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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Is Cougar Sports with Ben kretel At. It's time for
the Cougar Beat.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Getting the dish from the local reporters that cover Cougar athletics.
Speaker 3 (00:07):
Welcome back Cougar Sports, one of the three nine ninety eight
point three ESPN the Fan. I'm Bencrital broadcasting from our
Banderwealth Studios, Banterwealth dot Com. Get on a free Q
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It is time for Little kugar Be going to welcome
(00:28):
into Cougar Sports Insider, the ones the individuals that cover
the team on the daily, on the weekly to dissect
what's going on in Cougar Country. A lot of football
talk in the segments going to be brought to you
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to do is get a second opinion at dental pros, VP, products,
VP service, VP discounts. All right, let's welcome in the
voice of BYU Athletics, BYU Football. We got Greg Rebel
on the line, g Unit the heck are you man?
Thanks for joining us?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Always my pleasure, Ben, good to be with you, and
thanks for producer Ron.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
You guys do great work and it's my pleasure to
join you.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Love getting your insight, your in your knowledge and in
perspective on this BYU football team because you're you're in
the You're you're there right, You're there day to day
watching this team, getting to know the players, getting to
the coaches, of value it in the team, probably in
debt more than anybody. So let's start off with the
storylines that came out of Camp Kallani, starting with bear Bachmeyer.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
He won the job.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
It was a surprise to some, maybe not a surprise
to others. How did this happen? How did bear Bachmeyer
become QB one in such a limited amount of time
without springball in his favor?
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Yeah, well he had spring ball with a different team, right,
He was Stanford, so he had some experience that way.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
But Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
I mean it really comes down to the kind of
quarterback we're talking about. I mean, this is one of
the most highly sought after quarterbacks in the country two
years ago. Uh, you know this, this is the guy
that everybody wanted, you name, a big name program, and
there's a good chance that Bear was on their list
and Stanford got him. And and the fact that he
(02:15):
ends up at b YU and such unforeseen fashion is
is pretty remarkable. And you know, and and then and
then with Jake departing, you know, the door was wide
open for him to show why he was the guy
he was coming out of high school and and so
he beat out a couple of guys with FBS reps.
And to do that, I think you've got to be
a special quarterback. And and that's what I think b
(02:36):
yu's got, you.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Know, on their roster.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Now, this could be the start of a very intriguing,
compelling and successful era uh for b YU. Offensively, If
if Bear is able to develop it at the rate
he's already shown he can develop, they've got a special.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
Player on their hands. And and yeah, do you expect
freshman mistakes and growing.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Pains and the typical trials that any rookie goes through, absolutely,
but that's why you surround him with UH with the
running backs they've got, and a solid core of wide receivers,
and an offensive line with plenty of reps and a
resurgent tight end, and a great defense to back them up,
and special teams that get the job done. If you've
got to start from scratch at quarterback, which by he's doing,
(03:20):
there's really no better situation than the one that b
Y You's got right now around him.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
I'm excited, genuinely excited.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
And intrigued about this season to come and the years
to come because this is not again. This is We've
already talked about this or I've certainly tweeted about it.
It's out there, but boy, he's never done this. They've
never had a season opener with a true freshman starting
a quarterback. And rare Rare is the Power conference program
that starts any season with a true freshman a quarterback,
(03:49):
because at the P four P five level, you're you're
you're pretty much stacking juniors and seniors and you're going to.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
The portal to get guys when.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
You lose experience, like that's kind of the new tread
you're not building from freshman to sophomore to junior to senior.
You're recycling juniors and seniors through the portal year to
year to year to year. It's rare for a power
conference program to have to start on the ground floor
with a guy like by bear Bachmeier. But he he's
got to do it. Why not do it with a
guy that everybody wanted. He was one of the top
(04:19):
five top ten duel threat quarterbacks in the country when
he committed to Stanford.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Yeah, Alabama, Arkansas, go down the list, Georgia, Kansas, Miami, Michigan,
Notre Dame, Oregon, Purdue, Texas, A and m Utah, you
name it. He had offers from pretty impressive resume, no
doubt about it. So what have you seen personally from
bear Bachmeier in practice and film, in discussions with players
(04:44):
and coaches?
Speaker 1 (04:45):
What type of player is?
Speaker 3 (04:46):
How would you describe him as a quarterback as a thrower?
And I know we're going to see more of him
right in live reps and that's going to be unique
in and of itself. It's a different platform, it's a
different environment.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
But what have you seen this far that you're like,
what stands out.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
To you, well, he's got a remarkable build or a
true freshman. His size, his stability, his lower body, that's
a that's a really well put together rookie quarterback at
a very young age. Throws a really zippy ball. He's
got he's got smooth, fluid movements. He's he's he's mature
(05:23):
in his demeanor. He's composed in his presence in the
pocket and moving around.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
He calls a good huddle. He he you know, acts
in a.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Lot of ways like anybody other than a freshman. It's
one of the you know, all those things are a
compilation of, you know, reasons that state his case as
as a starting quarterback despite being a true freshman. The
things you don't have are the things that come through
reps and the things that come through live fire, and
the things that come through working through a game and
(05:54):
then working through a two minute drill with Aaron Rodgerts
and your headset.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
These things have still yet to happen.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
In live fire, and we're going to see, like I said,
typical travails and challenges that come with true freshman quarterbacking.
But this is this is not an average everyday rookie.
He's a little different man.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
He's just he's the fact.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
I mean, let's get to the fact he wears the
forty seven, right, you know, why does he do it?
Why does he wear the number?
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Well, it goes back to being a two way player,
being a.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Running back and a linebacker, being a guy that cherishes
and loves the physical part of the game. And he says,
when I crossed the line of scrimmage on offense, I'm
the linebacker again, I'm not afraid to hit or be
hit or hit you. And so he's got that mentality
as well, all the things that a coach and a
coordinator and teammates would love to have in their huddle
(06:41):
for sure. And again just having that that six two
twenty plus guy that looks the part.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
This is a very physically rigorous league. The Big twelve
is no joke.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
The fact that Jake Retzlof got through, you know, thirteen
games last year as a starting quarterback, you know, kudos
to him, the strength nditioning staff and BYU in general.
