Speaker 1: It's time to celebrate the previous team sport known to man,
where modern day gladiators collide for all the glory on
the grid. Ie, Let's talk some college football on Cougar
Sports with Ben Kripple.
Speaker 2: Welcome back Cougar Sports.
Speaker 3: One of three nine ninety eight point three ESBN the
fantom at Crital broadcasting from our Bantererwilth Studios, Banterwealth dot Com.
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Speaker 2: I think you should aligned with him as well.
Speaker 3: Check it out at Banterwealth, Banterwealth dot com and he's
stopped a little college football segment. Gonna welcome up a
former BYU wide receiver to discuss what's going on with
the Cougars right now as they prepare for UCF and
a home slate a home matchup versus the Knights, the
UCF football team.
Speaker 2: They got to get both eligible, so they'll come into Provo.
Speaker 3: And they're gonna be motivated and they're a good football team.
Speaker 2: They've had their ups and downs.
Speaker 3: We're gonna break it down and also discuss the Cincinnati
game with this former Bay Wide receiver. It's going to
be brought to you by Utah Protective Films Utapprotective Films
dot Com.
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When you mentioned myself for ESPN the Fan, let's get
out to the hotline. Welcome the owner operator of set
establishment Utah Protective Films dot Com. Former BYU Wide receiver
Jared Bloodstones on the line, Jared, how thatck are you?
Speaker 4: I'm doing great? How you doing? Ben?
Speaker 2: Doing fantastic?
Speaker 1: Man?
Speaker 3: How was the weekend? A nice dub over the Cincinnati Bearcats?
Was it everything you hoped for?
Speaker 2: And more?
Speaker 4: Oh? Man, it was a lot of fun to watch.
I was blown away by the power running of LJ.
Martin Know. It was incredible how many tackles he was
able to to really, I mean guys, think guys were
coming in full speed at him and he was shucking
those guys off, and you know, it was it was
super fun to watch, and it had that Tyler al
gierfield to it, and it's it's just been nice this
season to be able to rely on different people in
different times and just just to get the full feel
of a real dynamic BYU football team.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it was.
Speaker 3: It was impressive to watch. The defense was phenomenal. The
run game from LJ was fantastic. The biggest concern I
have coming out of the Cincinnati game was just the
overall health of the offense. Chase went out the hamstring,
LJ was a little bit digged up on that final drive,
Bear took a shot that was throwing shoulder. Way Lin's
out at left guard hopefully. I don't know if he's
going to be back for the UCF game, or even
the bowl game, or hopefully the Big twelve championship game.
So yeah, that's my biggest concern. Do you have any
concerns coming out of this the Cincinnati win.
Speaker 4: Yeah, no, I would agree with that. We definitely have
to be healthy. I hope that this week has given
some guys the opportunity to get strong and get healthy again.
You know. The passing games a little bit of a
struggle for me. I feel like there's been a number
of times in the last couple of games where Bears
kind of forced some pass plays that could very easily
turn into picks or game changing type momentum shifting plays,
So there's some concern there. I've had some concerns over
the last couple of weeks with although our defense played great,
we seem to be real vulnerable across the middle. I
don't know if you're noticing that a little bit. I
did see that some differences in the second half where
we really sat that middle linebacker back in the middle,
and I think maybe that's a little bit more of
our when we're playing a little less man and going
a little more zone, that they're finding the holes in
there and that What are your thoughts on that, Ben I,
As a defensive back, what are you seeing where most
of our our defensive passing issues tend to be across
the middle.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: So so it depends on what your base coverage is. Right,
if you're your too high safety or you're going single
high safety with man, you're.
Speaker 4: Mostly too high safeties.
Speaker 3: Yeah, so if you're not, if you're not running like
a Tampa two. So Tampa two is where you drop
that middle linebacker into kind of a free safety spot
where he's he becomes some somewhat of a robber, right.
Tampa two is a great coverage to to combat your
too high safety base stuff.
Speaker 2: And that's what we do a lot.
Speaker 3: We do a lot of too high safety and then
we'll roll down and we'll be in man free.
Speaker 2: That's what I see all that time.
Speaker 3: Every one's while you're throwing a little Cover three as well.
But all of those coverages, uh, they they kind of
if you don't have a really long middle linebacker that
likes to get depth, Yeah, there's gonna be digs. You're
gonna have, you know, skinnies, you're gonna have uh, kind
of those over routes as well that are maybe play
action rollouts, and you're gonna have the the climb.
Speaker 4: Route cross Yeah.
Speaker 3: Yeah, those aren't easy throws to make over the tackle box.
But realize also we faced. I pulled up the QBR
rankings and the quarterback efficiency ratings and Pro Football Focus ratings.
