Getting to know the BYU team…

During a players career you spend almost every moment with one another. You are in meetings, practices, classes and wards with one another. During those years you learn to appreciate your teammates on different levels. Some guys you get along with and some you don’t, but you are first and foremost teammates.

Here are a few things I remember about some of my teammates that are still on the team.

Brandon Bradley #5- He always addressed me as “Pops”, and still does to this day. -To some players I was affectionately referred to as Grandpa. A nickname given to me my Markell Staffeari and Cameron Jensen.- Brandon also is an encyclopedia of rap songs. He knows them all and is constantly singing them.

Austin Collie #9- Austin is extremely strong. I can remember when he first showed up as a freshman and I was a year or so off of my mission and he was lifting with his brother Zac. I was astounded at the weights he was lifting. In all honesty I was jealous.

Shawn Doman #42- Doman is a quiet guy, but is also very sarcastic and funny. He is also one of those “wedge buster” guys that I talked about in the previous post. In the Air Force game a few years ago, Shawn and I think Andrew Stacey took out two or three cadets that where in the wedge, but they themselves didn’t return unscathed. I think both were temporarily knocked out.

Ian Dulan #77- I have always thought of him as a quiet guy, but the more I got to know him the more character came out. He is also artistically gifted. He could always be counted on for a good t-shirt design.

Kellen Fowler #16- Kellen is one of the most intelligent people on the BYU campus. The kid is S-M-A-R-T, I can’t think of anyone who could carry his academic jock strap.

Brenden Gaskins #6- I called Brenden “Walle” because he looked like a Walle to me. He in-turn called me powder -due to my snowy white complexion. I always appreciated the way Brenden interacted with the team. He is naturally charismatic and easy to talk to.

Brandon Howard #4- Brandon is a great young man, and a phenomenal dancer. He does an amazing Micheal Jackson. During camp when he was a freshman, he had a talent for dozing off in meetings. He would strategically position his body so Coach Hill couldn’t see and then lean forward with his chin in his hand for support, then it was lights out. A savvy move for a freshman, normally they simply can’t help themselves. After being caught a couple of times he turned into a model student and was always quick to answer questions.

Russel Tialavea #52- In the locker room we have ping pong tables, which are always full whether it is right before practice, meetings or class. Russ is probably the best ping pong player on the team. Well….he and Bryce Mahuika might share the title, but Russ is smooth with the ping pong paddle.

Rick Wolfley #71- Rick is a cowboy at heart. During the 2007 football camp Rick actually took care a horse during two-a-days. He would practice in the morning, go out and feed and water his horse, and than come back for the next practice. I was amazed that he found the time, but he did.

Those are just a few of the things I remember from some of my former teammates that are still playing. The players I have come to know are so diverse and if there is one thing I can say about the bunch it would be: The BYU teams really do set themselves apart from other teams both because of their athletic abilities but also because of their future capabilities. The team is filled with bright, motivated and successful people that will prove their worth not only on the field but within their own communities, wards, stakes and families. Bronco’s job truly is like no other college coach’s in the nation.