It's tough to have those those seasons where your QB
is the guy won games one through thirteen or one
through twelve.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
We've talked about it.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
I mean those seasons don't happen very often, and it
could be they're going to need to go to their
backup at some point this year, but last year, YU
take that again on a heartbeat. If they get their
guy for all twelve or thirteen games as a starting
quarterback and he's upright and healthy and thriving, that's what
you want to have. And he looks like the kind
of guy that can withstand the punishment.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
That comes with playing Big twelve football.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
You've been a part of BYU history for a long time,
covering BA football for a very long time, so one
of the longest tenured individuals, maybe even as a fan
and then as a media member as a sideline reporter.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
And into the booth. So your perspective is powerful.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
In this in regards to this next question, Historically speaking,
how true freshman and even red re freshmen fared at
BYU when getting their initial starts, they get their initial
playing time. What does that look like, at least historically
speaking from a objective statistical standpoint.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Well, it's really important to note that, you know, and
until I joined the radio crew back in nineteen ninety two, okay,
freshmen weren't playing quarterback at BYU.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
It just wasn't happening.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
I mean, in the Steve Young, Jim McMahon, Geidford, Nielsen
mark freshman did not play the end off. So I
joined the crew in ninety two. Okay, before that time.
So let's say in the modern era of BYU football,
once freshman began being eligible, right still, from the seventies
to the nineties, one red shirt freshman played at BYU,
(08:41):
and that was ty Dever. Yeah, okay, so let let's
understand it wasn't being done.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
It just didn't happen.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
And then I remember the first time it was a
big It was such a big deal. The first time
it happened. We were in El Paso back in nineteen
ninety seven and Drew Miller mid to late season came
in to start a game as a true freshman, and
it was it was spot duty. It wasn't something that
that that was expected or that was prolonged, but Drew
(09:09):
Miller became the first true freshman to do it. That
then you go a few years later and then Matt
Barry was a red shirt freshman and he did it.
And then you had some true freshmen all in a row.
And these names are John Beck and Jay Keeps and
Taysom Hill and Tanner, Mangum, Joe Critchlow, Let's not forget him.
Zach Wilson, Baylor Romney was a red shirt. He was
(09:32):
the last freshman to get a start at b YU.
He was a red shirt freshman. And you've got a
mixed bag in that group of names I just gave you,
But nobody was the choice to start a season, all right.
So so this is the first time that they've broken
camp with the decision.
Speaker 4 (09:47):
To flay to play a freshman at quarterback. That's how
rare it is.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Quarterbacks are emergency freshmen are their emergency plans, their safety nets.
They're gadget guys. They're not the guy you turn to
coming out of camp until this year. That's how unusual
the situation is. Now. All that being said, the last
four true freshmen to start a game at by US
(10:11):
quarterback of all won those games, and that dates back
to Taysom Hill in twenty twelve. Taysom Tanner, Chris Slow,
and Zach Wilson all won their first starts at quarterback
as true freshmen. And we'd expect Backmyer to make it
five in a row because you're opening with an FCS team,
important stage, so that should be something that gets put
on his resume pretty quickly. So that's kind of a
(10:34):
brief background of how it's gone over my tenure and
just how you know, football changed in a dramatic way,
and for BYU recently with the ability to go to
a rookie coming out of camp.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
So that's kind of where we are on that. It
is interesting to know it as well.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
And I put this out on Twitter the other day,
Ben the last four seasons bothen with different starting quarterbacks
for BYU. You know, I would say most teams, most
teams wouldn't prefer that to be the case, but in
the portal but in the portal era that's much more
common too. Now again you lose a starter, go get
a starter, lose s car to go get a starter,
and guys are one year guys. And so that's also
(11:15):
you know, the new dynamic. But it had been a
long time, almost twenty years since BYU last had a
stretch where they had four straight years with four different
quarterbacks to open a season.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
Yeah, that that deep dive into you know why true
freshman quarterbacks in the modern era, if you will, are
receiving more PT early on in their careers is an
interesting study and maybe for another show another day, But
BYU is somewhat reflective of that, especially go ahead.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Yeah, but I would say at the P four level,
now I'm saying now, at the G six level, you
probably do find probably more freshmen getting meaningful reps earliert quarterbacks.
I think at the at the top tier of Power
Conference programs, they're not going to want to be relying
on a freshman. I mean, if they can help it,
they're going to portal themselves into experience quarterback one way
(12:08):
or another. So I would say BYU is the outlier
among Power Conference teams and having to go this rud
I think it's much more common than the G six
because once that G six quarterback develops into a good
quarterback as a sophomore a.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
Junior, he's gone.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
If he's any good, he's gone, right, he's gone to
the P four level to be again into that treadmill
of bringing experienced quarterbacks into battle for the job.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
At least the way I see it.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Yeah, and we we delved into a little bit of
the P four examples. I think bo Nicks was one
that that that led a team to some glory and
victory Trevor Lawrence on the back end of that Clemson
schedule as a true freshman.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
But it's a rarity.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
And so you know, if you look at it, and
I don't know if you did aggregated win lost record
for true freshmen at BYU when they're when they're getting
these starts, and look, there's a supporting cast involved in
all this too.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
We got to take that into account.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
But have you looked at win lost record for these
true freshmen or redshirt freshman starting quarterbacks for BYU.