Buy us faced some really good quarterbacks this year. I
mean Baron Morton good quarterback, Brendon Sorosby also very good quarterback,
Hoover good quarterback, Nova Fee's a good quarterback, rock Aback
good quarterback. Like all these guys are in the top
like most of them are in the top forty in
college football from an efficiency standpoint, from a productivity standpoint.
So I think all of those things considered, b Yu's
done really well against these quarterbacks, in fact, limiting them
to to maybe some of their worst outputs all season long.
Speaker 4: Sure well, and I see we tend to get coverage
sacks weekend and week out, you know where where there's
there's just nowhere to go with the football, and which
is a lot of fun to watch it. Yeah. No,
I'm all overall, I'm super happy with with the output
of the team over and looking forward to this week,
I think you're you're on the right path absolutely with
this Team's that you see, I'm gonna they're gonna come
in ready to play. You know, it's this is their
only opportunity to make a bowl game. I still think
that we uh, we should, we should really get ahead quickly,
get out strong, get the momentum. And if we do that,
we're gonna be able to rest some of our players
that may need some rep and I think that's an
important thing. Did you ever find out anything about Chase
Roberts what his injury was?
Speaker 2: His static hamstring, soft time string?
Speaker 4: Okay, you know those are no fun. Those are those
are the lingering things that you just can't get rid
of sometimes. So hopefully he gets all the treatment he
needs this week and gets back into rotation.
Speaker 3: We get Jared bled So form BA wide Receiver talks
some college football in this segment. B Yu is eleventh.
I believe in the eight people. Do you think they
stay at eleventh in the college football playoff poll?
Speaker 4: Yeah, I don't. I don't think there's any movement there.
There's nobody lost in front, nobody put out an effort
that would make that group change. In my opinion, you know,
I think that that this week's going to be really
important to say we need a loss somewhere up in there,
in my opinion, in order for them to make some movement,
because nobody loses. It's really hard for them to justify
moving somebody ahead week in and week out unless it's
a I don't know how you could call it a
bad win. I don't I don't quite understand these good
losses and bad wins that how they determine these things,
you know, But it's it's important for us to be
in the top ten, and you know, it's really hard
to know where their heads are at on each week
and where they're going to place their emphasis, especially going
into you know, we we had heard before that that
the conference championship games would not affect things, but they're
now saying that they may take that into consideration. Each
game affects everything, So who knows? Who knows where we're
going to be at. I feel like when you look
at the metrics that a lot of the and and
a lot of the polls that other people are putting out,
you know, byus between eight and ten, and most of
the polls, and but yeah, it what it comes down
to is what these guys decide tonight and and where
they're going to end up. And it's as much as
I love the twelve playoffs, there's a lot of frustration
in how certain teams tend to get just that flagship
opportunity kind of before b y U. But but we'll see.
You know, we just got to keep winning, that's it.
And if we do that, I think that you know,
I had some conversations with Aaron Roderick this week and
and uh you know, I'm not to jump ahead, but
I already bought my ticket to Arlington, so I'm ready
to go. Uh So, yeah, that was it was one
of those things. We're about halfway through the Cincinnati game.
My brother text me, are we are we buying our
tickets yet? What are we doing to do? And so
we we ended up getting our tickets and and uh
so we've got our flight set. But going into that game,
there's some interesting dynamics that that I don't I don't
think we're talking about as much that that Aaron shared
with me that I'm gonna keep it, keep it under
wraps because I think it's some important stuff going into
the game and the game plan that will go against
Texas Tech. But but there's definitely some things that were
going on in that stadium that affected the offensive plays
and the production that being in a neutral site, we
won't have those same issues. So although that they are
the straight from Aaron Rodgerck, he said, man, you think
about it, that b line makes almost as much money
as the entire b YU football team in n I
L And and he said, they are very very good.
Wo But I think there's some opportunities there that that
that the offense has has learned, and then being in
a neutral site is going to be a real positive
for us. But yeah, we've got to finish out this season.
We've got to be UCF this Saturday. It's going to
be cold, it's going to be a morning game. You know,
there's a lot a lot of fun, different atmosphere that
goes into that game. But I think we come out
on top and and we show show out real well,
and you know, I just I'm excited for what BYU
football is doing year in and year out. Kalani Sataki is
definitely should be up for Coach of the Year. When
you have you know, and the whole staff. Really it's
not just it's all the coordinators and and all the
position coaches, the analysts and everybody that's involved. Dave George
as the UH as the general manager, everybody's done a
phenomenal job. With the team and to be able to
be sitting at a potential after this weekend at eleven
and one and going into our first conference championship game.
