiving yards, and 2 receiving TDs to break all of those BYU records. Piece. Of. Cake.

KVN. I don't need to elaborate on that one.

The defensive line will be great, but not as great as last year. Losing Ziggy Ansah and Romney Fuga is really going to hurt. The upside is that Eathyn Manumaleuna got a medical redshirt, so he's back for another year, and Bronson Kaufusi can finally play a sport where tackling is allowed again! :) On a side note, I re-watched the Mercer basketball game with Bill Walton's commentary, and my favorite moment was when he said (of Kaufusi, obviously), "That's gotta be a new record! He just fouled 3 guys at the same time, and 1 of them was on his own team!" haha. Love it.

The offensive line will be better. Unfortunately, this is kind of a given because it would be tough to be worse. It was hard to tell in the spring game, but I think the OL will improve a lot more in the fall because they've got 8 new recruits coming to campus in June who are all supposed to be potentially huge contributors right off the bat. Hopefully the rumors are true because I just can't handle Taysom (or any of the other QBs, for that matter) getting injured again!

Wow, this post ended up being really long. Oh well, I'm excited! Can't wait til kickoff at the end of August! Go Cougs!

KVN & The Hoff Commit to Returning for their Senior Year

The last 2 weeks have been crazy busy, and I was stuck in a house with an internet connection that wouldn't have a chance against a drunk, elderly snail in a race, so I've gotten way behind. I've got like 5 posts in my queue to write, but this one just had to come first. Kyle & Cody are coming back!!! It's going to be a really tough 2013 BYU football season, but having them on the team will really help the Cougars have a fighting chance at a BCS bowl. Here's how the schedule currently stands:

Aug. 31 at Virginia

Sept. 7 Texas

Sept. 21 Utah

Oct. 4 at Utah State

Oct. 12 Georgia Tech

Oct. 19 at Houston

Oct. 26 Boise State

Nov. 9 at Wisconsin

Nov. 16 Middle Tennessee State

Nov. 23 at Notre Dame

Dec. 7 at Hawaii

They've still got 3 or 4  games to fill in, so it theoretically could get even tougher before the season actually starts.

The best part is that I can arguably take full (or at least partial) credit for the return of the Hoff & KVN because I know they read my blog post encouraging them to come back. haha. Twitter provides proof:

What exactly will the Cougars gain from KVN & Cody coming back? They both have chances to smash records and become some of the best Cougar football players of all time. Cody will likely break Austin Collie's receiving records, and having him on the 2013 team, as Dick Harmon puts it, is "like manna from heaven for the Cougar offense." Cody has caught a pass in 32 consecutive games and is already fifth on the BYU receiving yards leader board at 2,718. He's 4th in receptions with 203, 3rd in TDs at 28, but only needs 2 more to break Collie's record of 30. He also only needs 3 more games of 100+ receiving yards to break Collie's record of 11. I predict that during his senior season, Cody will become #1 on all of these record lists, and those records will last for a very long time after he's gone.

As for Kyle Van Noy, he has a really good shot at becoming the #1 defensive player all-time at BYU. He is the only player in the country to record a stat in every major defensive category in both 2011 and 2012. He is currently ranked #1 nationally (tied with 4 other players) in sacks. He is also tied for 2nd place in the country in forced fumbles, and is top-10 in tackles for loss and blocked kicks. Despite losing Ziggy Ansah and Brandon Ogletree, KVN returning will help the 2013 defense give the 2012 nationally-ranked and possibly best-ever BYU defense a run for its money.

I'm not quite sure yet how I feel about the demotion of Brandon Doman to QB Coach (if he decides to accept) and the return of Robert Anae as OC. Although I find it almost impossible to believe it will make the offense worse. I'm sure I'll write another post about that subject in the coming days. But all-in-all, when you combine KVN and Cody's return with the return of Taysom Hill, Jamaal Williams, Michael Alisa, and a few other stellar players, I predict 2013 to be a much brighter season than 2012. Go Cougars!!!

Kyle Van Noy & Riley Stephenson Conquer the Aztecs

From www.desnews.com

Kyle Van Freakin' Noy!!!

