WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:03.560 There's a quarterback race about forty miles down south, and 2 00:00:03.640 --> 00:00:06.280 nobody better to break it down than our good buddy, 3 00:00:06.280 --> 00:00:07.879 Spencer Lytton from BYU TV. 4 00:00:07.960 --> 00:00:09.640 Spencer, Happy Tuesday, Sir, how are you. 5 00:00:10.839 --> 00:00:13.679 Good, Spence? Great to talk with you, man. And what's 6 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:15.720 this you mentioned of a quarterback battle. I didn't know 7 00:00:15.800 --> 00:00:16.800 something was happening there. 8 00:00:16.879 --> 00:00:18.359 Oh am, I breaking news for you. 9 00:00:18.679 --> 00:00:22.199 I mean, look, if the BYU media members need breaking 10 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:24.440 news on the Home of the Utes about BYU Spencer, 11 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:26.879 We've got something to talk about, buddy. 12 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:30.920 Uh. We're in trouble. We're in trouble. Uh yeah, clearly, Spence. 13 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:33.320 That is that is all anybody really wants to talk 14 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:35.719 about when it comes to BA football at this juncture, 15 00:00:35.759 --> 00:00:38.000 is who's going to be the starter? You know, whether 16 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:40.960 I'm at church, or I'm in the grocery store, or 17 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:43.600 I'm walking to my car. Like I can see it. 18 00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:45.719 I can spot it from a mile away. Someone's easy. 19 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:48.240 They make eye contact and I almost eighty percent of 20 00:00:48.280 --> 00:00:50.159 the time, I guarantee there's going to be a question 21 00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:53.240 about who's going to be the starting quarterback at BA football. 22 00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:55.679 But it comes with the territory, and clearly that has 23 00:00:55.679 --> 00:00:58.119 been the headliner to open up a training camp for 24 00:00:58.200 --> 00:00:59.119 Kalani Sataki. 25 00:00:59.240 --> 00:01:01.640 The main difference between you and I Spencer, even though 26 00:01:01.640 --> 00:01:03.840 we have similar names, is when you walk into church, 27 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:06.159 they say, who's the quarterback? When I walk into church 28 00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:07.680 they say, what the hell are you doing here? 29 00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:12.920 With open arms? My friends? 30 00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:14.879 Oh, oh for sure. 31 00:01:15.079 --> 00:01:19.040 Speaking of which, do you know anybody named Spencer under 32 00:01:19.079 --> 00:01:21.239 the age of like thirty five? I feel like for 33 00:01:21.280 --> 00:01:24.120 about ten years, if you were raised in an LDS household, 34 00:01:24.120 --> 00:01:25.879 there was a good chance your name was Spencer. 35 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:28.159 And now I don't think anybody will ever be named Spencer. 36 00:01:28.200 --> 00:01:32.079 Again, that's a great point. No, I mean, my oldest 37 00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:34.799 son has my name is his middle name. But yeah, 38 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:37.840 I now that you ask that, I do not think 39 00:01:37.959 --> 00:01:42.239 I know anybody, at least not in my close circle 40 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:44.400 that I could recall off the top of my head 41 00:01:44.400 --> 00:01:47.359 that shares my name. That is wild man. We need 42 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:50.879 to more love for the name Spencer moving forward. 43 00:01:50.680 --> 00:01:54.000 And honestly, I believe we're close to the same age. Again, 44 00:01:54.200 --> 00:01:57.959 I know dozens of Spencer's in LDS families that are 45 00:01:57.959 --> 00:01:59.959 around our age. But I think after a while people 46 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:01.640 are like, yeah, the name is all not all that great. 47 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:02.359 We're gonna move on. 48 00:02:03.719 --> 00:02:06.560 It's been, it's washed up, it is, it ran its course, 49 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:07.319 It's good. 50 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:08.360 It is, it is. 51 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:10.919 But indeed we traverse on all right, Well, I know 52 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:12.759 you're sick of talking about it, but it is the 53 00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:16.000 one thing people want to know. So McKay Hillstead eight 54 00:02:16.039 --> 00:02:18.560 stars under his belt at Utah State, the tracing board, 55 00:02:18.599 --> 00:02:20.759 gay kid, that's been a couple of years of Western Michigan. 