Speaker 4 (13:05):
I haven't done all the wins losses. I haven't broken
it down that way. Kah.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
As far as ceiling and floor of this team, you
you eloquated the support system that part Bachmeyer has and
then also the resume it's there before us. What do
you think the ceiling is in the floor for this
team with the depth that they have, the talent that
they have. And then I would even say, like we
got a robust staff, maybe the I mean the definitely
(13:31):
from a resource allocation standpoint, we got the best staff
that we've ever had and the most resource staff, maybe
the most talented staff we've ever had. It top to
bottom in BA football history.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
And I would add to that consistent relative to tenure
as well. Yes, there's no there was no turnover, right,
I mean power conference programs keeping the entire staff together.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
Tudos to you on that.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
If you're BYU, they they've done a great job at
retaining the key players of not having a lot of
flip flop from season to season.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
So that's another key element of it.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
The floor for b YU, i'd say is is postseason play,
and the ceiling is is playing in the.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
Big Twelve title game.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Man, I mean, I mean that's where they should have
been last year. And you know, and that was the
team that people picked at the near the bottom of
the league.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
The quarterback play.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
They got last year was was adequate but not exceptional.
If they get adequate to above average quarterback play from
Bear Bachmeier, they can be the same kind of team
as last year. The defensive losses aren't insurmountable. The defensive
coordinator has one more year with his guys in the system.
The special teams are locked and loaded as they were
last year. This is this is a lot of what
(14:45):
we saw last year, with the exception of the quarterback. Now,
if Jake Retzlov was returning as a senior starter, people
would be expecting b YU to repeat last year, and
people and and the coaches, what are the media would
have had b YU as maybe it's fifteen team in
the preseason top twenty five. That was the only reason
people backed off of BYU. But if you look deeper
(15:06):
at the quarterbacking numbers, if they can just get the
numbers they got last year, why can't they be the
same team? You know, why why can't they expect the
same kind of result and they get better numbers than that? Well,
then then he start up in the yante a little bit.
And I think Bear is the kind of guy that
could on Cork a special season and impress all of us.
That's why everybody wanted them. I mean, think about it
(15:28):
that the quarterbacks b Yu's gotten in the Aaron Rodriderra,
they've not been they've not been of the very Bochmeyer
pedigree relative to recruiting profile, have they. I mean, he's
gotten good quarterbacks and developed them into very good quarterbacks,
but they haven't been the guys that had that list
of schools that Bear Bockmeier had. And now that you're
(15:49):
bringing that guy into the mix, and now Aaron get
just gets to work with that guy to develop that guy.
Speaker 4 (15:56):
That great is the ceiling considerably.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
I mean the backs that Era has worked with, and
this is no disrespect to any of them, because we're
talking about NFL quarterbacks. Okay, he's coached guys that are
and we're playing in the NFL. So these clearly are
talented individuals, but they haven't come in to b YU
with the resume and the recruiting profile that barr Bachmeyer has.
(16:21):
So if you believe that those teams were on to
him for some very important reasons, then those important reasons
really do expand the range of possibilities that Aaron Rodgers
and Kaloni and this offense have with that quarterback.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
There's two pass that I've gone down with this particular,
this particular BYU football team. I've been looking at one
score games over the last two years. We discussed parody
and depth in Big twelve. We love the competition, the
one score games, and that's what I've looked at b YU.
I believe, and you can correct me if I'm wrong here,
if if I've aggregated this incorrectly. I believe there's ten
(16:58):
games in which they've they competed against these teams and
they were one score games. In twenty twenty four, there
was four of them SMU, Baylor, Oklahoma State, and Utah
and then Kansas there was four wins and then there's
two losses Kansas and Arizona State, heartbreaking losses. Obviously, in
twenty twenty three you had wins against Arkansas Cincinnati, and
(17:22):
then two losses, just devastating, heartbreaking losses, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Right,
So when you look at that kind of the totality
of those two seasons in the Big twelve, and you're
looking at a six and four record in one score games,
what stands out to you about that data said that
you could maybe articulate and pontificate.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
On I don't know that.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
I don't know that I would on that point, because
I think that kind of sounds about right. I mean,
six and four, you know, you're better than fifty to fifty,
You're not great, and that may be kind of describes
pretty well life in power conference football. You're rarely that
much better, that much worse than the teams you're playing
(18:08):
at that level. So yeah, I think six and four,
uh sounds about right, you'd love to be eight and two,
nine and one in those one score games. But you know,
one score games are one score games for a reason.
That means they're very competitive. That I mean that means
either team has.
Speaker 4 (18:22):
A shot at it.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
So uh yeah, I don't have a problem with six
and four at all. What is what is it like.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
One score games?
Speaker 4 (18:31):
Right is?
Speaker 1 (18:32):
I guess asked?
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Well, No, I mean sometimes you're the last team with
the football. Sometimes you've got a guy with a knack
for for getting you downfield in a two minute situation.
I mean, uh, a one score game doesn't always mean
you've had to do it or lose it in a
two minute situation. But uh, you know, Jake Retzloth was
pretty special. I think in leading D one you down
the field against you against Oklahoma State in those games.
(18:55):
So I will say, if you are going to have
success in one score games, it does help to have
an experienced quarterback at the helm who can navigate those situations.
It may be a little tougher or more consistently challenging
for a rookie to have the confidence maybe early on
with one score games, but again, I think one score
games are kind of indicative of the nature of this
(19:16):
level of football and the fact you don't have a
losing record or something I think it can lean on.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
As far as personnel is concerned outside of the quarterback room,
do you have any concerns, any voyage that you would
ideally like to fill if you could in depth, or
you know, any question marks that you have as far
as depth is concerned at any one of the visions
offensively or defensively that you'd like to see maybe either
develop throughout the season if needed, if called upon.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Well, you know, my concerns are usually only health related,
and health equates to depth, and I just want to
make sure that they stay really healthy at the most
important spots. I'm interested, you know, to see if and
when justin Kirkland, not yef, because I'm pretty sure it's happening,
but you know, when he gets back in the mix
(20:08):
and helps to shore things up inside and then how
much they develop death depth alongside a ton of us
in the meantime. I still think Boy is going to
be a program band that plays a lot of defensive linemen.
I think right now my spotting boards for Portland State
I think has fourteen defensive linemen in the group. Right
now because they're all seeing reps. I do think that
(20:31):
the offensive line has the potential to be really good,
but how quickly they become really good is a good
question to have answered. Again, health there, I want to
see your main guys stay the main guys. I really
do love an offensive line that looks the same every week.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
I think most coaches steel that way.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Some have to rotate by necessity, some do it by choice,
but I think most offensive line coaches would love to
roll out the same five guys thirteen times a year.