You know what an exciting opetamity we we You know
when I played, we had that that we played in
the in the WAX championship game. Back then we had
we were split into two divisions and we had that
championship game. UH played in Vegas, and it's a it's
a great atmosphere. It's going to be super exciting, and
we we've we've definitely come further than I think a
lot of people expected us in a in a just
in great fashion. In my opinion, you're.
Speaker 2: Good friends with a Rod. Uh?
Speaker 4: What is it?
Speaker 3: What is it about a Rod that that the cougarnation
those that are the haters are missing uh with his
play calling, his structure, his uh utilization of personnel. Right now,
ESPNSP Plus has BYU is a top twenty five team offensively,
and so this is an efficiency metric that takes into
account strength of scheduled et cetera. So what are they
missing about a Rod as a play card? Those that
are hate this?
Speaker 4: Yeah, this dude is all in all in. I mean,
he lives, sleeps. When he sleeps, you know, breathe, and
that's not even that's not even exaggeration, you know. Yeah, yeah,
you know he is one hund focused on this and
I don't you know, being able to take a true
freshman that you had such little time with and and
then producing the season that we've produced with that is huge.
He has. He he had one difficult game this year
in calling plays and that was Texas Tech.
Speaker 3: And and as you mentioned, as you mentioned that there's
some defensive line makes more money than BYU's entire defense
or the entire team.
Speaker 4: Yeah, we'll talk later to more about kind of that,
you know, metrics of some of the things that were
going on in that stadium that affected a lot of
what was going on with play calling and stuff. But
there's so much more that goes to and that I mean,
I try to stay out of the comments on different things,
and you know, but it's like figure needs to be fired.
After the Texas Tech game, It's like, do you guys
understand what he's doing and what he's putting in to
get this team where it's at to be ten and
one right now? Takes so much work and so much effort.
His play calling I think has been on point. He
does need to get on a role as as he
gets on a roll and starts calling plays, play after
play gets better and better, so when we three and
out it that is where it affects I think his
play calling. He needs to get into the fourth, fifth, sixth,
seventh play of the drive where he really starts getting
on a roll and getting things moving. But to be
able to bring in bear Bachbuyer and the group that
we have now and being able to produce the offense
that we have and the wins. That's what it comes
down to is we're winning games. We are winning games
with our defense, but we are also winning games with
our offense because if we didn't score, we wouldn't win,
you know. And so I've been super happy with what
he's doing. And on the back end, man, I'm proud
of the coordinators, I'm proud of the coaching staff, and
I'm super proud of the players for buying into everything
that they're doing this year.
Speaker 3: Jared Ledso you top protective films, you top protective films? Like,
what products or services do you provide to our listeners, Jared,
they're at UTAP protective films.
Speaker 4: Yeah, so our main focus is obviously paint protection. We
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Appreciate all you do. Ben I wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving.
Exciting football week this week, and I just can't wait
to see what our Cougars do this Saturday. And moving forward.
Speaker 3: Yeah, so one last thing before Leo's goo, BYU is
going to beat UCF. You've already booked the tickets. I
believe the line, if I'm not mistaken, is is a
healthy one. At home by you just wins better at home,
wins bigger. Eighteen and a half, I think, yeah, eighteen
and a half. Let's see here have moved up or down?
Speaker 4: Though?
Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't have a Well, I'll try to get
a confirmation on that one, but yeah, I mean, look,
BYU isn't going to be heavily favored, no doubt about it.
Then ba he gets to Arlington, most likely versus Texas Tech.
Speaker 2: What do you think is going to change on a
neutral field in Arlington?
Speaker 3: You know, with BYU fan base trying to get out there, right,
they've they've bought their tickets. They want they don't want
it to be a home game for Tech right well,
and I mean you alluded to all the things that
were happening in Lubbock right to maybe disrupt play calling
That could change for the offense in Arlington, well it will,
it will.
Speaker 4: Because it's a neutral site, and so they can't control
the sound system just to say that, they that control when, when,
when the music starts, and when the music stops. Being
in in Lubbock, they have a really really good system
within that stadium where they will they will play their
music very very very loud, right up until the point
of the that the offensive lining up on the line
of scrimmage. Without saying everything, I just said everything I think,
you know, but you see what I'm saying. And so
the ability to run an offense in the way that
we do in today's n Cuba, where you have speakers
and helmets and you have coordinaries to add the ability
to say different things during different times, There's there's a
lot that goes into that. And after I was kind
of brought up to speed on some of that, I thought,
you know what if that's all legal, lovel Edwards Stadium
needs to jump on board and start doing the exact
same thing, you know, I mean, if that's a legal
way to do it, and it's and it is just
uptive enough to an offense, let's play the game. You know,
it's our turn to play, so anyways there that'll change,
and I think that'll give a lot more ability. I'm
noticing two in different games that that when they know
huddle and teams will line up, there's the coordinators are
still talking to the quarterbacks cause you'll see the court,
they'll line up, and then you'll see the quarterbacks put
his hands over both of your holes, and then they'll
call another play and they'll audible and shift. So if
you're not able to do those things, you have to
rely on one person and one person only to do everything,
and that might be tough for a freshman quarterback. But
when you have that ability to voice certain things with
within the regular you know, within the dynamics of the
of the of the you're not penalizing your team or whatever,
that that helps a lot with a coordinator, especially with
that freshman quarterback. So that's where I think we're gonna
have some differences. If Aaron can be in his ear
a little bit more and and be able to be heard,
I think that'll change some of that offensive uh stuff
and where Bear doesn't have to make split decisions, where
things can be helped as we line up that I
was trying to hold back I think I just let go.