56 00:02:21.199 --> 00:02:23.800 And then bear Backmeyer, who I feel like a lot 57 00:02:23.800 --> 00:02:26.439 of people are really really high on. How would you 58 00:02:26.479 --> 00:02:28.680 handicap this as of now? And how do you think 59 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:29.400 it's going to play out? 60 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:34.360 Yeah, it is really splitting hairs at this juncture. And 61 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:38.479 Aaron Rodrick, the offensive coordinator, said late last week it's 62 00:02:38.520 --> 00:02:40.599 going to be a minute. It's going to take some time. 63 00:02:41.199 --> 00:02:44.199 And I know that others have been outspoken. Brandon Doman, 64 00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:46.319 a former BA quarterback, He's like, no, they I mean, 65 00:02:46.360 --> 00:02:48.039 you have to make decision now. You've got to like 66 00:02:48.439 --> 00:02:50.120 you got to make your decision and go with it. 67 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:52.400 The earlier the better, it's going to be more advantageous 68 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:55.960 to your team. But I believe based on commentary from 69 00:02:56.039 --> 00:02:58.599 Aaron Rodrick and Tessei Sataki and other coaches on the 70 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:03.319 current staff that they need at least ten practices to 71 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:06.599 really be able to and it might be more practices 72 00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:08.639 in that to even get to a point where they're like, 73 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:13.599 all right now, this guy is creating some separation. You 74 00:03:13.879 --> 00:03:16.840 just be always not in this situation right now where 75 00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:18.840 they can be like, Okay, all we needed was a 76 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:21.400 wig he's the guy. No, we're not there. And so 77 00:03:21.479 --> 00:03:24.360 I don't think that they will know even within the 78 00:03:24.439 --> 00:03:29.159 staff that their starting quarterback is this guy until at 79 00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:32.520 least I'll thrown out a date like August twentieth, like, 80 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:36.560 we probably need two more weeks and eight to ten 81 00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:40.639 more practices before they can feel confident in seeing separation 82 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:42.919 for a guy. Now, if you were to ask me 83 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:45.759 and you getting around about way, like who's the guy 84 00:03:45.800 --> 00:03:50.159 today and how are we handicapping them now? I would 85 00:03:50.199 --> 00:03:54.520 give a very slight edge to McKay Hillstead because I 86 00:03:54.520 --> 00:03:57.520 feel like his skill set naturally fits Aaron Rodgers' offense 87 00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:01.240 best right now, and I think that he's the guy 88 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:05.319 that's hitting all of a Rod's love languages at this point. 89 00:04:05.360 --> 00:04:07.919 And for those who are wondering what the heck I'm 90 00:04:07.919 --> 00:04:12.159 talking about, a Rod pays attention to three things very closely, 91 00:04:12.199 --> 00:04:15.680 one red zone efficiency, two taking care of the ball, 92 00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:19.560 and three your ability to scramble and extend plays and 93 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:24.040 make something happen when the pocket does eventually collapse. And 94 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:26.680 I think Hillstead is the guy that is at least 95 00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:30.360 consistently doing those things the best right now. But it's 96 00:04:30.600 --> 00:04:34.519 I mean, a very slim margin between McKay and Trayson 97 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:38.079 Borget and Bear Bachmeyer. If I were making the death 98 00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:41.439 chart today, I'd probably have McKay starting tracing very close 99 00:04:41.480 --> 00:04:44.759 second behind. And Bear is intriguing because he's a guy 100 00:04:44.759 --> 00:04:48.399 that you could implement some specialty packages for with what 101 00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:52.199 he brings to the field. And I know that people 102 00:04:52.279 --> 00:04:56.079 hate the idea of how multiple quarterbacks, Like I'm not 103 00:04:56.120 --> 00:04:58.399 saying Boa needs to play multiple quarterbacks, but don't be 104 00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:00.360 sprised to BYU. In the red zone and on the 105 00:05:00.360 --> 00:05:02.279 ten yard line and all of a sudden, Bear Backmeyer 106 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:05.040 comes in and the defense is like, Okay, here's this 107 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:07.680 kid wearing number forty seven. He's a big, physical guy. 108 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:11.000 We know he likes to run, but you do have 109 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:13.959 to respect his ability to pass. It's almost like what 110 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:16.480 bou did with Taysom Hill in twenty twelve and frankly, 111 00:05:16.519 --> 00:05:18.360 what the Saints are doing with Taysom Hill right now? 112 00:05:18.519 --> 00:05:21.079 It's like, okay, well, we can't be sure that he's 113 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:23.319 gonna run. We think he's gonna run, but he might throw. 114 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:26.920 It might be a play action element. So that's kind 115 00:05:26.920 --> 00:05:28.680 of how I would sum it up right now is 116 00:05:28.680 --> 00:05:32.160 is McKay's the guy, very close race between he and 117 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:34.720 Trayson who would be number two. And then some specialty 118 00:05:34.759 --> 00:05:37.399 packages for Bear Backmeyer who once he's in the system 119 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:40.360 a little bit longer because he's been impressive thus far, 120 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:43.000 just give a little more time to acclimate in and 121 00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:46.319 he's got the highest ceiling. But just he's third right now, 122 00:05:46.360 --> 00:05:48.360 but don't be surprised to see him on the field 123 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:51.519 in some unique twists and a Rod's offense. 