It's good to know you feel you've got six, seven,
eight guys that are game ready. But O line is
the most important place to have a consistent and healthy
group of big, strong people working together. And that's what
(21:12):
I'd like to see for BUYU. I really feel confident
and comfortable about all these various position groups that in
the third year now of Power conference football, they look
more like a power conference team across the board. And
that's what you want to do at the stage of
the game. And I think that's where Buyus is at. Yeah,
most again, you ask about concerns. I just want to
(21:35):
see the guys stay healthy. Just just stay healthy and as
deep as you can possibly be.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Yeah, one of the things that we've we've delved into
a little bit is historically, either since the launch of independence,
it seems like we've had to go into RB three,
RB four, even RB five more often than we would
like to. And so to me, there is at least look,
you know, some question marks there, but we had question
marks maybe last year we didn't know she Onimo, you know,
(22:01):
and he's a star now like he's he's he's a
RB two right there next to LJ.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Martin.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
So I'm very much intrigued to you who stands out
who stays healthy at RB three, r BE four and
maybe even RB five, because you may the circumstances may
necessitate fielding more running backs than we want to.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Yeah, I mean you certainly don't want to deal with that,
do you. I mean, most NFL teams, and he's the
NFL comparison. You know, it's a two back system. Sometimes
you get a third guy, but for the most part,
you know who those two backs are going to be
every game, barring some you know, catastrophic injury that takes
somebody out for the year. You know, your guys, you
don't usually have to worry about the third running back
or beyond. And that's what I hope is the case
(22:43):
for BYU. I really just want to see this be
a one to two LJC on a punch.
Speaker 4 (22:48):
All season long.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Not that I don't have confidence that others can play
or play well at the position, but I want those
two to be developed into workhorses. And I think it's
time for a thousand yard rushing season again at b YU,
and LJ can be that guy. But you know, Lg'd
probably tell you he didn't feel great for a lot
of last year.
Speaker 4 (23:06):
You don't feel great, hard to play.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Great, and and so I really just hope that this
is the year that LJ can can hold up and
be that guy. It helps bear Backmeyer a great deal
by by being able to turn and and and have
him tota twenty to twenty five times, and that he
can be that guy. His body, his body should be
ready to do that. Now is his third year of
high level football. Boy, he needs to have that that
(23:30):
guy again. Tyler l Jeers the last thousand yard a
rusher for BYU.
Speaker 4 (23:35):
It's time.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
I think Chase Roberts can be a thousand yard receiver
for b YU. It's time I think I think a
tight end can be the number two receiver on.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
D YU again, it's time. Uh.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
There are some things this offense is capable of doing.
I think, and and and I really love to see
it come together this year.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
That way, you mentioned some of those running back names.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
These are iconic names in my opinion, the durability and
fortitude that they in, the civity in which they run,
like even like Hervey Yunga. I think of him and
how healthy he stayed, and you know, I think he's
the best all round back in bowie football history. And
you know, Jamal Williams was so durable, Tyler Algier and
we've had some great running backs, no doubt about it.
(24:15):
I think LJ could could live up to that this year.
He's really made some strides. Last thing before we let
you go, Greg Rebel, appreciate you joining us by women's soccer.
Where are we at with the soccer team? What's your
level of optimism with this roster? They had a lot
of young talent, they have some stars as well leading them.
They had a little bit of adversity to I guess
(24:36):
kick off the season, but maybe they're.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
Finding their groove right now.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
I hope they are, well, yeah, I mean they were
down to ten players and down.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
One nothing in Minnesota ranked team.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
And scored three and beat him. So what a great
start to the year. And then they follow that up
with it's an okay game at cal Poly. Yeah, you
know they're probably appointed to come out of that with
a draw. But you know, I've seen enough games early
in the season at Big Way programs to know that
that draws are usually what come out of those games.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
They're weird games for some reason for.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
BUYU and and and and that's that's a league the
Big West. It just seems to kind of have BYU's
number when they go on the road to those California schools. Boy,
he doesn't easily come up and away was able to
win for some reason. But that said, you're one zero
to one through two games, and now you come home
for a five game home scan UCLA nationally ranked on Saturday.
Speaker 4 (25:27):
A huge game for both geams because.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
UCLA is one and one and they lost a game
they thought they should have won against ranked Tennessee midweek.
Speaker 4 (25:34):
But exciting group for jen Rock with a lot.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Of freshmen with promise and a lot of freshmen starting
right now. It'll be good to get McKenzie vance back.
Speaking of the UCLA, she's a Bruin transfer. She's not
back quite yet. She'll make a big difference when she
does return. Ellie Walbrook looks like Elie Waldrook again. Peyton
Collins a new keeper finding her way. It'll be a
fun group to follow. But I think it's a really
key stretch of the season right now. Three weeks so
(25:58):
they play five straight home games, a chance to put
a real, nice heavy chunk of RPI strength into their
schedule right.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
Now, Greg, do you need a new dentist? You got
a dentist.
Speaker 4 (26:13):
I have a dentist, A good one, all right.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
He got a good one, all right? Well, dental prose
of you has been the sponsor of this segment. If
you need any dental care, you know I got you covered.
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Speaker 1 (26:26):
But I salute you, appreciate you as.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
Always extremely insightful and knowledgeable, best in the business. We
appreciate you joining us for a little cougar beat. Can't
wait to see it throughout the season. Greg, and hear
your calls.
Speaker 4 (26:39):
Always a pleasure.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Ben, thank you and producer Ron shout out and we'll
talk to you guys soon.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
There you go.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
That's Gregor Bell, the voice of the Cougar's on the
BAU Sports Network. And that was a Cougar Beat brought
to you by Dental Pros of You in American Fork.
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Utah dot Com, we'll take a brief time out, but
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Radio Network one oh three nine ninety eight point three
e
Is Cougar Sports with Ben kretel At. It's time for
the Cougar Beat.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Getting the dish from the local reporters that cover Cougar athletics.