Speaker 3: Hey, we want truth on these airways. That's how we leave.
Speaker 4: It's a it's a big one, and I think that
that's gonna We're going to see a big difference. And
I just can't I can't wait for that game. I
can't wait to see what the offense changes. Uh what
just what we're able to do and see if we
can step up to the plate and and control a
little bit more of that line of scrimmage because we
have a great offensive line and I think our our
blocking scheme will change a little bit. I mean being
able to go against the team and then be able
to line back up and replay them again. I think
there's just a lot with with the smart coaches that
we have, that we're going to be able to make
some changes and and I'm excited.
Speaker 3: Man, love the commentary, Love the inside, Jared Bledshell. Always
support former Cougar's and their entrepreneur efforts, and get your
paint Protected Protection film ordered over at Utah Protective Films.
Speaker 2: Get fifty percent off when you mention myself for ESPN
the Fan.
Speaker 4: Thanks so much, Jared, Thanks man, appreciate you guys.
Speaker 3: All Right, we're gonna go to break, Please don't go
anywhere more to get you on a beautiful Tuesday edition
of Cougar Sports here one of three nine ninety yo
point three ESP of the Fan.
Speaker 5: Big twelve Football. Missie got some new sheriffs in town.
But they better be careful. So I'm been around here
for a while and they might learn a thing or two.
You see that there's a storm run You're not scared,
are you? You're always ready ready to go Big twelve football.
They don't get better than this.
Speaker 1: No, it doesn't get better than this. And all, welcome
back to Cougar Sports here one O three nine at
ninety three ESP and the Fan. In the last segment
of the show's our Big twelve Football rejoinder. I hope
you all like it. Something new that we've added to
the document. You got to make sure that we continue
to play that sometimes I forget about that. That's a
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Q and A today at banderwealth dot com. That's bandorwealth
dot com. Okay, let's get into it. Austin Leusa address
the media. Gonna go question by question. He is also
another senior graduating. I'm giving a little bit of a tease.
Some people thought he was a junior or might have
been a type on the roster. But let's get into it.
Number one, Austin, what were the key takeaways from the
offensive line without Whalen on Saturday?
Speaker 6: Definitely, you know, we definitely missed whaling him being a
leader in the offensive line group, and you know, he
was definitely a miss But I think we did everything
that we wanted to do going into that game. I
think we executed everything very well. Coach Woods and our
gas and Coach a Rod put us in great positions
for us to really run the ball the way we
wanted to and really just make creases and holes for
the running backs and especially for LJ. And you know,
the way things turned out, we were very happy with
the end result.
Speaker 1: We read a lot of holes for LJ. Look, we're
gonna get the chance to ask Aaron Roddick at practice
later this evening when we go down use LJ. We
heard the post game sound yesterday wasn't part of the
game plan. I want to talk to a Rod if
he thought it wasn't a part of the game plan either.
But man, I guess when you got the hot hand?
Kline said this before, they're gonna feed the hot hand.
So LJ was the one that's hot. But I want
to know, like, even if you know he did have
the hot hand, of course, but even if you're being effective, right,
let's say he wasn't two hundred and twenty. Let's say
it was like two hundred, would you have given him
thirty five? Would you give him forty? And if a
guy does have the hot hand, will you just keep feeding?
Because can you say, can a guy get too hot?
You know? I mean he already looks, you know, like
a Greek god for crying out loud, chills with body, shoulders, quads, aps, pecks,
you name it. LJ might need to do that. I
wonder what LJ. Martin's compass, what's his NFL comp because
I mean he's already built like Zeus for crying out
loud goodness?
Speaker 4: Is he?
Speaker 1: Is he Poseidon? Is he the land of the waves?
Because he gets to the second level and he's waving
past you and runs you right over. I don't know,
I'm trying to think of some analogies on the spot.
This might be bad radio, But the point is LJ.
Martin man, Yeah, he gives all the credit to the
offensive line. But look, the boys up front did block.
