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PROVO — BYU's football team prepares for the annual Senior Day gala this week. And while certain members of the 2013 senior class will stand out at different times, it is the group as a whole that players will think of when they contemplate their time playing at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
"I'm grateful to play with the players on our team," said linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who will end a storied home career Saturday against Idaho State. "Last year, we had a great group of seniors; I felt like I've played for them forever. This year is the same thing. I'm glad I could go out with these ones."
Some Cougar seniors have spent more time in the program than others. While Van Noy played four straight years of football since arriving in 2010, defensive lineman Eathyn Manumaleuna was a freshman on the 2007 squad and defensive back Mike Hague began his career as a fullback in 2006.
"I've been around a long time, so I think it's time to come to an end," Hague said. "I'm glad I have one more opportunity here to play a final game (at Edwards Stadium) with this team."
Hague's career nearly ended last year, but a last-minute petition to the NCAA gained the sixth-year senior an extra season of eligibility to eventually help boost BYU's depleted secondary.
The struggles with injuries has made Hague's career even more meaningful as he prepares to hang up his cleats for good following this season.
"I decided a while ago with what I've physically gone through that I wouldn't continue my football career," he said. "I'm accepting that, emotionally."
The newly instituted Cougar Walk, playing in a stadium many have dreamed of since they were eight years old, and standing out on the road in historic venues from California to South Bend, IN., were among the highlights of this year's seniors.
Of course, individual highlights also made the list. "The San Diego State game my freshman year was huge," said Van Noy, who compiled five tackles, a tackle for loss and a sack in that game. "There were a lot of (future) NFL players on that team. Being able to beat that team, and the way we did it after our start was pretty memorable."
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Even though this weekend's game features an FCS opponent sandwiched between road trips to Wisconsin and Notre Dame, defensive coordinator Nick Howell refuses to take the Bengals lightly.
"We just want to get better," Howell said. "We want this game to springboard us to the next game. We're going into battle. You don't get many opportunities, and it doesn't matter who you play. We have to play this game."
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One area where the Cougars will have to improve on defense is tackling. BYU made several misses on Wisconsin's rushers, and practice has been filled with improving on those fundamentals.
"Practices after a loss aren't fun," Van Noy said. "You can always tackle better, every game. As a team, collectively, we can all tackle better."
Missed tackles were a key contributor to the loss, Howell said.
"When they broke free, we didn't do a good job," he added. "The two things that cost us that game: we missed our run fits, and we didn't tackle."
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Former basketball center Bronson Kaufusi has been keeping an eye on the Cougar hoopsters during the 2-0 start, although the defensive lineman from Timpview High School wouldn't commit to suiting up for coach Dave Rose's team — yet.
"It's still football season, and so we'll wait to after," Kaufusi said. "We're all focused right now on football, especially me. I'm just waiting."
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You can listen to post-practice audio from Nick Howell, Bronson Kaufusi, Kyle Van Noy and Mike Hague clicking on the link in "Cougar Cuts," above left.
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Sean Walker is KSL Newsradio BYU intern.