124 00:05:51.879 --> 00:05:54.920 You reference the number, and as I was watching some film, 125 00:05:54.959 --> 00:05:56.800 I'm like, can we get our guy a different number 126 00:05:56.800 --> 00:06:01.000 than forty seven if he's playing quarterback? Like it's just 127 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:03.399 a little bit odd, Like what's the origin story of 128 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:06.399 Bear Bachmeyer who is trying to be a quarterback at 129 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:08.120 BYU wearing number forty seven? 130 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:12.160 You know, he likes the idea of just being different 131 00:06:12.839 --> 00:06:17.439 and almost like a linebacker's mentality where he's just football player. 132 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:20.920 So we need to dive into that some more. But 133 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:23.439 from what I've gathered, it's just kind of a I 134 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:27.240 like it because it's different and I feel like I 135 00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:30.079 bring a physical nature to the game, and so forty 136 00:06:30.120 --> 00:06:34.199 seven it is. It's just something that he made a 137 00:06:34.199 --> 00:06:36.680 decision about a while ago and it kind of made 138 00:06:36.680 --> 00:06:39.639 its way in through the prep ranks and what he 139 00:06:39.720 --> 00:06:44.040 was doing there, and so it kind of identifies himself 140 00:06:44.079 --> 00:06:48.240 as just different. So I've to get into the specifics 141 00:06:48.240 --> 00:06:51.240 of the forty seven with him and kind of dive 142 00:06:51.319 --> 00:06:53.759 like why that number specific went a number forty five 143 00:06:53.879 --> 00:06:58.399 or number forty two. So let me follow up on that. 144 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:02.000 That is a loaded question and one that it's certainly 145 00:07:02.120 --> 00:07:03.279 worthy of being asked. 146 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:07.759 So the Coach's Poll is released on Monday, and we 147 00:07:07.879 --> 00:07:11.000 just said Kyle Bonniger on the show, and I asked Kyle, 148 00:07:11.040 --> 00:07:15.240 throughout his entire career covering college football, how many coaches 149 00:07:15.319 --> 00:07:18.160 he's spoken to that admitted they actually did this, and 150 00:07:18.199 --> 00:07:20.839 he said one it was David Shaw, who said he 151 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:22.439 did it one year and that never. 152 00:07:22.279 --> 00:07:22.879 Did it again. 153 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:27.920 About three about three years ago, I texted a coach 154 00:07:27.959 --> 00:07:30.399 in state and I said, off the record, how many 155 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:34.519 times have you done this exercise? He said zero, Now 156 00:07:34.519 --> 00:07:36.600 one time, I've never done it. I was delegated. It's 157 00:07:36.600 --> 00:07:40.399 an exercise in futility. However, it's early August and we're 158 00:07:40.439 --> 00:07:43.120 inching closer and closer to game, so it is topical. 159 00:07:43.639 --> 00:07:46.759 Were you surprised that, despite breaking in a new quarterback, 160 00:07:46.839 --> 00:07:49.240 BYU still broke the top twenty five, coming in at 161 00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:50.040 number twenty three. 162 00:07:51.480 --> 00:07:55.800 Absolutely, I did not expect BAU to be in any 163 00:07:56.079 --> 00:08:00.759 top twenty five, whether it be a notable presea magazines 164 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:04.279 like Phil Steel and Lindy's and afon. Certainly not after 165 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:07.040 the Jake Retslock news broke that he was leaving, It's like, okay, 166 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:10.040 now BYU is not in that top twenty five category. 167 00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:13.720 I think the closest I have seen BYU other than 168 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:16.399 the coach's pool you're referencing now, was something that came 169 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:19.199 out from CBS Sports yesterday or maybe this morning, which 170 00:08:19.279 --> 00:08:21.879 was they ranked all one hundred and thirty six FBS 171 00:08:21.879 --> 00:08:23.920 teams and BYA was at number thirty six, which I 172 00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:26.920 thought was a fair number because I do believe that 173 00:08:26.920 --> 00:08:28.759 they're a good team, and there's a lot of faith 174 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:31.040 and trust in Kilani and the culture that he's built. 175 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:34.600 But everyone's in the holding pattern, understandably because of the 176 00:08:34.679 --> 00:08:37.440 quarterback situation. So when I saw the coaches pool number 177 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:42.080 twenty three, that WHOA, Okay, the sports information directors you're 178 00:08:42.120 --> 00:08:45.879 talking about clearly did not set the memo about what's 179 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:50.159 happening with BYU's offense right now, because you're right, it's 180 00:08:50.679 --> 00:08:54.200 it's whatever. A person in the athletic department has been 181 00:08:54.279 --> 00:08:59.639 delegated the responsibility to submit said ballot for the coach's poll, 182 00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:01.840 and it all gets tabulated, and I'm sure that some 183 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:03.360 of them are like, well, B why you beat up 184 00:09:03.399 --> 00:09:05.240 on Colorado on the Alima Bowl and one eleven and 185 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:07.240 two and finished number thirteen. Yeah, I'll throw them in 186 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:11.159 the top twenty five. So probably some lazy research there 187 00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:13.320 are just like, hey, this is get it done. When 188 00:09:13.320 --> 00:09:15.960 the media poll and the eight piece side comes out, 189 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:18.399 I believe on Monday, I don't think we're going to 190 00:09:18.440 --> 00:09:20.559 see B only in the top twenty five. I think 191 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:22.720 there will be a few that might put them at 192 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:24.919 the very back of the pole, so they'll be receiving 193 00:09:25.039 --> 00:09:28.480 votes in some small capacity, but I think they probably 194 00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:31.080 deserve to be somewhere between eight to twelve spots out 195 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:34.440 of the top twenty five, because twenty three straight up 196 00:09:34.519 --> 00:09:39.320 shocked me. And I think BYU they revel in the 197 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:43.919 idea of being the underappreciated, over delivering team, and so 198 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:45.559 I think you ask a typical fan or even a 199 00:09:45.559 --> 00:09:48.320 player on the team, it's like, no, don't rank us, Like, 200 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:50.679 just just let us start unranked and work our way up, 201 00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:53.600 and we'll have that proverbial chip on the shoulder and 202 00:09:53.840 --> 00:09:56.759 we'll use that as an advantage if they can channel 203 00:09:56.759 --> 00:09:58.919 that energy in the right direction completely. 204 00:09:58.960 --> 00:10:03.080 Iypathetical, no way of knowing. But if Jake stays and 205 00:10:03.320 --> 00:10:05.720 is not facing a suspension, none of that goes down. 206 00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:06.720 Where do you think they land? 207 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:12.200 I would put them probably between sixteen and eighteen in 208 00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:14.799 the media poll if Jake Retzloff is still the quarterback. 209 00:10:14.840 --> 00:10:18.240 Now you've got like a real case for a team 210 00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:21.399 that has some continuity. Right, they still have continuity, But 211 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:26.000 when you bring back your returning starting quarterback and a 212 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:29.559 team that feels like their defense is not going to 213 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:32.519 have a lapse, or at least not a significant lapse, 214 00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:35.919 and you have key playmakers like Chase Roberts and LJ. 215 00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:39.200 Martin and you have enough of a contingentry offensive lineback. 216 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:42.360 Now there's a case, at least in your typical media 217 00:10:42.360 --> 00:10:45.360 member's mind that BYU is the top twenty teen. So 218 00:10:45.799 --> 00:10:48.639 I would I had inflated somewhere between sixteen and eighteen 219 00:10:48.679 --> 00:10:50.960 to start the season with Retsloff in the mix. Now 220 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:54.279 that he's gone, then I think, yeah, eight to twelve 221 00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:57.519 spots outside, And I think that's totally fair. And if 222 00:10:57.519 --> 00:11:00.840 the YU wants to try and rally around the idea 223 00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:03.240 that they don't know but they about to find out 224 00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:06.120 that whole thing, then great, you know, more power to them. 225 00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:09.679 But there is I don't know why it is down here, 226 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:12.960 but they the fans just they love the idea of 227 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:16.600 being undervalued and then trying to make something more and 228 00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:19.840 they see, we told you. But we'll see if they 229 00:11:19.879 --> 00:11:22.080 can do it again, because this time around with a 230 00:11:22.519 --> 00:11:27.000 full on quarterback battle, like the question marks are totally 231 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:30.879 fair and I have no idea what to expect in 232 00:11:30.919 --> 00:11:32.720 that first game on August thirtieth. 233 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:35.360 I do think if you're a b YU fan, you 234 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:38.039 take a little comfort knowing that a Rod and Kolani 235 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:41.480 have traversed the quarterback battle space for what three straight 236 00:11:41.559 --> 00:11:44.519 years maybe, and they've made the right call every single time. 237 00:11:44.600 --> 00:11:48.279 Yeah, yeah, yeah, no at fair point, Like last year 238 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:51.080 with Jake Rethloft and Gary Bohannon, it was like, man, 239 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:53.519 it literally came down to the last week and they're like, hey, 240 00:11:53.720 --> 00:11:56.000 we're gonna We're gonna make Jake the guy. But Gary, 241 00:11:56.039 --> 00:11:58.840 you're you're right there, and so that was a tough 242 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:00.799 one and they I mean, there was a lot of 243 00:12:00.840 --> 00:12:04.759 back and forth there because Gary shoulder was better and 244 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:07.519 he looked really good, and I don't know that they 245 00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:10.440 were anticipating that happening. So that was a really tough 246 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:14.679 decision there. And even going back to twenty eighteen, I 247 00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:17.159 think that was the last time but a Rod wasn't 248 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:19.200 the offensive coordinator. That was Jeff Grimes, and it was 249 00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:23.320 Tanner Mangum versus Dak Wilson, and they opted for Tanner 250 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:25.519 Mangum and his experience for the first six games. Then 251 00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:27.559 he got benched and then comes Zack Wilson and he 252 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:30.120 starts his career. So that was really the last time 253 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:32.039 I was like, oh, man, I have no idea what 254 00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:36.399 be what he's going to do at quarterback, and I 255 00:12:36.840 --> 00:12:40.240 don't envy the offensive coordinator that has to make that decision. 256 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:43.679 Didn't in twenty eighteen, don't this year because that's really tough. 257 00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:46.639 But yes, to your point, like, this is not something 258 00:12:46.679 --> 00:12:48.399 that is brand new and they're like, oh, what do 259 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:52.799 we do? Like they have traversed this and if they 260 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:55.759 can just name a guy internally at least a week out, 261 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:59.519 then that's probably an okay scenario. But I don't think 262 00:12:59.559 --> 00:13:02.480 most of it in the media and in the public 263 00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:05.000 are going to know who the starting quarterback is until 264 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:06.639 we see him run out with the offense in the 265 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:07.720 first series of the season. 266 00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:11.000 Tell me about the on line. I mean, ultimately, that's 267 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:15.240 where it starts. And Klannie, of course, you know, learned 268 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:18.080 a lot of his trade under Kyle, and Kyle wants 269 00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:21.399 the trenches. Every coach wants the trenches dialed in and 270 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:23.480 b Yu with some losses on that old line, how's 271 00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:24.120 it shape it up? 272 00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:28.799 Yeah, they are expecting a lot from a guy like 273 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:31.120 Bruce Mitchell at center to take over for Connor pay 274 00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:33.120 and that he The good thing for Bruce is Connor 275 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:35.679 got injured Vester and Bruce had to start at center 276 00:13:35.720 --> 00:13:39.480 in multiple important power forward games. So they feel like 277 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:41.840 they for the most part, won't skip the beat with 278 00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:44.759 the guy who's ready and experienced it, and so they 279 00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:47.320 feel like they have their center and their captain on 280 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:52.399 that line. The addition of Andrew Gentry the Michigan transfer 281 00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:57.080 is huge and the experience and perspective that he brings, 282 00:13:57.120 --> 00:14:00.600 he'll be the right tackle, so that that should really 283 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:04.120 helped by you feel confident on that side. Isaiah Jada 284 00:14:04.159 --> 00:14:06.919 is going to be the blind side protector. I talked 285 00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:10.039 to TJ Woods offensive line coach, about Isaiah and he said, look, 286 00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:13.919 there are a few guys that have taken significant steps forward. 