Last night, KVN put on one of the most amazing defensive (or offensive, for that matter) football performances I've ever seen-- maybe THE best, actually. I mean, 12 points in 18 seconds?!? That's tough to beat!

Unfortunately, the first half of the Poinsettia Bowl vs. the former MWC foe San Diego State played out just like the rest of the BYU football season-- zillions of offensive mistakes, with the defense picking up the pieces time and time again. James Lark played ok, but not stellar. He threw interceptions and he got sacked (although that was mostly the o-line's fault). I thought for sure this would be just another heartbreaking loss akin to Notre Dame, Boise State, or Utah . . .

Enter Kyle Van Noy!

KVN, a defensive player, outscored the offense by himself. I really liked Jimmer's tweet during the game: "Another TD @KVN_03. Do you play offense or defense?"

It's true-- Kyle was pretty much playing all the positions out there completely on his own.  Maybe they should have put him in at QB or at least on the offensive line . . .  Many college football players dream of accomplishing in the entirety of their 4-year career what Kyle accomplished in about 10 minutes.

KVN wasn't the only standout, though-- Riley Stephenson's amazing punting pinned the Aztecs inside the 20 six times and inside the 3 three times! I think SDSU would have put a lot more points on the board if that hadn't happened. Man, I'm really going to miss that guy.

The good news:

1. James Lark didn't have an amazing game (Yes, that is good news.) I fear if he had had the most amazing bowl performance ever, the fans would torch Bronco's house for not letting him play earlier in the season. Lark was adequate, but not amazing. As I've said before, I really don't believe it would have made much difference to play him instead of Riley through most of the season. So let's just put all that QB "controversy" crap behind us now . . .

2. Cody Hoffman said he will "probably" come back for another year as a Cougar. Wahoo! Then again, Jabari Parker also said he was probably coming to BYU . . . but that's for another post on another day when I've calmed down from my anger. Hopefully Cody will follow through and do the smart thing.

3. KVN was amazing! And, most importantly, we won!!!

The bad news:

1. Kyle Van Noy might be even more likely to leave for the NFL now. He couldn't ask for a much better farewell party than that. During his post game show interview (during which his white uniform was covered from head to toe in grass stains-- totally appropriate for the occasion), he said he hasn't decided yet whether he will forego his senior year, but probably will decide fairly soon. Fingers crossed!!

2. Riley Nelson only played one series in the 2nd quarter and ended his college career by throwing an interception that was dangerously close to being a pick-6. Despite all of the criticism he has received this year, he is such a good person and a good football player. I feel really bad for the way he went out. He doesn't deserve all the flack he's gotten lately-- very few of his "mistakes" were his fault-- they were largely offensive line issues and coaching issues. I still like you, Riley!

3. No more BYU football til September. :(

What needs to happen in the off-season:

1. Brandon Doman needs to learn how to coach a passing offense, for the sake of Taysom Hill and the sanity of all the other players and fans.

2. We need to recruit some awesome O-liners and a good kicker. It shouldn't be that hard to find someone who can kick PATs and a few people who can protect the QB with at least some degree of consistency . . . right?

Sad to see the season end, but I'm glad they pulled it out! Go Cougars!

My Thanksgiving Weekend with Jimmer, James, & Jabari

My Thanksgiving weekend was full of sports-watching, which is just the way I like it! :) First, I took a trip up to Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City on Friday to watch Jimmer and the Kings play the Jazz. Then I came back down to Provo on Saturday to watch the BYU football game vs New Mexico State on the big screen at the broadcast studio and went to the BYU basketball game vs. CSU-Northridge. Here's the details on my weekend with Jimmer, James, and Jabari!

