BYU run game going through 'Hurdling Hine,' offensive line


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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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 — Adam Hine didn't plan to run for a career-high 149 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries in BYU's 24-23 loss at UCLA.

It just kind of happened — and if you ask him, it wasn't even his doing.

"Our O-line had a great push and that opened up the run game, which in turn opened up the pass," Hine said after practice Wednesday. "It's a pity with all the little things we could've done better to possibly win the game. But overall, I think we got better from the week before and we'll be better this week."

Hine has powered the run game from a stagnant early season effort even in the absence of former top running back Algie Brown, who offensive coordinator Robert Anae said missed most of the week's early practices and will be a game-time decision whether to play Saturday at 10 a.m. MDT at Michigan.

But if Hine keeps running like he did against the Bruins, BYU isn't worried.

"It was awesome. The only way to open the pass game is through the run game," BYU wide receiver Terenn Houk said. "That lets us get open and make plays. We always want to have a guy who can run the ball."

One of Hine's highlights was a second-half hurdle over a UCLA defender, sparking remembrances of the former Utah state high jump champion's track days.

When he saw a chance to see if he still had the old high school jumper's legs, he had to take it, he said.

"They were going low on a lot of hits, so I decided to go up and over one time. It ended up working out," Hine said. "They were going for my knees, and I prefer to bang with them up high. But if they go low, I'll go up and over.

"It's tough; I surprised myself a little bit. I've still got it a little, though."

But the senior running back who was listed atop the Cougars' depth chart Monday is jumping in more than the field events now, though. He's gained 40 pounds since high school, and the most jumping he does is jumping out of bed to tend to a crying newborn daughter with his wife Cassidy in the middle of the night.

"It's been great, though. It's brought a lot of joy to my wife and I," Hine said. "We've been working in tandem together a lot more.

"Getting up in the middle of the night, holding the baby, frustrated — and then once you see her, you smile and get happy. It's a great change; we love it."

BYU's trip to Michigan Stadium is also a "great change," though one that involves the Cougars shaking off the loss to the Bruins and performing on the big stage in front of a national audience on ABC.

"It's an awesome experience to think that these are places you dream of as a little kid," Houk said of the Big House. "I never would've thought I'd play there."

Listen to complete interviews with Hine and Houk in the "Cougar Cuts" section below.

Related stories

Most recent Sports stories

Related topics

SportsBYU Cougars
Sean Walker

    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