When you're from Wyoming it's pretty much a guarantee when fall rolls around you'll be heading for the hills with a rifle, looking for some varmint to shoot and hang on your wall.
Brady Poppinga, a 6-3, 257-pound Evanston native (see related story on the bottom of this page), spent most of his youth doing just that, but now he spends his autumn in a different sort of hunting ground.
And he hopes to add a totally different trophy to his wall when the 2004 hunting season comes to its close.
"I hunted and fished like crazy when I was younger," Poppinga said. "Because I mean, that's all there is to do in Wyoming. Now I only hunt quarterbacks, seriously man, I hunt the guy with the ball. Wherever they are, I seek them out and bring them down."
Poppinga said one reason he got into sports when he was younger was to keep himself sane.
"The winters are so hard in Wyoming," Poppinga said. "I mean in April it is still dark and snowy. So, you have to stay indoors a lot. My dad was a rec director there so I'd go up and play basketball at the rec center. I would sign up and play baseball, soccer, whatever sport they offered, anything to keep active.
"I love tackle football," he said. "I love to hit people. When I played little league football, my dad taught me how to tackle people, so I was a step above the rest of the guys. I mean I would cream kids. I'd spear kids a lot and their parents would write to my Dad and they would say I'm not going to let my kid play if your son in on the field. I remember one game when I just clobbered a kid."
Poppinga grew up loving BYU football.
"My earliest memory of BYU was watching a game with Steve Young and Vai Sikahema playing in the snow," Poppinga said. "I said to myself, I'm going to play with those guys. I just never lost sight of that dream."
Now Poppinga is living his dream and playing with the big boys.
LEARNING FROM OTHERS
Poppinga said he models his game after several NFL linebackers. He said he studies film of Jevon Kearse, Dwight Freeney, Jason Taylor, Michael Strahan, Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher, Mike Vrabel, Derrick Thomas, Patrick Swilling, Chris Doleman and Lawrence Taylor, just to name a few.
"I mean I like to watch them play," Poppinga said. "I'm not any of those guys and they aren't me. But I like to learn a little bit from each of them. When I watch sports, I look for greatness. Like during the NBA playoffs I watched it for one reason, it is greatness. I like how they work as a team, how they come together and each takes on a specific role and they compromise their egos. It is a beautiful thing to see them come together and be great. I'll watch the Olympics because I want to see greatness."
Brady said he watches NFL games to see the way they approach the game and how they play.
"Really I'm trying to learn how to be great. So, I think if you watch enough of those who are great it helps," he said.
CHANGING POSITIONS
The Cougar defensive unit is collectively doing all they can to make this next year a memorable one.
Coach Mendenhall's defensive scheme adapts to each opposing team. Poppinga has been one of the most oft-used and most adaptable weapons in Mendenhall's arsenal.
"The roving lineman thing, that's my forte," Poppinga said. "Because I possess speed and quickness."
As a junior, Poppinga started twelve games at defensive end for the Cougars. He ranked among the conference leaders in tackles with 55 and finished seventh in the conference with six sacks.
When a couple of the projected starters at linebacker went down with injuries over the summer and during camp. Mendenhall turned to his all-conference lineman for help. As good as he was as a lineman, Poppinga is excited to learn a new position.
"Sure, I play better when I'm able to come off the line and not get attacked by three or four guys but I've done the defensive end thing because it is something I was called upon to do," he said. "Now if they want me to play linebacker I am ready to embrace that role. I look at myself as a utility tool. I feel like I could be very effective doing all sorts of things. But my ability, my real strength is speed and that rover/linebacker fits me a lot better."
Mendenhall said he loves what he is able to do with athletes like Poppinga.
"I think his strengths are just that, in that he is versatile, you know he can play as a down lineman, he can play as a linebacker, and he has enough speed to do both well," Mendenhall said. "His strengths specifically as a linebacker would be that he's more physical than most linebackers. If you ask what his weaknesses are as a defensive lineman, he's not as big as most defensive lineman, but his asset as a defensive lineman is his speed and his quickness and athleticism."
"So you're either talking about a very fast and quick and active undersized defensive lineman or you're talking about a large, physical linebacker and he can be either and so with a player like that, why not use him as both."
Poppinga said he doesn't mind switching around. He just wants to play with guys who are going to put it all on the line for the team.
PLAYING WITH 110 PERCENT
"I don't want to be part of a team or play with guys who are out there for themselves,who aren't going to put it out there on the line," Poppinga said. "If you want to play on our defense, you know you have to work your butt off. If they keep doing that then, we'll be fine."
Mendenhall said he wants players, like Poppinga, who leave it all on the field.
"If there is anything left at the end of the game then, why? To ride home on the bus?" Mendenhall said. "The idea is for there to be nothing left. And we play a tremendous amount of players per game on defense with that exact same thought process."
"If anyone is saving anything and we identify it, they just simply come out of the game," he continued. "The value of being part of this defense in playing and performing out there on the field is an honor. To be doing it sub-par or to save something for the next down is not the right mindset. It's one play at a time as hard as you can go, and Brady embraces that idea."
BEING POSITIVE
Poppinga is optimistic about this year's prospects.
"This year the linebackers are younger but I think they are going to be solid," Poppinga said. "Cameron Jensen will make a huge impact. Justin Leuttgerodt as well, it just depends on how fast he picks up the system."
Poppinga has high expectations for the defense because they've worked so hard to get in shape for this season.