Jimmer

I'm glad Jimmer at least got some decent playing time on Friday (although it's kind of sad that "decent" playing time now equates to only 17 minutes). He knocked down 3 threes plus a free throw to make 10 points. Just like last season, there were lots of boos and lots of cheers every time he touched the ball. After the game, Jimmer was asked how long he expects to draw so much attention to himself when he visits Utah. I loved his response: “I hope forever. I hope for as long as I come back it will still be like this. You guys mean a lot to me.” Awwww. :)

One of my favorite parts of the game was listening to the two little boys sitting behind me (they were probably about 7 or 8 years old). Right from the tipoff, they started chanting, "Put in Jimmer! Put in Jimmer!" At one point, one of them started cheering "Let's go Jazz! Let's go Jazz!" The other one said (in a shocked voice), "Jazz?!?" The first kid's response: "Yes, I cheer for the Jazz. Except when Jimmer has the ball. Then I'll say, 'Let's go Jimmer!'" How cute. I totally agree, little man! :)

Nicole & I getting excited for some Jimmer action!

In the end, there's still no doubting it-- Jimmer doesn't fit with the Kings and probably never will (unless there were some major coaching and player changes). I really hope he gets traded. Unfortunately, though, the latest rumor is that he might go to the Lakers. I loathe the Lakers, and I'd have a really hard time being a fan of someone on that team, but for Jimmer, I guess I'd have to make an exception. If he is a good fit for that team and they will actually use him, I say go for it! 

James

Some of you may be wondering, who the heck is James? That would be James Lark, the third string BYU quarterback, who finally got his time to shine on Saturday. James started at BYU in 2006, but it took six years for him to get his first start as the BYU QB. When asked after the game how it felt, James replied that it was nothing short of a "dream come true." Good for him. I'm relatively impressed with the way he played, and he managed to get both him and Cody Hoffman into the record books in just that one game.

Since the game wasn't on TV (and I can't get access to ESPN3 online for some unknown reason), I decided to see what it's like to go to the BYU Broadcasting building on campus and watch it on their big screen. I was in the studio audience for the "Countdown to Kickoff" pre-game show, too, which was a lot of fun (although all the cheering they make you do is exhausting!) During the game, Dave McCann sat in the audience to watch with us. He was sitting in the middle of my row with his family, so he had to climb over me and a few others to get in and out of his seat. After the first missed P.A.T. from Justin Sorensen, he got up to leave, and on his way past me, he turned to me and said, "Be right back. I'm gonna go find a good kicker." I laughed and said, "Good luck. We need one!" Man, our kicking game really is ridiculous this year. Although all the criticism of Sorensen isn't totally fair-- he hit 70 consecutive P.A.T.s before his two misses on Saturday. That's not a bad stat at all. He's had more trouble with field goals, but he's also injured. It's just unfortunate that we couldn't ever find someone to replace him when it was needed most.

Just as a side note, the ESPN commentators were ridiculous, too-- apparently our punt returner is now named "Falsey" and our star 17-year-old RB is "Jamaal Wilson". Geez, at least do your homework before you make an idiot out of yourself. The only thing worse may have been the ESPN commentator who called our QB "Cody Nelson" several times during the SJSU game. Sheesh...

Of course the media can't stop themselves from saying that there is now yet another "quarterback debate" at BYU, but as always, Bronco has made it abundantly clear that is not the case-- Riley Nelson is still the starter, and will be for the bowl game. I understand Bronco wants to be firm in his decision making and not look back or play the "what if" game, but seriously, his unwillingness to even admit that there's a small possibility Riley might not be up for being the starter on December 20 is ridiculous and could ultimately cost Bronco his job, if I'm being completely honest. Just judging from the broken record Bronco has been all season, I might think Riley would be out there in a wheelchair if it was up to him, and that is NOT a good way to run the program. He needs to show a lot more flexibility in his coaching style and in the decisions he makes. It would be fine if he just said, "I hope Riley can start, but if he isn't back up to par, we'll consider playing James." Bronco should be thanking his lucky stars that Riley is a senior this year, because if his obsession with him went on for another year, I think he'd definitely get the can.

I don't think James Lark is a better QB than Riley-- Yes, it's true that James put up some amazing stats on Saturday, but come on-- he was playing against one of the worst teams in college football. Lots of his passes were WAY off their target-- more off than Riley has been in his bad passes this year. Could James have held up and gotten us a win against Utah or Boise State or Notre Dame? Maybe, but I don't think it's too likely. But is a healthy James Lark better than an injured Riley Nelson? Absolutely. If Riley is healthy for the bowl game, we should definitely play him. But if Riley is not absolutely 110% by December 20, we need to play Lark. I guess we'll see what happens . . .