287 00:14:14.919 --> 00:14:17.159 Isaiah is one of those guys. I have a lot 288 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:20.240 of trust in him. So I feel very good about 289 00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:22.879 the two tackle positions. And then Wayla la Blau might 290 00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:26.440 be the He's certainly the vocal leader on that offensive line, 291 00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:29.039 but he brings a ton of experience and he's gone 292 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:31.759 through the rigors of a full power force schedule. So 293 00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:35.919 you have most of your key components. I think the 294 00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:38.720 biggest question mark about the offensive line is how deep 295 00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:42.039 are they? Like after the starting five, what do they have? 296 00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:44.519 And that's what TJ said, He's like camp for me 297 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:47.279 is going to be figuring out who guys six through 298 00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:52.559 nine are so that we can know what happens if 299 00:14:52.840 --> 00:14:55.919 and when, inevitably there is an injury. You know, what 300 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:58.480 can Austin Leusa do? And you know some of these 301 00:14:58.519 --> 00:15:01.720 other younger guys were developing, Like that's the biggest question 302 00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:04.399 mark is the starting five. Like the opening five to 303 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:09.399 six guys very confident. The depth is where the concern 304 00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:13.759 lies with positions like six through nine when those injuries happen. 305 00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:16.919 Both Utah and BYU have a bit of a soft 306 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:21.240 landing into the season with some non conference games. Portland 307 00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:24.320 State of the opener for BYU, then Stanford at home 308 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:27.320 Stanford fied Troy Taylor. Frank Reich is in as an 309 00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:30.519 interim coach and it's an agreement from both sides that 310 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:32.960 it's a one year deal, and then it's at East 311 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:36.480 Carolina prior to launching into conference play. Do you like 312 00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:40.159 the soft landing just because BYU's breaking in a new quarterback, 313 00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:41.720 so you kind of can see what sort of hand 314 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:43.240 you've been dealt before conference play. 315 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:47.759 Yeah, it's interesting that it worked out that way because 316 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:50.000 at first I was like, man, I'd like to see 317 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:52.440 BYU play kind of one of those banger non conference 318 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:56.279 games with the experienced core returning. But when the redtslof 319 00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:58.799 situation went down, it's like, oh man, this is actually 320 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:03.000 beneficial that BYU can ramp up, And frankly, the first 321 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:06.519 six games of the season for BYU are a necessary 322 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:09.720 ramp to the back six because beginning with Utah and 323 00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:14.320 game number seven, it just is a dauntlet for the 324 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:17.600 for about four or five straight weeks because now you've 325 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:19.919 got Utah and then ba's got to go to Ames 326 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:22.519 and play at Iowa State, and then they have a 327 00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:26.600 bye week, and then they'll play in Lublick against Texas Tech, who's, 328 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:29.600 you know, holding one of the most expensive and talented 329 00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:31.879 rosters they've ever had in program history. And then you've 330 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:35.960 got to come home and play TCU. So it's just 331 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:39.919 like whoa. In mid October to mid November, there's a 332 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:42.919 lot there for BYU. So I do feel like the 333 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:45.840 first six games in general are just a natural ramp 334 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:47.679 up because BA is not going to figures a World 335 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:50.600 Big or a non conference Portland State, Stanford or East Carolina. 336 00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:54.320 Colorado is an intriguing Big twelve opener, not sure what 337 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:56.960 they're going to be. Deon Senners that they're a more 338 00:16:56.960 --> 00:17:00.320 talented team. They don't have as much individuals they had 339 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:03.039 last year, but he believes they're a better team overall. 340 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:07.160 So take that for what you will. And then Byu 341 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:09.759 has got a couple of games that I feel like 342 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:12.640 they should be okay in a home game against West Virginia, 343 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:15.279 who has to travel along away on a Friday night, 344 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:18.799 and then Arizona on the road, and we don't know 345 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:20.599 what the heck they're going to be under Brent Brennan 346 00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:24.079 as he's trying to save his job. So it really 347 00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:27.400 is a great opportunity for be Aay to break in 348 00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:30.720 a guy. And I think that it's not outland just 349 00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:32.559 to think that the Cougars can go five and one, 350 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:36.519 even with the brand new quarterback against those six opponents. 