Aug 28 2007
BYU players are confident prior to Arizona
BYU fans are already getting a taste of how this year’s team is different from last year. Last year’s team leaders let their play do the talking, always speaking respectfully in pre- and post-game interviews. For better or worse, that’s not happening this year.
BYU players Max Hall, Austin Collie, and Bryan Kehl have been refreshingly honest about their confidence heading into the season opener against Arizona this Saturday. Here are some juicy tidbits from the trio.
Bryan Kehl:
You can’t get around us; you can’t get by us. The quarterback better be looking out for us, because we’re coming.
Max Hall:
He is a good player, but we are not going to change the whole offense around him. I feel we have receivers that match up well. We’re not scared. (Referring to UA cornerback Antione Cason)
Austin Collie:
I have been preparing for a guy like that for 2 1/2 years. Is it intimidating? Not really. I know I can play football. He is a great corner and a talented kid, but we are not threatened by him in any way, shape, or form.
My thoughts on this potential bulletin board material? I love it, and the reason I love it is because I know this isn’t empty talk. These players have gone above and beyond to prepare themselves for this season and this game, and they know they are ready to go out and win the game. I have no problem at all with them speaking their mind. I welcome it.
As much as I liked John Beck and Cameron Jensen, I got sick of hearing their somewhat-empty quotes about how such-and-such a team presented a real challenge for them. I respected Curtis Brown a lot more because he always said what was on his mind and then went out and backed it up by the way he played.
Kehl and Collie have put up some numbers to prove themselves in battle. In the same vein, some people are saying that Max Hall hasn’t earned the right to talk so boldly since he hasn’t played at this level yet. My response to that is, What the heck do you want him to say? He worked his butt off all summer in workouts and THEN threw to his receivers several nights a week, if not every night. He took on an exceptional workload in fall camp, double what John Beck did last year in fall camp, according to quarterbacks coach Brandon Doman. He’s prepared against a defense that is just as stout as Arizona’s, and had measurable success. He’s done everything humanly possible to prepare for victory, and he has spoken openly and honestly about his belief not only in himself, but in the team.
As a Cougar fan, I appreciate such boldness from some of the team leaders. If I was one of their teammates, it would fire me up to hear that just as much as it would incite the opposition. I have no doubt that the rest of the team will rise up to support the confidence that these three have unabashedly professed to everyone.
5 Responses to “BYU players are confident prior to Arizona”
I like the change and the confidence. I believe that it will make a difference in how the team comes out in the first game. Last year there were several mistakes early in the season that reflected that the team was not really ready to play. I think that it has been fixed and we should see a much better game against Arizona on Saturday.
Last year I remember thinking that we were outplaying them the entire game and we somehow lost it in the end. This year I am not worried about that happening.
I love it! I get pumped up for the games when I hear the players confidence and I get equally charged with everyone (most recently Ute and Wildcat fans) discounting them as cocky and unproven. I’m jumping out of my chair with excitement and I can’t wait for Kehl or Nixon to lay out Tuitama or Chris Jennings on their backsides in the backfield. BYU’s defense is going to leave their heads spinning and our offensive line is going to make their defense look like they aren’t even trying.
Player of the game: Max Hall with 2 TD’s and 300 yards
OR
Harvey Unga who combines for 200 yards rushing and receiving.
Completely random note, but I was so excited when I found out that I need to tell everybody: Versus and the Golf Channel are partners on an HD channel (I have Comcast Digital Classic cable) where they divide up the programming on a daily basis. If you have this channel, you will be able to see at least this Saturday’s game in HD! I’m hoping to be there in person, but you better believe I’ll be revisiting each play in its high-definition glory!
It’s channel 670 on Comcast, by the way.
I take the fact that they are talking and Bronco hasn’t shut them down as an indication that there is at least some implicit backing of Max, Bryan and Austin’s comments by the coaching staff. While I enjoy a little confidence and swagger as much as anybody, I prefer to see it backed up on the field.
Are you ready for some football? Lets get the games started. Not much left to do other than rattle the pre-game sabres. I like the confidence this team is displaying. They know what they are capable of, and are sounding the battle horn. This is not empty bravado. Can’t wait for Saturday. Go Cougs!