They did well. And Bruce Mitchell kind of talk about
Bruce and I'm gonna have to ask a Rod this too.
Bruce has been phenomenal this year. He's been great. Like Bruce,
he has been able to really be greated out well.
Pro Ball Football Focuses has him one of the highest
graded BA football players this season, if not the highest.
Bruce Mitchell was gonna play at the next level guys
man Jay Hill saw something and saying, hey, you should
switch the offensive line, and Bruce has been great ever
since then. So look, playing defensive line didn't work out
for him. Switches over, and you know, the tip of
the spear has been says Tip of the Spear number two. Austin,
looking ahead on Saturday, you're listed here we go on
the roster as a junior. Do you have more eligibility
or is that a typo? What does the future look
like for you?
Speaker 7: Austin, Yeah, no, I that might be a typo. I'm
definitely a senior.
Speaker 6: This will be this will be my last game at
Lavelle Edwards, so it's gonna be surreal moment for me
and my family. But we're super excited and happy for
the future.
Speaker 1: So I had to clear the air. It's been cleared.
Check the game notes. Said it earlier in the show.
Austin le Whusay is a senior. He will be getting honored.
So don't do not do not think that Austin's going
to be coming back. I love how he chuck him.
Oh no, that might be a type bo I'm definitely
out of eligibility. Look, guys know, if they have more
eligibility and a chance to play in. Austin's been a catalyst.
And look, Austin's gotten digged up. I remember, I can
reveal this now. I guess after the Colorado game he was,
you know, at his arm in a sling, and you know,
everybody goes to their fair share of injuries. It happened.
So last year, Austin was named to the Polynesian College
Football Player of the Year preseason watch list. Right, it's
the father father of Alika Leilus's senior major in sociology.
Server divission for the Jersey's christ the Saints from twenty
seventeen to twenty nineteen in the Philippines speaks Tagalic and
another language that I cannot pronounce. I apologize. Austin enjoys
golfing a lot of golfers on this BAU team and
grew up swimming competitively. Okay, Austin, I see you, hey,
Look this is another transfer to BYU. Six foot five
to fifteen pounds senior or from West Jordan, was originally
at Southern Utah, came up. He's had a phenomenal career
as well. Look, the first year he was with SEU
didn't really play a lot. Second year saw a few
more actions, and then obviously that last year before he
transferred his final to a BYU, he played in ten games.
He had started at nine. So this is Austin's official stats.
In twenty twenty to twenty twenty one, played in four games,
didn't start in any. Twenty twenty one to twenty twenty two,
that's probably because he red shirted. Noticed how the four games, guys,
you red shirt, he played in seven started in six,
so he might have got nicked in that. Then the
year after that twenty twenty three to twenty four, played
in ten, started in nine of those. Then it YU.
The last two years twenty twenty four to twenty five,
played in eleven games, started in seven, and then right
now this season twenty twenty five to twenty six, he's
played in eleven and started in ten. A lot of
experience for Austin Le LUSA, especially at BYU in the
twenty twenty three to twenty four season, last year at
Sudden Utah and at BYU. He's been really healthy, really
really healthy. So I think Austin's gonna have an opportunity
to get into a camp and you know, be a
undrafted free agent, So we'll see what the future holds.
I don't think we asked him about his future and
if he wants to further his football career. So we're
gonna have to get caught up with Austin a little
point later before the big twelve out of game, you know,
or after as the bowl game, or if they're in
the college football playoffs and ask him does he plan
to continue to further his football career, because that's on
the table now. A lot of these guys are gonna
ask him, like, are you going into the corporate road
or you're gonna play. I have to think the great
wall of Provo Tenner Wall is definitely gonna be trying
to play as long as he can, and Tanner's gonna
be great wherever he goes. So we'll see. But eighteen
seniors being honored, how many of them will try to
further their career? All right, let's keep going. Austin number three,
LJ gave all the credit to you guys. It's funny.
I feel like he's going to do the opposite and
give it to him anyway. LJA give you guys all
the credit for his career. Day from alignment perspectives. What
makes him so good? His vision, his speed, his looselessness,
what say you.
Speaker 7: Austin, I think it's just you know, who he is
as a person. You know this.
Speaker 6: You know he didn't just you know, come up on
these thousand yards just this season. It's all the work
that he's put in in the offseason as well, all
of his success that he's had. It's it's definitely been
something that he's been working towards and working very hard towards.
We were just we were honestly just there, you know,
doing our job, and he was doing his job, and ultimately,
you know, it got to it got him to where
he is now. And so that's just kind of how
we take it as an old line group. We know
we're just doing our job and our one eleven.
Speaker 1: Football, doing a one to eleventh football. That's what they
were doing. Everybody did their pardon LJ went berserk. He
went bonkers on the Cincinnati Bearcats defense ran all over them.
People expected, probably different people picked Cincinnati in this game.
They were still doubters said, oh, they get their top
running back back Prior's back, He's gonna run all over Nada. Nope,
didn't happen. L just said, check this out. I got
something for y'all. God in check tape, God in check tape.
That I was coming in averaging ninety one point two yards.
Now I'm averaging you know, one hundred and three point nine.
Check that out. Eat that, eat that Texas Tech, eat
that Cameron Dicky, LJ the best running back. That's what
he's telling everybody. Oh man, it's gonna be so great
to see LJ get another shot at Texas Tech. And
BYU wins. He was not fully healthy, he was not confident.
That's not the game you want to come back, guys
in playing a formidable opponent. That's not the one I've
seen guys on my teammates Rugby come back and out
to play Saint Mary's Cols. Not the game you want
to come back from injury. Look, you want to always
beat the best of the best. But if your first
game has to be against the best in the conference,
which we found out, we know that at the time,
Lucky doesn't really go that way. And you also really
don't know coming back from injuries, is it gonna work?
Well is it not? And now obviously he knows, so
it's gonna be very interesting to Byu wants his game,
and then they go to Arlington and most likely would
face Texas Tech. If they get another crack at it,
we'll see or can rich Rod shock the world? Not
banking on it, not gonna bank on it, not gonna
bet on it, not a betting man, don't believe in betting.
Don't go down the dark Desert highway. As Brandon Gurney says,
fun fact, people may think this is sad on why
I'm telling this. One of the reasons my parents didn't
stay together is because my dad had a gambling addition.
So you don't have to worry about that from me.
Continuing on number four, you've been rotating at guard Austin,
but you also have been rotating at tackle. Just take
us what went into that decision there and the conversation
that you had with TJ. Woods.
Speaker 6: Yeah, I think coach Woods definitely, you know, wanted me
to get some reps at tackle as well. You know
before coming here to Byu, I did play tackle at
my last school, and so that was kind of just
a decision that we've talked about over the season and
he felt you know that I think it was the
Iowa State game is when I started rotating again. He
felt that was a good time for me to kind
of just showcase that. But you know, it's it's been
in the talks for a while now, and so it's
it's been good. We've had a good time and it's
just been it's been really fun.
Speaker 1: It definitely has been really fun. Side No, guys, just
want to give you a reminder that ESPN the Fan
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To more details at espnefan dot com. Check it out there.
Let's continue on with Austin le Lusa and the Sound. Yes,
he did play tackle at his last school. Was a
great opportunity for him to get reps. He wanted to
get some reps here at tackle, have him rotated a
little bit. Look, having a lineman that's versus can be
very versas to to do all of it works. Remember
Jason Anderson's kid, you know, one of the coaches at
Lee High Tigue was very versatile. Could play you know, guard,
I think tackle, could maybe play center, I can't remember.
Or it's playing guard and could be a center. One
of the one of the two or three is in there.
I'm I'm, I'm in the mix. But the point was
that people see him at the next level, you know,
playing at the center. So this is his dad. So look,
it's good to have reps at all positions because you
never know where they're gonna need you. You have no idea.
Remember Connor pay when they were trying to figure all
of that out. Oh well, Connor play can play guard
and he can play center, like both, and you have
whaling because you're bringing a bunch of people over look.
I just I think it's good to have Depp. And
it's also good to be cross trained. It's like folatasath
Tuala playing free safety, but no, it's strong safety and
vice versa. It's good to know both sides because you
never know when a guy's going to go down to
attrition or you have to play. And Austin's been able
to step up big this season, So it's good to
have a lineman that can play a little bit of
both when you need to, especially you need you need
as many big brothers up front, six foot five, six
foot nine, whoever it is, three hundred and fifteen pounds
protecting the bear, tar Bear, what is it? Bear force
one Pergus Johnson, Air Bear, per Brett always bringing the hammer,
Bear Yu per Ronald, the three mint. We were just
trying to think of all the nicknames, but no, you
need as manybodies protecting bear and of course the bailcout
back to the future twenty twenty six NFL Draft pic.
I'm gonna start that narrative. People might get mad. LJ.
Martin for sure, Number five Austin In terms of you
going from FCS to FBS power for how tough was
that process? What adjustments did you have to make?
Speaker 6: Yeah, No, it's definitely it's definitely a different process. You know,
going from an FCS to an FBS level, things are
a little bit faster, but it's definitely you know, you
feel more prepared in a sense, like your body's gonna
be right, your mental.
Speaker 7: Your physical, you know, just everything's in order.
Speaker 6: Rather you know, at a lower school or a lower
division school, you kind of have to do a lot
of things on your own, if that makes sense.