Speaker 3 (00:07):
Welcome back Cougar Sports, one of the three nine ninety eight
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It is time for Little kugar Be going to welcome
(00:28):
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what's going on in Cougar Country. A lot of football
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(00:49):
to do is get a second opinion at dental pros, VP, products,
VP service, VP discounts. All right, let's welcome in the
voice of BYU Athletics, BYU Football. We got Greg Rebel
on the line, g Unit the heck are you man?
Thanks for joining us?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Always my pleasure, Ben, good to be with you, and
thanks for producer Ron.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
You guys do great work and it's my pleasure to
join you.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Love getting your insight, your in your knowledge and in
perspective on this BYU football team because you're you're in
the You're you're there right, You're there day to day
watching this team, getting to know the players, getting to
the coaches, of value it in the team, probably in
debt more than anybody. So let's start off with the
storylines that came out of Camp Kallani, starting with bear Bachmeyer.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
He won the job.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
It was a surprise to some, maybe not a surprise
to others. How did this happen? How did bear Bachmeyer
become QB one in such a limited amount of time
without springball in his favor?
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Yeah, well he had spring ball with a different team, right,
He was Stanford, so he had some experience that way.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
But Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
I mean it really comes down to the kind of
quarterback we're talking about. I mean, this is one of
the most highly sought after quarterbacks in the country two
years ago. Uh, you know this, this is the guy
that everybody wanted, you name, a big name program, and
there's a good chance that Bear was on their list
and Stanford got him. And and the fact that he
(02:15):
ends up at b YU and such unforeseen fashion is
is pretty remarkable. And you know, and and then and
then with Jake departing, you know, the door was wide
open for him to show why he was the guy
he was coming out of high school and and so
he beat out a couple of guys with FBS reps.
And to do that, I think you've got to be
a special quarterback. And and that's what I think b
(02:36):
yu's got, you.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Know, on their roster.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Now, this could be the start of a very intriguing,
compelling and successful era uh for b YU. Offensively, If
if Bear is able to develop it at the rate
he's already shown he can develop, they've got a special.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
Player on their hands. And and yeah, do you expect
freshman mistakes and growing.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Pains and the typical trials that any rookie goes through, absolutely,
but that's why you surround him with UH with the
running backs they've got, and a solid core of wide receivers,
and an offensive line with plenty of reps and a
resurgent tight end, and a great defense to back them up,
and special teams that get the job done. If you've
got to start from scratch at quarterback, which by he's doing,
(03:20):
there's really no better situation than the one that b
Y You's got right now around him.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
I'm excited, genuinely excited.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
And intrigued about this season to come and the years
to come because this is not again. This is We've
already talked about this or I've certainly tweeted about it.
It's out there, but boy, he's never done this. They've
never had a season opener with a true freshman starting
a quarterback. And rare Rare is the Power conference program
that starts any season with a true freshman a quarterback,
(03:49):
because at the P four P five level, you're you're
you're pretty much stacking juniors and seniors and you're going to.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
The portal to get guys when.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
You lose experience, like that's kind of the new tread
you're not building from freshman to sophomore to junior to senior.
You're recycling juniors and seniors through the portal year to
year to year to year. It's rare for a power
conference program to have to start on the ground floor
with a guy like by bear Bachmeier. But he he's
got to do it. Why not do it with a
guy that everybody wanted. He was one of the top
(04:19):
five top ten duel threat quarterbacks in the country when
he committed to Stanford.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Yeah, Alabama, Arkansas, go down the list, Georgia, Kansas, Miami, Michigan,
Notre Dame, Oregon, Purdue, Texas, A and m Utah, you
name it. He had offers from pretty impressive resume, no
doubt about it. So what have you seen personally from
bear Bachmeier in practice and film, in discussions with players
(04:44):
and coaches?
Speaker 1 (04:45):
What type of player is?
Speaker 3 (04:46):
How would you describe him as a quarterback as a thrower?
And I know we're going to see more of him
right in live reps and that's going to be unique
in and of itself. It's a different platform, it's a
different environment.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
But what have you seen this far that you're like,
what stands out.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
To you, well, he's got a remarkable build or a
true freshman. His size, his stability, his lower body, that's
a that's a really well put together rookie quarterback at
a very young age. Throws a really zippy ball. He's
got he's got smooth, fluid movements. He's he's he's mature
(05:23):
in his demeanor. He's composed in his presence in the
pocket and moving around.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
He calls a good huddle. He he you know, acts
in a.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Lot of ways like anybody other than a freshman. It's
one of the you know, all those things are a
compilation of, you know, reasons that state his case as
as a starting quarterback despite being a true freshman. The
things you don't have are the things that come through
reps and the things that come through live fire, and
the things that come through working through a game and
(05:54):
then working through a two minute drill with Aaron Rodgerts
and your headset.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
These things have still yet to happen.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
In live fire, and we're going to see, like I said,
typical travails and challenges that come with true freshman quarterbacking.
But this is this is not an average everyday rookie.
He's a little different man.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
He's just he's the fact.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
I mean, let's get to the fact he wears the
forty seven, right, you know, why does he do it?
Why does he wear the number?
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Well, it goes back to being a two way player,
being a.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Running back and a linebacker, being a guy that cherishes
and loves the physical part of the game. And he says,
when I crossed the line of scrimmage on offense, I'm
the linebacker again, I'm not afraid to hit or be
hit or hit you. And so he's got that mentality
as well, all the things that a coach and a
coordinator and teammates would love to have in their huddle
(06:41):
for sure. And again just having that that six two
twenty plus guy that looks the part.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
This is a very physically rigorous league. The Big twelve
is no joke.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
The fact that Jake Retzlof got through, you know, thirteen
games last year as a starting quarterback, you know, kudos
to him, the strength nditioning staff and BYU in general.
