Football season is here! As I arrived early for practice on Friday, it was so exciting to see the yard-lines painted on the grass, to see the tackling dummies ready to go, and to just take in the college football atmosphere. I could tell that my excitement was certainly shared by the players as they took the field jumping, yelling, and chomping at the bit.
It didn't take long to see that this was going to be a high-energy practice. The players went after there work with intensity, and on a few occasions emotions began to boil over. More than once Coach Crowton reminded them that this was not a scrimmage and that although he appreciated their intensity, he didn't want anyone to get hurt. It was clear that the Cougars are looking forward to the season when they can share that intensity with their opponents.
I've enjoyed watching how the coaches teach the players more than anything else that I've seen at the open practices. It's interesting to see how practice is broken down to the most basic fundamentals. Coach Crowton and Coach Bradford were both very animated on Friday as they stressed the importance of precise route running to the wide receivers. Coach Grimes showed his linemen how to attack block from the appropriate angles to prevent the defender from peeling off and making the tackle. These are just a few of the many examples that I saw which illustrate how the coaches teach the players the importance of doing the little things correctly.
As always, Coach Mendenhall had the defense going full bore. The energy that the defense shows on the practice field is contagious. It had me wanting to get out there and hit someone. The defense seemed to take particular pleasure out of a drill that is patterned after sumo wrestling. Two players enter a large circle on the field, bow to each other, and stomp each foot to get ready. They then attack each other and try to force the other guy out of the circle. When it's over, Coach Mendenhall names a winner as the other players hoop and holler for their teammates. This sumo drill truly had everything but the oversized diapers and it was fun to watch.
As practice came to a close, the offense and defense went against each other in drills. It is clear that the program has added some exciting players through their recruiting efforts. Some highlights from Friday's drills included a great one-handed grab by Daniel Coats and, as has become his custom, a deep ball to Todd Watkins.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the practices that I have been able to attend and would like to take this opportunity to thank Coach Crowton and the administration for allowing us to get a glimpse inside a Division-1 college football camp. Go Cougars!!
Robb Garner is a Cougar Club member who comes to the BYU games (and practices) from his home in Lehi, Utah.