Cougar Corner Blog
Friday, August 25, 2006
Jensen named to Butkus Award Watch List
Cameron Jensen, better known as 'The General' to Cougar fans, has been named to the watchlist for the Butkus Award, given out each year to the best Linebacker in the NCAA.
BYUCougars.com had this to say:
Jensen, who is entering his third season as a starter, has led BYU in tackles each of the past two years. Jensen tallied 84 tackles last season, including 44 unassisted take-downs and six tackles for a loss. Jensen was also second on the team with four pass break-ups and recorded one sack.
Jensen, who has also been named to the Bronko Nagurski watch list, entered Fall Camp as the only defensive player who had solidified a starting job.
UNLV's Beau Bell and TCU's Jason Phillips were the other two MWC linebackers named to the Butkus Watch List. Opponents Boston College and Tulsa also have players included in the 65-player list.
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Digg This!Monday, August 21, 2006
LaVell Edwards Stadium among best in Nation
ESPN's Jim Caple reports on some of the best College football stadiums he's ever attended.
Caple has this to say about College stadiums:
College football is superior to the NFL in almost every way, but especially in its venues. The NFL doesn't have stadiums so much as it has massive TV studios. And sitting through another TV timeout in one stadium is pretty much the same as sitting through a TV timeout in any other.
College stadiums are different. For one thing, they're old. Not in a "This dump doesn't have a Starbucks and it dares to call itself a big-time stadium?!'' way but in a "Bronko Nagurski clotheslined a running back near that goal line and Bear Bryant leaned on this goalpost" way. They're historic and distinct and as vital a part of the campus experience as a freshman gagging on a beer bong. More importantly, the college football experience is as varied as the states in which they're located. NFL stadiums are just locations. College stadiums are destinations.
Where does LaVell Edwards Stadium fall on his list? #9.
Cougar Kickoff -- Aug. 17, 2006
The BYU Cougars held their annual Cougar Kickoff on Thursday, August 17th. Fans were invited into the indoor practice facility, where they could buy old and unused athletic equipment at reduced prices. The line started backing up fully an hour before the event was to begin and by the time the doors were opened people were rushing in.
The indoor practice facility.
#85 Collie reports on the Cougars outlook for the season
#12 John Beck signs autographs for children and young women.
The cheerleaders are already in mid-season form.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Images from Cougar Practice
I was invited to attend the Monday morning practice at BYU. Not because I'm special or anything, but because it was an open practice and the whole public was invited. None the less, I took the Cougar's up on that invitation and attended practice.
I have always respected the Cougar's wishes in regards to cameras and pictures at practice, and I have never taken a picture at a Cougar practice where we were asked not to. However, I've always had my camera on hand, in case they decide to allow pictures. This practice was one of those times.
Below are some of the pictures I took, followed by two videos. You can click on each image to see a larger version.
Video:
Thursday, August 10, 2006
A Week of Practice
The Cougars have completed their first week of practice. Here's the buzz on whats been happening.
On Mackay Jacobsen:
"You see a lot of kids straight out of high school that are really cocky and they think they know everything and they're really just an average player," said tight end Daniel Coats. "But McKay came out and he wanted to learn from anybody. He was probably the hardest worker this summer, trying to learn (the offense) and just trying to become the best he can as fast as he can. We give him a lot of crap because everybody else out of Texas is like, 'Texas this and Texas that.' But he's really quiet and he makes plays. We always make fun of him like he's like that, but he's not."Taken from: Y Receiver Catching On Fast [deseretnews.com]
On BYU's Secondary:
"It's an amazing thing when you watch Kayle Buchanan, Justin Robinson, Quinn Gooch and Dustin Gabriel after a full year of being in the fire and dodging the bullets and getting hit by bullets," Mendenhall said. "Their state of readiness is completely different. They're able to set a higher standard for the new players coming in. Coach Hill is doing a fantastic job with the technical part of their game. They meet longer than any group on our team, but I think they're anxious to do that knowing that the improvement they make can help our team win."Taken from: Y Secondary Making Strides [deseretnews.com]
And...