Jabari

In the BYU basketball game against CSU-Northridge on Saturday night, Tyler Haws had a very impressive career night with 32 points (hmmm . . . I really like that number! Could be a sign of great things to come!) and ultimately led the Cougars to a tough victory. But, unfortunately for him, Tyler wasn't the star of the night-- in fact, the focus was on someone who wasn't even on the court. That's right-- Provo went Parker Style!

Jabari Parker was right in my line of sight during the game, and it seemed like he was enjoying himself, although a lot of the time, he was just talking to the people around him and didn't seem to even be paying much attention. I guess I can't blame him for being a little embarrassed at the 6,000+ "Chicago to Provo" t-shirts, the signs ranging from "Jabari Parker, you have been called to serve in the BYU basketball mission" to "WWJD: What will Jabari do?" and "Mormon girls-- Duke: 15, BYU: 15,994", and the "Whoosh, Jabari!" chant on free throws that emerged and spread mid-way through the first half, but I hope deep down he appreciated it. The atmosphere was great-- it was loud, it was crazy, and it was a good, old-fashioned Marriott Center victory. I hope Jabari was able to see that and realize what a great place BYU really is.

I hope this guy next to Jabari was saying,
"Won't you look great in a BYU uniform???"

A lot of people are still saying BYU has a 0% chance of landing Parker, but I disagree. I think we've actually got a really good chance (and I am saying that completely objectively). Jabari's father has confirmed BYU has a very legitimate shot at getting him, saying, "Remember, he belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." I think that is a point that nearly all the nay-sayers seem to be neglecting. That is an extremely compelling reason for him to choose BYU-- and it's certainly not the only one. His dad continued, "They've got one of the winningest programs in the last 4-5 years . . . They average 25 wins a year. They don't get the recognition of others. Their conference isn't that bad. Remember they had the player of the year in Jimmer Fredette. They have a real good program."

I know I'm thankful for BYU and the opportunity I had to go there, and now for the chances I get to see my favorite sports teams in action. I hope Jabari joins the throng someday. :) Go Cougars!

A depressing weekend in BYU sports

It's not very often that my two favorite sports teams lose three times in two days. Sigh . . .

I guess I do have to say that the weekend wasn't 100% bad in the BYU sports world. I caught the end of the BYU women's soccer game on Saturday right before the football pre-game show, and it was INTENSE. I'm not a huge soccer fan, but I've gotta give major props to those girls. I could tell they thought they were going to lose-- they were clinging to each other and shaking, with tears rolling down their faces as each different member of the team stepped up to take a penalty kick. They somehow held on through 8 rounds of PKs and came from behind to beat Marquette and make it to the elite 8 in the NCAA tourney. Way to go!

Now onto the tough stuff . . .

Auggie Ambrosino and Nate Austin fight for the ball vs FL State
From www.ksl.com

Loss #1: BYU basketball vs. Florida State

I knew that BYU had to keep turnovers to a minimum to have a shot in this game. When Matt Carlino committed 2 turnovers within the first minute of the game, I knew it wasn't going to be pretty. They shaped up a little bit as the game went on, but it was still very messy. The refs were also horrible and called really nit-picky fouls. Brandon Davies got in foul trouble early on and spend most of the first half and a good chunk of the second half on the bench. He still managed to score 19 points, and Tyler Haws added 23, but it wasn't enough. We struggled defensively and couldn't knock down shots when it mattered most.

Loss #2: BYU basketball vs. Notre Dame

This loss was pretty heartbreaking. BYU really should have won. But again, unnecessarily called fouls and an inability to make easy shots was the story. BYU led by 1 at the half, but fell behind in the second fairly quickly and never recovered. Brandon only played 18 minutes because of fouls. Coach Rose wanted to limit Nate Austin's time so he could heal from an ankle (I think?) injury sustained in the FL State game, but had to play him when Ian Harward got in foul trouble and eventually fouled out. The team as a whole only shot 38% from the field and 21% from behind the arc.