Speaker 1: You do have to do things on your own because
you might not have all the resources. When you're at
a lower school. You might not have the financial resources
to be able to help buoy up the program like
you do. You know, you don't might not have the
donor base to help implement new maybe facilities and equipment
and things like that. And when you get to power
for a school you do, you do have access to
all of that. So Austin's right, you have to do
it kind of on your own. It's funny because rugby
it's a club sport, so I know where Austin's coming from.
Of oh, well you had, you know, lifting and maybe
some nutrition. Yeah, but that was donors. Like my coach,
I remember, Steve sent Pierre said he had to go
out and beg people, beg people for us to get
it and we got it. But like you had to
get people to invest in the program. So things just
don't come easy. They don't just give you stuff at
the P four excuse me, FCS level, it doesn't go
that way. And the club sports don't you have to
go get donations, and even at BYU donations happen. Do
you baseball facility or the ad on is being built
donation Brian Santiago the press release, go back to it donations.
I know people are waiting on, including myself, or the
smith Field House for women's volleyball to be upgraded in
women's soccer. That's crazy that they have to share a
locker room along with gymnastics. But someone's gonna have to donate.
That's just how it goes, and it's unfortunate that that's
the way it is. But there's a two part thing.
It's athletics could want to do it, but I don't
think it's necessarily athletics. I think it might be more
by us to agree because like it's interesting the nature
of it because from what I know and from what
I've heard, it doesn't sound like that it's always, you know,
gonna be on athletics hands. Like they use these facilities
on campus, but boll Used Toll owns them, so it's
like you're like renting in a way. It's like you
own the space, but like you're leasing it kind of
like I guess a timeshare. I don't know. If that's
the best analogy your way to put it. But I
know some people like, when is it going to happen? Look,
I'm waiting for it to it. Definitely a more than
deserving of it, especially these programs you know that have overachieved.
But at the end of the day, it's not always
people's decision. Anyway. I bring up that point of sometimes
you don't have the resources necessary to get the work done,
and you see that from the SCS to the FBS
level in Austin just commented on in the resources. Let's
continue on number six Austin, you guys are coming off
an emotional game and as senior day, how will you
guys react and not have an emotional letdown so you
can make sure that you get to that big teve
tititle game that you want to get to.
Speaker 6: You know, I think we're just gonna do you know
what our coaches, you know, tell us to do each
and every week, you know, flush it, get our minds
right for this new opponent. You know, don't let the
outside noise get to us or or anything. Something our
on line coach says to us all the time is
the environment changes, we don't And then he also says,
you know, we gotta have poison the noise. So just
just keeping our nose down in our heads in the
in the right headspace, and you know, we'll continue to do.
Speaker 4: What we do.
Speaker 1: I like, they gotta have poise and the noise. You
got to have poise and the noise. TJ with these bars.
Man got to interview TJ because he's got these bars
coming from left and right. But he's not wrong yet.
I poison noise. There's a lot of noise, even maybe
from US media members. Look, the college football playoff ranking
are gonna come out tonight. I guarantee Bill he's gonna
be number eleventh. Again. I don't think they're gonna move
because nobody in front of them lost really difficult. You
might have some switches, maybe above some people. Maybe you
switch organ and old miss because of how Oregon beat
USC and all misses on a buy. Maybe, but the
committee's only doing that so they can get the proper
matchups that they want at the end of the year.
I don't know. I could be completely wrong about that.
Maybe Utah drops because they play Kansas State, so well,
we'll see. But at the end of the day, BA
used to not moving from eleven. Don't think they're moving
from eleventh. Nice try not going to happen, No, sir,
right now, BYU perly committee not going to be in
Not good, Bob, not good. Really need Auburn to take
care of business and need LSU to go throttle Oklahoma.
They're not gonna throw them. But to Venables is a
very good coaching defensive mind, and need LSU to go
out there and shock the world as well. You need
Washington to beat Organ. If that were to happen, man,
it's like a guaranteed in for BYU. You Tah would
be in two. I could be wrong about that, but man,
that would be crazy. If three of the top ten
loss in last week. Don't think it's gonna happen. But
you need to Kogarnation. You can't have one. You gotta
have at least two. So you're banking on Auburn and
Alabama and then the next one that you're banking on
is that Washington knocks off Organ. Hopefully that's possible. We'll
see come this Saturday. Everybody will be tuned in. But
all you can focus on is at eleven am BYU
takes care of business. Look by the time Bou's game
is over, a lot of these other games will be
kicking off around and I need to actually go ahead
and look that up. I'm gonna look that up right
now to see what the kickoff time is for these
other games. I'm pretty sure Alabama and Auburn is gonna
be a night game. We know that college game da
in Big newon kickoff are at Michigan Ohio State, so
don't really have to worry about those. I'm pulling up
the scores right now because i just want to know
the timeline if BYU will know. So here's the top
twenty five obviously, and yeah and well no double checking,
sorry guys, bad radio looking at when it would be
be yeah, okay, so yeah, one thirty on CBS, CBS
Washington versus Oregon. So BOUS game will end beforehand, so
you'll kind of have an idea around that time because
they're in the middle. Same with LSU Oklahoma that is
gonna be one thirty on ABC, so you'll know there.