The secondary was hands down the weak link of last year’s BYU team that finished 6-6. This fall, head coach Bronco Mendenhall likes what he’s seen through four practices, regarding attitudes and competitive level, with that unit.Taken from: Justin Robinson: 'We're Going to Start Over and Be Better' [cougarcorner.com]
The group is healthier this fall camp, which helps greatly. Better footwork, taught by new coach Jaime Hill, has also made a difference, Mendenhall added. He believes the crew has taken to heart that its improvement can aid BYU significantly.
And...
A junior college transfer, Criddle worked with the first-team defense during Wednesday's 11-on-11 limited contact scrimmage. He had the hit of the day, causing a fumble by running back Curtis Brown.Taken from: BYU Notes: Walk-on CB getting noticed with physical play [sltrib.com]
BYU Deep Snapper, Ineligable:
BYU's intended player at that position, Matt Johnson, did not qualify academically, coach Bronco Mendenhall said after Wednesday's practice. Johnson earned a scholarship out of Southern California's Citrus College for the sole purpose of snapping the football in kicking and punt situations.Taken from: Cougars Lose Snapper to Acedemic Ineligibility [sltrib.com]
Cougars Running Attack:
"We have great running backs," Mendenhall said. "Fui Vakapuna is one of the best players I've been around, very physical, very fast. Manase Tonga is extremely physical, coming back with experience from last year. I'm very excited about a young player coming up, Harvey Unga. Ray Hudson is also a player with open field potential. Then kind of tying the entire group together is Joe Semanoff, [who] stepped up in a role against New Mexico and helped us win one of the most critical games of the year."Taken from: BYU football's running attack boasts depth, talent and experience [newsnet.byu.edu]
Cougar Practice Reports:
After position-specific drills, the Cougars lined up for run-defense drills. The defensive line and linebackers had their first opportunity to hit in a three-quarters speed drill. Contact was limited as players weren't allowed to tackle. In the running drill, the defensive line and linebackers held the running game in check.Taken from: Practice Report: Cougars Making Improvement [byucougars.com]
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
A BYU Homer
I often read BYU Football Bulletin Boards. For the last several months there have been an influx of new fans who consider themselves "realists." These realists see the Cougars with a pessimistic attitude, definitely a glass is half-empty kind of group. Because they typically sign their posts with "IMA REALIST" as if a claim to realism gives them more credibility, others have begun signing their posts "IMA HOMER." In fact, one person posted this image of Homer Simpson, which I then copied and photoshopped to show Homer's true blue life. I hope you enjoy!
Monday, August 07, 2006
Cougars Kick Off Fall Practice
The Cougars officially kicked off fall practice friday, August 4th. Two-a-days begin on Aug. 11. There will be 29 total practices scheduled before the season-opener. Practices at 10am on Aug. 14, 16, 18 and 21 will be open to the public.
Notes from Practice
The first unit for defensive drills was sophomore Kyle Luekenga, senior Hala Paongo and freshman Jan Jorgensen on the line; senior Cameron Jensen and juniors Markell Staffieri, Kehl and Chris Bolden at linebacker; Gabriel and junior Quinn Gooch at safety and senior Justin Robinson and junior Kayle Buchanan at corner. ... the first unit on the offensive line was junior Sete Aulai at center, senior Jake Kuresa and sophomore Ray Feinga at guards and sophomore Dallas Reynolds and senior Eddie Keele at tackles.And this item from the Deseret News
Taken from Camp Cougar: Odds and Ends[cougarblue.com]
"We have a high-powered offense that's capable of doing a lot of great things. I think as an offensive unit, we plan to build on last year," said senior running back Curtis Brown. "We didn't score enough points last year. We want to go out there this year and just blow teams away . . . We won't settle for second place anymore. We won't settle for a loss in a bowl game. The expectations are for greatness and the plan is to have an undefeated season, go to a bowl game and win."This item as reported by BYU NewsNet.
Taken from Great Expectations [deseretnews.com]
"College practices are a little bit more organized," Jacobson said. "I was really fortunate in high school to have a really good coach that could have been a college coach. Obviously the preparation of watching film, we do a little bit more of that."From BYUCougars.com
Taken from, BYU Football Starts Fall Camp [newsnet.byu.edu]
"I think today was a successful first practice," BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "Our players played with more confidence than they did on the first day of camp last year and it showed with a higher level of execution."
Taken from, BYU Holds First Practice of Fall Camp [byucougars.com]