It's tough to have those those seasons where your QB
is the guy won games one through thirteen or one
through twelve.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
We've talked about it.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
I mean those seasons don't happen very often, and it
could be they're going to need to go to their
backup at some point this year, but last year, YU
take that again on a heartbeat. If they get their
guy for all twelve or thirteen games as a starting
quarterback and he's upright and healthy and thriving, that's what
you want to have. And he looks like the kind
of guy that can withstand the punishment.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
That comes with playing Big twelve football.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
You've been a part of BYU history for a long time,
covering BA football for a very long time, so one
of the longest tenured individuals, maybe even as a fan
and then as a media member as a sideline reporter.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
And into the booth. So your perspective is powerful.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
In this in regards to this next question, Historically speaking,
how true freshman and even red re freshmen fared at
BYU when getting their initial starts, they get their initial
playing time. What does that look like, at least historically
speaking from a objective statistical standpoint.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Well, it's really important to note that, you know, and
until I joined the radio crew back in nineteen ninety two, okay,
freshmen weren't playing quarterback at BYU.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
It just wasn't happening.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
I mean, in the Steve Young, Jim McMahon, Geidford, Nielsen
mark freshman did not play the end off. So I
joined the crew in ninety two. Okay, before that time.
So let's say in the modern era of BYU football,
once freshman began being eligible, right still, from the seventies
to the nineties, one red shirt freshman played at BYU,
(08:41):
and that was ty Dever. Yeah, okay, so let let's
understand it wasn't being done.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
It just didn't happen.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
And then I remember the first time it was a
big It was such a big deal. The first time
it happened. We were in El Paso back in nineteen
ninety seven and Drew Miller mid to late season came
in to start a game as a true freshman, and
it was it was spot duty. It wasn't something that
that that was expected or that was prolonged, but Drew
(09:09):
Miller became the first true freshman to do it. That
then you go a few years later and then Matt
Barry was a red shirt freshman and he did it.
And then you had some true freshmen all in a row.
And these names are John Beck and Jay Keeps and
Taysom Hill and Tanner, Mangum, Joe Critchlow, Let's not forget him.
Zach Wilson, Baylor Romney was a red shirt. He was
(09:32):
the last freshman to get a start at b YU.
He was a red shirt freshman. And you've got a
mixed bag in that group of names I just gave you,
But nobody was the choice to start a season, all right.
So so this is the first time that they've broken
camp with the decision.
Speaker 4 (09:47):
To flay to play a freshman at quarterback. That's how
rare it is.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Quarterbacks are emergency freshmen are their emergency plans, their safety nets.
They're gadget guys. They're not the guy you turn to
coming out of camp until this year. That's how unusual
the situation is. Now. All that being said, the last
four true freshmen to start a game at by US
(10:11):
quarterback of all won those games, and that dates back
to Taysom Hill in twenty twelve. Taysom Tanner, Chris Slow,
and Zach Wilson all won their first starts at quarterback
as true freshmen. And we'd expect Backmyer to make it
five in a row because you're opening with an FCS team,
important stage, so that should be something that gets put
on his resume pretty quickly. So that's kind of a
(10:34):
brief background of how it's gone over my tenure and
just how you know, football changed in a dramatic way,
and for BYU recently with the ability to go to
a rookie coming out of camp.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
So that's kind of where we are on that. It
is interesting to know it as well.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
And I put this out on Twitter the other day,
Ben the last four seasons bothen with different starting quarterbacks
for BYU. You know, I would say most teams, most
teams wouldn't prefer that to be the case, but in
the portal but in the portal era that's much more
common too. Now again you lose a starter, go get
a starter, lose s car to go get a starter,
and guys are one year guys. And so that's also
(11:15):
you know, the new dynamic. But it had been a
long time, almost twenty years since BYU last had a
stretch where they had four straight years with four different
quarterbacks to open a season.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
Yeah, that that deep dive into you know why true
freshman quarterbacks in the modern era, if you will, are
receiving more PT early on in their careers is an
interesting study and maybe for another show another day, But
BYU is somewhat reflective of that, especially go ahead.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Yeah, but I would say at the P four level,
now I'm saying now, at the G six level, you
probably do find probably more freshmen getting meaningful reps earliert quarterbacks.
I think at the at the top tier of Power
Conference programs, they're not going to want to be relying
on a freshman. I mean, if they can help it,
they're going to portal themselves into experience quarterback one way
(12:08):
or another. So I would say BYU is the outlier
among Power Conference teams and having to go this rud
I think it's much more common than the G six
because once that G six quarterback develops into a good
quarterback as a sophomore a.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
Junior, he's gone.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
If he's any good, he's gone, right, he's gone to
the P four level to be again into that treadmill
of bringing experienced quarterbacks into battle for the job.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
At least the way I see it.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Yeah, and we we delved into a little bit of
the P four examples. I think bo Nicks was one
that that that led a team to some glory and
victory Trevor Lawrence on the back end of that Clemson
schedule as a true freshman.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
But it's a rarity.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
And so you know, if you look at it, and
I don't know if you did aggregated win lost record
for true freshmen at BYU when they're when they're getting
these starts, and look, there's a supporting cast involved in
all this too.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
We got to take that into account.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
But have you looked at win lost record for these
true freshmen or redshirt freshman starting quarterbacks for BYU.
Speaker 4 (13:05):
I haven't done all the wins losses. I haven't broken
it down that way. Kah.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
As far as ceiling and floor of this team, you
you eloquated the support system that part Bachmeyer has and
then also the resume it's there before us. What do
you think the ceiling is in the floor for this
team with the depth that they have, the talent that
they have. And then I would even say, like we
got a robust staff, maybe the I mean the definitely
(13:31):
from a resource allocation standpoint, we got the best staff
that we've ever had and the most resource staff, maybe
the most talented staff we've ever had. It top to
bottom in BA football history.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
And I would add to that consistent relative to tenure
as well. Yes, there's no there was no turnover, right,
I mean power conference programs keeping the entire staff together.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
Tudos to you on that.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
If you're BYU, they they've done a great job at
retaining the key players of not having a lot of
flip flop from season to season.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
So that's another key element of it.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
The floor for b YU, i'd say is is postseason play,
and the ceiling is is playing in the.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
Big Twelve title game.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Man, I mean, I mean that's where they should have
been last year. And you know, and that was the
team that people picked at the near the bottom of
the league.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
The quarterback play.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
They got last year was was adequate but not exceptional.
