BYU's first two games live up to billing of September


Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

PROVO — A highly anticipated schedule coming into the season has lived up to the hype over the first two weeks.

"The first two games have been the most fun in both my coaching and playing career," BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae said.

BYU is getting lots of national attention from playing on the big stage on national television. Couple that with a true freshman quarterback who has led the Cougars to dramatic victories in each of his first two career games, and there is understandably some buzz in the air in Provo. For his efforts, Tanner Mangum has garnered national notoriety, including inclusion on early season Heisman Trophy watch lists.

The first two weeks could not have turned out better, but the excitement surrounding the program brings its own set of distractions. One for this week will not be getting too caught up about playing in another historic stadium, "the granddaddy of them all."

"I don't think too much about the venue," wide receiver Devon Blackmon said. "I'll probably live in the moment once I get there (the Rose Bowl), but right now I don't think about it."

That being said, it's hard not to get excited about the opportunity that lies ahead.

"I never thought I would ever play in the Rose Bowl," wide receiver Terenn Houk said. "When they announced we would be playing at UCLA my senior year, it became one of the games I looked forward to most."

"This will be really good. I'm really excited about this game," BYU receivers coach Guy Holliday said.

Not only is the team excited to be making the trip to Pasadena, but it is also eager to show what it is capable of after another week of practice with Mangum under center.

Photo: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

"It's really nice to have him in practice because we're able to develop that chemistry," Houk said. "I think that's the biggest thing. Before, he just got thrown in the game and we just had to do it. Now that we have actual reps with him, we can develop chemistry and see what he's seeing during film. It definitely helps."

Anae knows he is just scratching the surface of Mangum's potential.

"We are just starting out tapping into his (Mangum's) skill-set," Anae said. "In my opinion, this is Week 2 for the offense. It's like we're starting again with a whole different emphasis."

Anae was also complimentary of the abilities his quarterback has shown thus far.

"He's very accurate and poised," Anae said. "I believe Tanner's ability to create off the original play is one skill not every quarterback has."

The new Cougar gunslinger has shown he can throw it, and his calm demeanor in pressure moments is keeping his teammates levelheaded.

"It keeps the offense in the game," Houk said. "We never want to hang our heads or get down when there is a bad play or a momentum shift. He always keeps us thinking about the next drive. He has a great attitude."

On a lighthearted note, Mangum isn't the only one keeping the team loose on game day. BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall has designated Blackmon as the team's official DJ.

"He (Mendenhall) gave me the privilege of choosing the music, and so far it's been good," Blackmon said. "I just try to play music that's going to wake the team up and get us ready to do something. Half the battle is just waking your mind up."

Having a talented quarterback under center and a motivating beat over the speakers has to be a good combination so far for the Cougars. Blake Dorton is a student at BYU studying broadcast journalism and French. Blake hopes to pursue a career in sports broadcasting following his graduation. Follow on Twitter @BlakeDorton.

Related stories

Most recent Sports stories

Related topics

SportsBYU Cougars
Blake Dorton

    ARE YOU GAME?

    From first downs to buzzer beaters, get KSL.com’s top sports stories delivered to your inbox weekly.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast