Where are they now? Gary Lovely

“This is Gary Lovely. I played three years at BYU from 2004-2006, winning one conference championship and making two bowl game appearances.

The current program is in very good hands. I told Justin Luettgrodt when Coach Mendenhall was hired that he would probably break all of Lavell Edwards’ records.  He is on his way with back to back conference championships, with a possible third on the way.

My favorite moment at BYU was when I scored that touchdown against Air Force. Dennis Pitta busted through the line and blocked the punt and I was able to scoop it up for the TD. I remember it because it was my first year at BYU and I was still making a name for myself.

My expectations for the rest of the season are that the team continues to work hard on and off the field. They just need to stay healthy and not try to do too much, trust in their coaches and be unselfish.  As long as that attitude is ingrained in the players that come to BYU, the talent will roll in and National Championships -here we come.

The two teams that BYU might have trouble with could be TCU and Utah. TCU has that great defene and  they can score at anytime. Utah because they are our rival. They always come to play hard and this looks like one of their best teams since 2001. Yet when I watch highlights after their games they still seem very beatable.  The “Y” will dominate the Mountain West once again, I look forward to catching them in action.

I have seen the program change dramatically. From the 2004 to the 2005 season and even further into the 2006 season. In 2004 the offense and the defense had a hard time seeing eye to eye. Neither side would hang out with one another outside of football or even in the locker room.

Then in 2005 Mendenhall changed up the locker assignments and we had offensive guys next to defensive guys, which helped the team become united.

But even after some changes were made guys still couldn’t quite get on the same page.

Then came the magical 2006 season, where everyone was buying into the system. Playing their specific role and working as a team. That team went 11-2, beating Utah and a clinching a bowl victory over Oregon. We ended the year #15 and haven’t looked back.

Go Cougars!!”