I love this time of year. The full football season looms large before us, and the hopeful anticipation of a great year has yet to be dashed to pieces. Here are several reasons that I am very excited for the upcoming season.
1. Great Schedule
BYU opens with Oklahoma in a great venue. Just like the 1990 game against, then ranked, number one Miami, The Cougs have the chance to get a huge game right out of the gates. Even if they lose in a kept it close kind of moral battle, this could help the Cats gain some national attention and respect.
They also get Florida State, Air Force, Utah, CSU, and TCU at home. Considering the Cougars Home record as of late, that flat out excites me.
2. Senior Leadership:
As Jeff Call of the D news recently pointed out, BYU has won 81 percent of it’s games started by a senior QB in modern Cougar history. (since 1974) Looking at Brandon Doman’s and John Beck’s senior years gives me great hope for similar results from Max Hall. On Defense, Jan Jorgensen anchors a solid D line made up of senior talent. Matt Bauman has been the guy calling everyone to get together and study film and seems poised to step up into more of a leadeship role.
3. Secondary Depth
Something that BYU has rarely had has been depth in their secondary. With the emergence of Young Talent such as Robbie Buckner, Garrett Nicholsen, and Shiloah Teo plus the addition of 3 JC cornerbacks (Logan, Eason, and Aguirre) combined with the return of Scott Johnson, Adrew Rich, and Brando Bradley, the cougars look to have several options at positions where they have been very thin in recent years.
4. Change in Coach Positioning
Robert Anae is going upstairs to the Booth, and Patrick Higgins and Brandon Doman are coming down on the field. This does several positive things in my estimation. It gives the man calling the plays, a better look at what is truly going on. It gives the position coaches, time to coach and make game time adjustments. And, according to some sources, it may put the right personalities in the the right places. I love and admire Coach Anae, but he has been know to be quite emotional, even perhaps at some times when the players need someone to settle them down, help them refocus, and get ready to come back out and do better. I think this move maximizes the benefits and minimizes the liabilities for each Coach.
5. Multiple Quality Receivers
This years receiver corps may be the best best top to bottom of any BYU corp of receivers. I know that is a bold statement, But when you consider vetrans Dennis Pita, Andrew George, Mckay Jacobsen, O’Neill Chambers, Spencer Hafoka and Luke Ashworth, combined with talented new comers such as Brett Thompson, Mitch Mathews, Cody Hoffman, and Braden Brown, there are a lot of targets for Max Hall to throw to. BYU is an offense that relies on it’s ability to pass the ball, and there is no lack of potential in that area.
5. It’s almost Fall
It’s just a seasonal thing. I am always excited for the start of another football season. As news from practices pour through the blogs and boards, my discretionary time (and some of my productive time) gets swallowed up in the ferver and excitement. Now if I can just contain myself unti the season finally kicks off.
Aug 12th by Jim
