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PROVO — As the BYU football team gets set to take on Nebraska this weekend, players and coaches continue to talk about one thing that stands out with this year's team: leadership.
"I think everybody can be a leader," offensive coordinator Robert Anae said. "Taysom is the captain. He's the formal leader of the team, and he's outstanding in that role. But if you're a senior, you're a leader on this team. There are a lot of other guys that are giving our team great leadership besides Taysom Hill."
Inside linebackers coach Paul Tidwell believes leadership starts with the coaches.
"The first thing that comes to my mind is leadership. We've got great leadership," he said. "That starts with the offseason, and our strength coach has done a great job of building and teaching that. He's got a great staff with him, and they've done a great job in the spring and summer of building that leadership, camaraderie and chemistry with the team."
In addition to Hill on offense, the team will look to the defense, including newly named defensive captain Bronson Kaufusi, for answers in the early going.
"The front seven is definitely where the strength is," linebacker Jherremya Leuta-Douyere said. "There are a lot of guys who played last year, especially on the defensive line and linebackers. I feel it's where everyone is looking for leadership to build off of our energy."
Tidwell has seen how leadership has helped the team bond and grow closer together.
I think everybody can be a leader. Taysom is the captain. He's the formal leader of the team, and he's outstanding in that role. But if you're a senior, you're a leader on this team. There are a lot of other guys that are giving our team great leadership besides Taysom Hill.
–BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae
"The thing that I'm personally most encouraged about is the chemistry of the team on defense and offense," he said. "The chemistry of the team seems really good and really high. It seems that they like each other and are having fun."
Perhaps the tight-knit atmosphere will help less-experienced players find the confidence to step into bigger roles.
"They (the newcomers) know what they're doing," Leuta-Douyere said. "They just haven't had as much experience as the other guys, but they're capable of making plays just like the other guys."
Leadership, coupled with team chemistry, are crucial intangibles that could help the 2015 Cougars push through the inevitable ups and downs of college football.
"We've made that (overcoming adversity) an anthem to train the young men to overcome hardship, battle and keep going," Anae said. "Now, will it unfold perfectly? I doubt it. These are people; these are amateurs. There's a whole gamut of possible outcomes, but I'm not too concerned with outcomes. I'm more interested in the process, and then we'll see where we are after this first game and take the next step forward. We have no fear of failure. That's who we've trained ourselves to be." Blake Dorton is a student at BYU studying broadcast journalism and French. He hopes to pursue a career in sports broadcasting following his graduation.
