2011 BYU Football Thread

[Sizzle]

Well, this is a second hand account, so we shouldn't get too carried away, but here is the summary:

I realize that this is a horse we have beaten to death, but it will always bug me to hear people talk about this as a shining moment for BYU. It wasn't. Yes, we stuck to our principles. Bravo for that. But the manner in which those principles are enforced stinks.

IMO, it was less about how good it was that BYU punished Davies and more about how BYU is different. Clips played included Steve Young on ESPN talking about the Honor Code not being a "letter of the law" but a "spirit of the law" and contrasted how in a world where the top headlines in college sports usually include coaches and players involved in pay-for-play and recruiting violations, BYU is different.

He also failed to include the part which adds context, IMO, where Bronco talked about how each individual and player is not perfect, and that the expectations of everyone to follow the Honor Code perfectly are a bit too optimistic. He said that he was the perfect example of that. He also was very clear in stating that he does NOT view BYU as a place that should be looking for reasons to kick kids out, that it was part of the schools mission to help people become better individuals, and for most individuals the best place for that to happen was at BYU. If you have somebody blatantly disregarding the Honor Code, that is one thing, but a slip or a mishap with a sincere heart, completely different story.

I think you could probably take from Bronco's words what you wanted, and if you wanted to see it as pumping BYU up in a positive light, that's fine. But that wasn't my takeaway.

[Jeff Lebowski]

IMO, it was less about how good it was that BYU punished Davies and more about how BYU is different. Clips played included Steve Young on ESPN talking about the Honor Code not being a "letter of the law" but a "spirit of the law" and contrasted how in a world where the top headlines in college sports usually include coaches and players involved in pay-for-play and recruiting violations, BYU is different.

He also failed to include the part which adds context, IMO, where Bronco talked about how each individual and player is not perfect, and that the expectations of everyone to follow the Honor Code perfectly are a bit too optimistic. He said that he was the perfect example of that. He also was very clear in stating that he does NOT view BYU as a place that should be looking for reasons to kick kids out, that it was part of the schools mission to help people become better individuals, and for most individuals the best place for that to happen was at BYU. If you have somebody blatantly disregarding the Honor Code, that is one thing, but a slip or a mishap with a sincere heart, completely different story.

I think you could probably take from Bronco's words what you wanted, and if you wanted to see it as pumping BYU up in a positive light, that's fine. But that wasn't my takeaway.

That sounds better. Thanks.

[MarkGrace]

Some really positive comments on Kav, some not quite as positive comments on Fandango.
http://www.heraldextra.com/sports/co...cc4c03286.html

[MarkGrace]

No player on the team is on fire more than Hague currently...if he keeps this up, then it's going to be hard to keep him off the field

I like the sound of that.

[Sizzle]

I like the sound of that.

There was no question Hague had probably the 3 biggest hits on Friday. He was flying around laying into people. It is honestly a shame that he wanted so badly to play RB instead of listening to the coaches. He would be the unquestioned leader in our secondary this year, and last year with Andrew Rich, we could have been solid at the safety.

I wasn't sold on his coverage (granted, it was only one practice, and we've seen worse from BYU safeties so take with a grain of salt) but against the run, and for flat out laying into people, yeah, I was a fan.

[oxcoug]

Freaking love these 20 questions with 'Tree.

http://www.heraldextra.com/sports/co...cc4c002e0.html

And sweet freaking Moses - Kaveinga plays FOUR instruments? And Bronco says (in a different article) that he's "extremely" intelligent. My perceptions of Kav are pretty much the reverse of where they were a year ago.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

There was no question Hague had probably the 3 biggest hits on Friday. He was flying around laying into people. It is honestly a shame that he wanted so badly to play RB instead of listening to the coaches. He would be the unquestioned leader in our secondary this year, and last year with Andrew Rich, we could have been solid at the safety.

I wasn't sold on his coverage (granted, it was only one practice, and we've seen worse from BYU safeties so take with a grain of salt) but against the run, and for flat out laying into people, yeah, I was a fan.

I have a hard time keeping these safety spots straight. Are Sorensen/Galea'i playing kat, and Hague and Uale are trying to play free? To me that seems like we'd be putting a lot of solid run support on the field without a whole lot of aid in pass defense. Especially if there are times when Uale and Galea'i are on the field together...disaster waiting to happen with a decent QB on the other team.

It makes me wonder why there hasn't been more consideration yet in moving Preston Hadley or Everett to the free safety spot; much better coverage instincts and ability and still have enough size to get the job done at safety. It would leave Eason, Buckner, Johnson, and either Hadley or DQ to man the two-deep at corner.

Too bad Gaines hasn't been around to make a push for time.

[Surfah]

I have a hard time keeping these safety spots straight. Are Sorensen/Galea'i playing kat, and Hague and Uale are trying to play free? To me that seems like we'd be putting a lot of solid run support on the field without a whole lot of aid in pass defense. Especially if there are times when Uale and Galea'i are on the field together...disaster waiting to happen with a decent QB on the other team.

It makes me wonder why there hasn't been more consideration yet in moving Preston Hadley or Everett to the free safety spot; much better coverage instincts and ability and still have enough size to get the job done at safety. It would leave Eason, Buckner, Johnson, and either Hadley or DQ to man the two-deep at corner.

Too bad Gaines hasn't been around to make a push for time.

At least this year, I am not sure we face a decent QB aside from Hawaii's Moniz. So we have that going for us.

[Surfah]

Freaking love these 20 questions with 'Tree.

http://www.heraldextra.com/sports/co...cc4c002e0.html

And sweet freaking Moses - Kaveinga plays FOUR instruments? And Bronco says (in a different article) that he's "extremely" intelligent. My perceptions of Kav are pretty much the reverse of where they were a year ago.

That may have been the greatest interview ever given by a BYU player nit named Max Hall.

[Katy Lied]

I thought Graham Rowley was going on a mission? Did Bronco ask him to defer?

[MarkGrace]

Doman bringing the hype for the defense.

For that matter, offensive coordinator Brandon Doman is also impressed. Tuesday, Doman called it the best defense the Cougars have had in quite some time.
"They are really good. It is the best defense I have seen BYU have in maybe 10 years. They are talented, they have a ton of depth. They are big up front. We've added some depth to the defensive line, and some real size and athleticism up there that we have not had in a long time.
Then we have added some core linebackers that can play. We have had a couple of position changes. One of the guys I am most impressed with right now is Mike Hague. He moved from running back to strong safety. He is doing a fantastic job. They have added some depth over there that is going to make them really good."

And Bronco sings Kav's praises.

Whenever USC transfer Uona Kaveinga's name is mentioned, Mendenhall glows. He said Kaveinga, who sat out last year due to NCAA transfer rules, has already emerged as the leader on defense.
"The USC transfers so far are doing really well," Mendenhall said. "Starting with Uona Kaveinga, he has been here longer. He has been here an entire year and he is currently THE leader on our defense.
I have been really impressed with him. He was voted student of the week today, too. So he is doing well in both capacities.

More on Kaveinga's leadership from Mendenhall:
"He loves football. He absolutely loves football. If you watch him on the sideline, how animated he is -- any good play, no matter when it is in practice, he just seems to see it all, and he loves the game. There's a phrase -- he's a football kid -- that the coaches use a lot.
I bet he has studied it from the time he was in kindergarten. He just loves the game, and he is really, really smart, and very intuitive. He comes off the field and sees things that a lot of times as coaches -- we have had a lot of training -- that we just barely see. He just loves it."

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsby...oves.html.csp#

[Blueintheface]

And Bronco sings Kav's praises.

I hope a nickname emerges. This kid seems Train-whistle-worthy.

[smokymountainrain]

Doman bringing the hype for the defense.



And Bronco sings Kav's praises.




http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsby...oves.html.csp#

When I read this:

He comes off the field and sees things that a lot of times as coaches -- we have had a lot of training -- that we just barely see. He just loves it."

I don't know why, but I read it as Bronco saying "He just loves this shit". I about fell over in my chair. Perhaps it's just me wishing Bronco would drop a four letter word every now and then just to remind me that he's human and maybe that he isn't always in "GA audition" mode.

[Donuthole]

When I read this:



I don't know why, but I read it as Bronco saying "He just loves this shit". I about fell over in my chair. Perhaps it's just me wishing Bronco would drop a four letter word every now and then just to remind me that he's human and maybe that he isn't always in "GA audition" mode.

Three letter words don't count?

Spoiler for PG-12 language!:

Shut your @$$

[MarkGrace]

Freaking love these 20 questions with 'Tree.

http://www.heraldextra.com/sports/co...cc4c002e0.html

And sweet freaking Moses - Kaveinga plays FOUR instruments? And Bronco says (in a different article) that he's "extremely" intelligent. My perceptions of Kav are pretty much the reverse of where they were a year ago.

Definitely a great interview. I was surprised when he said either Drew or Ross was the fastest on the team. I mean know Apo is fast, but I didn't think he'd be among the very tops.