351 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:39.200 If BA can be five and one going into the 352 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:42.279 Utah game, then they should feel very very good about 353 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:45.319 their chances, you know, to win eight games and try 354 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:48.119 and go three and three in that back six and 355 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:50.240 be going into a bowl game at eight and four. 356 00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:54.759 Talked about this earlier with the coaches poll released yesterday 357 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:58.440 and the AP coming out on Monday. I need three 358 00:17:58.519 --> 00:18:00.640 or four I need three or four games games before 359 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:03.880 I can I always say observation, not conclusion the first 360 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:06.680 three or four games of the season. Now, the complication, 361 00:18:07.400 --> 00:18:10.160 UH with this dynamic when it comes to a conference 362 00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:12.480 is you could go zero to three in non con 363 00:18:12.599 --> 00:18:15.559 turn it around to do finding conference play. But how 364 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:17.640 long do you need before you feel like you have 365 00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:20.440 an accurate read on exactly who b YU will be 366 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:20.799 this year? 367 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:22.559 How many games you need do you need on your belt? 368 00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:26.519 I'm not far off of what you're you're saying there, Spence. 369 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:29.319 I I feel like I have a really good idea 370 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:33.039 of what a team is probably four games into the season, 371 00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:38.119 because I think you've you've seen at least one conference game, 372 00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:42.920 and you've seen them work out some of the workoffs, 373 00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:44.880 some of the russ work at some of the kinks 374 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:47.960 in things through those three non conference games. So if 375 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:52.759 I saw the first poll like the first week of October, 376 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:54.799 I think that would be awesome because then we then 377 00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:57.480 we I thought, we really know, like Okay, we have 378 00:18:57.559 --> 00:19:00.039 a way better idea of what these teams are and 379 00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:02.160 you can avoid a situation like we had a Florida 380 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:04.480 State last year where they're a top ten team and 381 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:06.640 they lose in the opener in Ireland at Georgia Tech, 382 00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:08.039 and we're like, oh, maybe it was a fluke, and 383 00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:11.240 then the wheels just absolutely fell off and they were 384 00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:13.599 an absolute dumpster fire a year after being a College 385 00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:18.480 Fool playoff contender. So yeah, I'm probably four games and 386 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:20.319 then and then we're good. Give me the first pull 387 00:19:20.359 --> 00:19:23.279 on October. But I understand that we're in a business 388 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:27.480 that drives advertisers and ratings, and we need contexts and 389 00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:29.839 we want people to watch games early, and that's why 390 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:32.559 we have the preseason eight peopole and the coaches pulled 391 00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:35.039 because we want people to watch the product. We want 392 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:37.400 people to pay attention to our shows, and it gives 393 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:39.440 us spotder to talk about. So I trust me. I 394 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:42.240 understand both dynamics. But if I had my way, first 395 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:43.799 pull on the first week of October would be the 396 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:44.200 way to go. 397 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:47.559 I had a chance to catch up with Brian Santiago 398 00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:51.640 Big twelve Media Day. What's it been like? First couple? Well, 399 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:53.480 I guess months now on the job. I mean, it's 400 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:55.480 just it's tough to follow a guy like Tom with 401 00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:57.839