And then obviously the night game Alabama Auburn, that one
is said five thirty. So yeah, so pretty much by
the time that that Auburn Alabama game kicks Off. You'll
know if if Oklahoma's lost and if Oregon lost, and
if they both lose, BYU is for sure going in.
There's no way as bous is seventeen and a half
point favorite to beat UCF and they'll cover that, I believe.
But if Alabama and Auburn would have lose, Oh my goodness,
there's a song I can't remember. I can't remember who's already,
but she got me saying, oh my goodness, like yeah,
like you could very well be singing that song like baby,
oh my like if that would happens. So we'll find out.
We'll find out sooner rather than later. In a few
days after Black Friday. Maybe that's the Black Friday discount
that we need is to slip because Football Playoff commitee
some money and maybe the officials they'll be officiing those games.
Help Washington guys, if you're if you're doing that game,
and please slack some money to l s U and
for Auburn. That's what you need because BYU right now
and I don't think they're they're gonna get in number seven. Austin,
Let's get you out of here on this, and we
need to close out the show, talk about the experience
you had at by U. What is your time into
you Playing for Killani.
Speaker 6: B Yu has has definitely been everything that you know,
I could have dreamt of. You know, I've always wanted
to be at b YU since.
Speaker 4: I was a little kid.
Speaker 6: I grew up coming to the games and just you know,
being here has been such a surreal experience for not
only me, but for my family as well, my wife,
my two daughters, and essentially I wouldn't really be here
if it wasn't for my wife and my two kids.
Speaker 7: And I've loved every moment of being here.
Speaker 6: The coaching staff, you know, I I give a lot
of thanks to them as well, but ultimately, you know,
I have to thank my heavenly father, my wife, you know,
and my family and in our support system. But they've
gotten me to this point, and you know, I can't.
I can't take it for granted. You know, I love
BYU and you know I love my teammates. They really
are the best teammates in the world, and so you know,
they've made this these last two years a pretty magical experience.
Speaker 1: So it says his teammates is having me. Father biggest thing,
he says his wife and his two daughters. Wouldn't be
here out with his wife and his two daughters. It's
a very humble man. It's a very humble man, Austin Leusa. Look,
your family's everything. Look, families just together forever. It's a
gospel principle, right, And Austin's family sounds like they meant
a lot to him. I mean, we played the Logan
latuis sound earlier in the third hour and Logan takes
his son around on his shoulder after wins, like that's
what it means, you know. So look, yeah, maybe the
b Yu is old, you know, but they get they're
old souls too, and there's nothing wrong with being old.
So I promise you stay out of trouble as old
so I can guarante you that.
Speaker 2: Look.
Speaker 1: And I'm just gonna go back to the Yegor Dimit thing, right,
Yegor was talking about and b it on, you know,
not partying, not drinking, not smoking. In New York, everybody
wants to do it like. It's very family oriented here.
Every recruit that we've talked to that's committed to b
why you regardless of they come and signed or if
they sign play then transfer and girl else where. They
all have said family oriented Kilani's culture. That's what it
comes down to, and that's what attracts so many good players.
People want to be able to play college athletics, to
play college athalytists. People want to be able to play
their collegiate sport at the highest level. In college prepare
to get to the next highest level, the professional level,
the NFL, NBA, you know, Women's National Soccer League, the
Professional Volleyball League, go professionals, golf player, whatever it is
that they're striving to achieve and want to get development for.
They want to be able to get a high level education,
be surrounded by good people and I have distractions. Get
developed the right way. Play for a high level program
in university, that is BYU. They're going to be able
to set themselves up for a future relationships, get a degree.
Also be WHYU. I can speak on to that having
been a student. Yes, relationships and networks you have for
second to none. Some great programs top ten programs in
the country, top fifteen, top twenty, top fifty. I don't
know if it's top fifty universe. I'm actually I'm going
to retract that I don't know, but could be. I
know in the past it has been when I was
in high school, right, So you got all of that,
and then on top of that you can getting paid
Mark Rade. These players should definitely be paid too. They
putting a lot of hard work. So all of that
to say, Bau has been very attractive to people. So
we'll find out. But guys, you know, we gotta we
gotta close out the show. We gotta close out the show.
But I just want to remind you ESPN the Fan
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