If they get adequate to above average quarterback play from
Bear Bachmeier, they can be the same kind of team
as last year. The defensive losses aren't insurmountable. The defensive
coordinator has one more year with his guys in the system.
The special teams are locked and loaded as they were
last year. This is this is a lot of what
(14:45):
we saw last year, with the exception of the quarterback. Now,
if Jake Retzlov was returning as a senior starter, people
would be expecting b YU to repeat last year, and
people and and the coaches, what are the media would
have had b YU as maybe it's fifteen team in
the preseason top twenty five. That was the only reason
people backed off of BYU. But if you look deeper
(15:06):
at the quarterbacking numbers, if they can just get the
numbers they got last year, why can't they be the
same team? You know, why why can't they expect the
same kind of result and they get better numbers than that? Well,
then then he start up in the yante a little bit.
And I think Bear is the kind of guy that
could on Cork a special season and impress all of us.
That's why everybody wanted them. I mean, think about it
(15:28):
that the quarterbacks b Yu's gotten in the Aaron Rodriderra,
they've not been they've not been of the very Bochmeyer
pedigree relative to recruiting profile, have they. I mean, he's
gotten good quarterbacks and developed them into very good quarterbacks,
but they haven't been the guys that had that list
of schools that Bear Bockmeier had. And now that you're
(15:49):
bringing that guy into the mix, and now Aaron get
just gets to work with that guy to develop that guy.
Speaker 4 (15:56):
That great is the ceiling considerably.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
I mean the backs that Era has worked with, and
this is no disrespect to any of them, because we're
talking about NFL quarterbacks. Okay, he's coached guys that are
and we're playing in the NFL. So these clearly are
talented individuals, but they haven't come in to b YU
with the resume and the recruiting profile that barr Bachmeyer has.
(16:21):
So if you believe that those teams were on to
him for some very important reasons, then those important reasons
really do expand the range of possibilities that Aaron Rodgers
and Kaloni and this offense have with that quarterback.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
There's two pass that I've gone down with this particular,
this particular BYU football team. I've been looking at one
score games over the last two years. We discussed parody
and depth in Big twelve. We love the competition, the
one score games, and that's what I've looked at b YU.
I believe, and you can correct me if I'm wrong here,
if if I've aggregated this incorrectly. I believe there's ten
(16:58):
games in which they've they competed against these teams and
they were one score games. In twenty twenty four, there
was four of them SMU, Baylor, Oklahoma State, and Utah
and then Kansas there was four wins and then there's
two losses Kansas and Arizona State, heartbreaking losses. Obviously, in
twenty twenty three you had wins against Arkansas Cincinnati, and
(17:22):
then two losses, just devastating, heartbreaking losses, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Right,
So when you look at that kind of the totality
of those two seasons in the Big twelve, and you're
looking at a six and four record in one score games,
what stands out to you about that data said that
you could maybe articulate and pontificate.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
On I don't know that.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
I don't know that I would on that point, because
I think that kind of sounds about right. I mean,
six and four, you know, you're better than fifty to fifty,
You're not great, and that may be kind of describes
pretty well life in power conference football. You're rarely that
much better, that much worse than the teams you're playing
(18:08):
at that level. So yeah, I think six and four,
uh sounds about right, you'd love to be eight and two,
nine and one in those one score games. But you know,
one score games are one score games for a reason.
That means they're very competitive. That I mean that means
either team has.
Speaker 4 (18:22):
A shot at it.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
So uh yeah, I don't have a problem with six
and four at all. What is what is it like.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
One score games?
Speaker 4 (18:31):
Right is?
Speaker 1 (18:32):
I guess asked?
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Well, No, I mean sometimes you're the last team with
the football. Sometimes you've got a guy with a knack
for for getting you downfield in a two minute situation.
I mean, uh, a one score game doesn't always mean
you've had to do it or lose it in a
two minute situation. But uh, you know, Jake Retzloth was
pretty special. I think in leading D one you down
the field against you against Oklahoma State in those games.
(18:55):
So I will say, if you are going to have
success in one score games, it does help to have
an experienced quarterback at the helm who can navigate those situations.
It may be a little tougher or more consistently challenging
for a rookie to have the confidence maybe early on
with one score games, but again, I think one score
games are kind of indicative of the nature of this
(19:16):
level of football and the fact you don't have a
losing record or something I think it can lean on.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
As far as personnel is concerned outside of the quarterback room,
do you have any concerns, any voyage that you would
ideally like to fill if you could in depth, or
you know, any question marks that you have as far
as depth is concerned at any one of the visions
offensively or defensively that you'd like to see maybe either
develop throughout the season if needed, if called upon.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Well, you know, my concerns are usually only health related,
and health equates to depth, and I just want to
make sure that they stay really healthy at the most
important spots. I'm interested, you know, to see if and
when justin Kirkland, not yef, because I'm pretty sure it's happening,
but you know, when he gets back in the mix
(20:08):
and helps to shore things up inside and then how
much they develop death depth alongside a ton of us
in the meantime. I still think Boy is going to
be a program band that plays a lot of defensive linemen.
I think right now my spotting boards for Portland State
I think has fourteen defensive linemen in the group. Right
now because they're all seeing reps. I do think that
(20:31):
the offensive line has the potential to be really good,
but how quickly they become really good is a good
question to have answered. Again, health there, I want to
see your main guys stay the main guys. I really
do love an offensive line that looks the same every week.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
I think most coaches steel that way.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Some have to rotate by necessity, some do it by choice,
but I think most offensive line coaches would love to
roll out the same five guys thirteen times a year.