Morals of the story from these two basketball losses:

• They've got to keep Brandon out of foul trouble. Haws is amazing, but he can't carry the team, and we need Brandon in the post, both offensively and defensively.
• They've got to keep their heads in the game. Matt Carlino in particular tends to panic. He's very frantic and makes some costly mistakes. Even if they're down with just a few minutes left, they need to concentrate and stop throwing up desperation shots that never go down or passing the ball in traffic and getting it turned over.
• They need to shake up the lineup. Cory Calvert is my unsung hero of the season so far. That kid is incredible-- not the best shooter in the world, but he is an assist machine! He's got quick hands, is great on defense, and is an amazing passer. I think he's just as feisty as Carlino, but he works much better under pressure. They also need to play Craig Cusick more often. 
• Anson Winder needs to get healthy again. I was happy to see him in for a few minutes at the end of the FL State game. Hopefully he is healing well and can be back on the court soon. We could really use him.

Riley Nelson breaking tackles left and right.
From www.heraldextra.com

Loss #3: BYU football vs San Jose State

I hate to admit it, but even I gave in to the temptation to go to bed early on this one. I gave up with about 5 minutes left (when they were down 20 to 7), paused it, and went to sleep. I hit play again on Sunday morning and watched the rest. I started hyperventilating when they managed to get one more touchdown and completed a successful onside kick-- they had a shot! A good shot! I was kicking myself for not hanging on a little longer on Saturday night! But then, of course, my dreams were dashed when that SJSU linebacker jumped over Jamaal Williams' head (how in the world did he do that?!?) and sacked Riley Nelson to effectively end the game. So close, yet so far. The story of the season.

Despite the bad outcome of this game, overall I was impressed with the way BYU hung on. There were some great moments (a career-high 13 Cody Hoffman catches, a spectacular on-side kick, an amazing zig-zagging sack from KVN, and an awesome juggling interception from Daniel Sorensen, to name a few), but of course, there were some very painful moments, too.

I must state my firm opinion about Riley Nelson, though-- Riley is not a terrible quarterback. He may not be the best QB that BYU has ever seen, but he's definitely not as bad as everyone seems to be making him out to be. He was breaking tackles all over the place and made some incredible passes. However, it seems like the opinion of the day is that Riley should have been benched in favor of James Lark in the second half because Riley was playing so badly. I disagree. I don't think Lark could have made a big difference in that game. I think he would have played just as good as (or maybe worse than) Riley. I don't think he could have won us the game. The only reason Riley maybe should have been pulled was because of his injuries-- NOT because of his playing performance.

To prove that Riley isn't the ultimate downfall of the BYU football program, I cite this tweet from Greg Wrubell:

He has fewer turnovers than Max Hall for heaven's sake! That's amazing! Granted, Bronco's obsession with Riley Nelson has definitely gone overboard, and I think it has cost us a few games this year, but SJSU was not one of them.

Why did BYU lose this game? The defense didn't show up until the second half-- that's why. It's true that Riley was far from perfect (yes, I know there was a turnover on downs and an interception in the blue zone), but he is still clearly having back problems AND he dislocated one of his ribs! I'd like to see anyone play as well as he did with those injuries. I don't know why the BYU defense couldn't stop SJSU on their first 3 drives, but that was what ultimately cost us the game. Well, that, and an amazing play from the SJSU linebacker who sacked Riley with 1 minute left in the game. But I don't think there was anything anyone could have done to prevent that one.

I close by making a plea to Bronco Mendenhall: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE play James Lark against New Mexico State. That's right-- James Lark at QB for the ENTIRE GAME. NMSU has one of the worst teams in college football right now-- certainly Lark can handle it, and he deserves to play a game as a senior QB. Let Riley take a month off, take a much-needed vacation to the hospital, get fixed up, and come back ready for the bowl game on December 20. Please stop shooting your team in the foot by overplaying Riley. PLEASE. We all know you adore him-- that point has been abundantly clear. Now please make the smart decision and let him sit out next Saturday. It may not even be the worst idea to sit Cody, too, since he is now nursing a shoulder injury.

Alright, Cougars, time to pick yourselves back up and go get 'em. First up, basketball vs UT- San Antonio on Wednesday night. You know I'll be there!