It's good to know you feel you've got six, seven,
eight guys that are game ready. But O line is
the most important place to have a consistent and healthy
group of big, strong people working together. And that's what
(21:12):
I'd like to see for BUYU. I really feel confident
and comfortable about all these various position groups that in
the third year now of Power conference football, they look
more like a power conference team across the board. And
that's what you want to do at the stage of
the game. And I think that's where Buyus is at. Yeah,
most again, you ask about concerns. I just want to
(21:35):
see the guys stay healthy. Just just stay healthy and as
deep as you can possibly be.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Yeah, one of the things that we've we've delved into
a little bit is historically, either since the launch of independence,
it seems like we've had to go into RB three,
RB four, even RB five more often than we would
like to. And so to me, there is at least look,
you know, some question marks there, but we had question
marks maybe last year we didn't know she Onimo, you know,
(22:01):
and he's a star now like he's he's he's a
RB two right there next to LJ.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Martin.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
So I'm very much intrigued to you who stands out
who stays healthy at RB three, r BE four and
maybe even RB five, because you may the circumstances may
necessitate fielding more running backs than we want to.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Yeah, I mean you certainly don't want to deal with that,
do you. I mean, most NFL teams, and he's the
NFL comparison. You know, it's a two back system. Sometimes
you get a third guy, but for the most part,
you know who those two backs are going to be
every game, barring some you know, catastrophic injury that takes
somebody out for the year. You know, your guys, you
don't usually have to worry about the third running back
or beyond. And that's what I hope is the case
(22:43):
for BYU. I really just want to see this be
a one to two LJC on a punch.
Speaker 4 (22:48):
All season long.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Not that I don't have confidence that others can play
or play well at the position, but I want those
two to be developed into workhorses. And I think it's
time for a thousand yard rushing season again at b YU,
and LJ can be that guy. But you know, Lg'd
probably tell you he didn't feel great for a lot
of last year.
Speaker 4 (23:06):
You don't feel great, hard to play.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Great, and and so I really just hope that this
is the year that LJ can can hold up and
be that guy. It helps bear Backmeyer a great deal
by by being able to turn and and and have
him tota twenty to twenty five times, and that he
can be that guy. His body, his body should be
ready to do that. Now is his third year of
high level football. Boy, he needs to have that that
(23:30):
guy again. Tyler l Jeers the last thousand yard a
rusher for BYU.
Speaker 4 (23:35):
It's time.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
I think Chase Roberts can be a thousand yard receiver
for b YU. It's time I think I think a
tight end can be the number two receiver on.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
D YU again, it's time. Uh.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
There are some things this offense is capable of doing.
I think, and and and I really love to see
it come together this year.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
That way, you mentioned some of those running back names.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
These are iconic names in my opinion, the durability and
fortitude that they in, the civity in which they run,
like even like Hervey Yunga. I think of him and
how healthy he stayed, and you know, I think he's
the best all round back in bowie football history. And
you know, Jamal Williams was so durable, Tyler Algier and
we've had some great running backs, no doubt about it.
(24:15):
I think LJ could could live up to that this year.
He's really made some strides. Last thing before we let
you go, Greg Rebel, appreciate you joining us by women's soccer.
Where are we at with the soccer team? What's your
level of optimism with this roster? They had a lot
of young talent, they have some stars as well leading them.
They had a little bit of adversity to I guess
(24:36):
kick off the season, but maybe they're.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
Finding their groove right now.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
I hope they are, well, yeah, I mean they were
down to ten players and down.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
One nothing in Minnesota ranked team.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
And scored three and beat him. So what a great
start to the year. And then they follow that up
with it's an okay game at cal Poly. Yeah, you
know they're probably appointed to come out of that with
a draw. But you know, I've seen enough games early
in the season at Big Way programs to know that
that draws are usually what come out of those games.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
They're weird games for some reason for.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
BUYU and and and and that's that's a league the
Big West. It just seems to kind of have BYU's
number when they go on the road to those California schools. Boy,
he doesn't easily come up and away was able to
win for some reason. But that said, you're one zero
to one through two games, and now you come home
for a five game home scan UCLA nationally ranked on Saturday.
Speaker 4 (25:27):
A huge game for both geams because.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
UCLA is one and one and they lost a game
they thought they should have won against ranked Tennessee midweek.
Speaker 4 (25:34):
But exciting group for jen Rock with a lot.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Of freshmen with promise and a lot of freshmen starting
right now. It'll be good to get McKenzie vance back.
Speaking of the UCLA, she's a Bruin transfer. She's not
back quite yet. She'll make a big difference when she
does return. Ellie Walbrook looks like Elie Waldrook again. Peyton
Collins a new keeper finding her way. It'll be a
fun group to follow. But I think it's a really
key stretch of the season right now. Three weeks so
(25:58):
they play five straight home games, a chance to put
a real, nice heavy chunk of RPI strength into their
schedule right.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
Now, Greg, do you need a new dentist? You got
a dentist.
Speaker 4 (26:13):
I have a dentist, A good one, all right.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
He got a good one, all right? Well, dental prose
of you has been the sponsor of this segment. If
you need any dental care, you know I got you covered.
If you need a second opinion, you know that you
can give me a jingle get your set up a
dental pros.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
But I salute you, appreciate you as.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
Always extremely insightful and knowledgeable, best in the business. We
appreciate you joining us for a little cougar beat. Can't
wait to see it throughout the season. Greg, and hear
your calls.
Speaker 4 (26:39):
Always a pleasure.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Ben, thank you and producer Ron shout out and we'll
talk to you guys soon.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
There you go.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
That's Gregor Bell, the voice of the Cougar's on the
BAU Sports Network. And that was a Cougar Beat brought
to you by Dental Pros of You in American Fork.
If you're not sure about your dentist, you want a
second opinion. Maybe the diagnosis is and coming back is
congruent as you would like to be with your philosophy.
Maybe you should try out biometics manually a dentistry to
rebuild your teeth layer by layers so you don't have
to settle for fake teeth. Later on Live Dentalpros of
(27:05):
Utah dot Com, we'll take a brief time out, but
we'll be back as always here on your Utah ESPN
Radio Network one oh three nine ninety eight point three
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