"Defensively we are bar none, the most well-conditioned, well-prepared, most intense defense you will find in the country," Poppinga said. "I think Coach (Jay) Omer is the best strength coach in the country. We have the best combination of coaches. Everyone compliments what Mendenhall does. I'd say time and time again, we have the most intense, well-conditioned and most prepared defense in the country. If there is anybody better than us, show me who it is because I don't there is anybody better prepared."
He said he is excited about this year's schedule. He said he learned a lot from last year, especially after playing No. 1 USC.
"I don't look at us being that far from [USC's level]," Poppinga said. "I mean we are so close. We've just got to get over the hump this year, that's all it is. And the only way we're going to do it, is if everybody buys into what we're doing and plays for the team."
WORKING HARD
Poppinga has bought into the program and his dedication shows. He played through injuries and still performed at the highest level. Some minor back spasms kept him out of the Spring Game, but he said skipping the game was just precautionary.
"It's not that serious," Poppinga said. "There's only on thing that will stop me. You know what that is? It's death man. You'd have to shoot me. Or else I'll find a way. I come back from injuries just fine. I'm not going to let injuries bother me. I'll take care of it. I won't let it effect my play."
Coach Omer is responsible to design workouts that keep Poppinga healthy. "His work ethic is fine," Omer said. "All of the effort and work ethic and those things are there. Brady brings a special blend of aggressiveness and speed. He has gotten football stronger. He was strong enough as it was, but I think his football stuff has gotten stronger and that is what you need.
"You have to get strong and then you can build football strength. There's a difference. He's had a back injury as long as I've been here but he's done the things he had to do. He's got to keep his legs strong and if he can do that it will take the pressure off his back. He should have a great season."
PLAYING UNSELFISH
Poppinga agrees this season can be pivotal for him. But he said he plays for reasons other than himself.
"I just love football, and I don't only play for me. You know I play for the fans, for those who have taken part in my life," he said. "So, I don't play for me, I play for all those people who put up with me through high school, my teachers, my coaches, my family my friends, and I just want to go out there and show the world and them what they have accomplished through me. It is my way of saying thanks."
Poppinga said when the team loses, he feels bad for the fans because they don't deserve that.
"They make us who we are," Poppinga said. "It is an exiting, adrenaline filled intense game. It is fun to watch and be a part of, and the fans make it that way for us. I play for them. I want these fans here to know that I put it all on the line, not only for me and my teammates but for them."
"I don't care what people think of me man, I have a job to do and I'm going to do it the way I've been taught and the best I possibly can," he added. "I don't really care if people agree with it or not. You can't be too fanatical on the field. If you were a fanatical receiver you'd end up being a defensive back."
Against Notre Dame in the Cougars' home opener, Poppinga posted a career high 12 tackles, including seven solo takedowns. He also forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and was credited with three quarterback hurries.
During the first Notre Dame offensive series of the second quarter, the Irish appeared to be driving until Manaia Brown forced a fumble at the Notre Dame 49-yard line where Poppinga was there to recover the turnover.
Nearing the 10-minute mark of the third quarter, the Irish lined up on a fourth-and-two from the BYU 28-yard line. Poppinga ended the scoring threat with his first sack of the season -- a 10-yard loss for Notre Dame.
Four plays after Poppinga's sack, Berry hooked up with Collie for a 42-yard touchdown to give the Cougars a 20-3 lead with 7:47 remaining in the third quarter.
For his great play, Poppinga was rewarded with his first Mountain West Conference Defensive Player-of- the-Week citation along with teammate Matt Payne who was the special teams player-of-the-week.
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY
The Poppinga family is loaded with athletes. Poppinga's father Dennis lettered in football at BYU from 1970-71. His sister Tara played volleyball at Utah State where his brother Casey played tight end and brother Kelly plays linebacker.
Poppinga also has big dreams for the newest member of the Poppinga clan.
Jasmine Rene, Poppinga's five-week-old girl, has a soft spot in the heart of her intimidating, muscle-bound father.
Poppinga hopes that one day Jasmine will have the opportunity to participate in athletics at BYU.
THERE'S NO "ING" IN POPPINGA'S EVANSTON
Evanston, Wyoming is the hometown for Brady Poppinga, but many Utahns mispronounce the community as "Evingston."
For the record, there's no "ing" in Evanston, where Poppinga was born almost 25 years ago in the month of September.
"People say it wrong all the time," Poppinga said in reference to how many add the "ing" to the town's name. "It just doesn't sound right. It's a Utah thing for sure, but I've heard some of my relatives from other parts of the country say 'Evingston' too."
Native Utahn Willard Hirschi, a former BYU track coach, grew up calling the town across the Wyoming border as "Evingston."
"Nobody ever looked at the word, they just pronounced it how they've heard it their whole life around hear," Hirschi said.
But the only "ing" Poppinga is familiar with goes with the word "win."
Evanston may not be known for its booming metropolis, but it has gained notoriety as the firecracker capital of the West.
In the summer months, the county seat near the old Mormon trail is crowded again with people making the trek to the southwestern corner of Wyoming to smuggle fireworks back across the border.
There is another pint-sized pilgrimage that is equally as consistent, bringing a handful of Evanston natives to LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo. Thirty-three season ticket holders hail from Evanston and make the trip to Provo for each home game. Evanston, a community 99 miles northeast of LaVell Edwards Stadium, has a population of 11,507 and was plotted by and named after a railroad surveyor, James A. Evans.
Fireworks aren't the only explosive things that have come to Provo from that Wyoming community which has the Bear River flowing through the heart of town.
Brady Poppinga, the Cougars' fiery and dynamic linebacker (see story above) also comes courtesy of Evanston. With his dazzling style of play and colorful personality, he has proven to be a key ingredient of Bronco Mendenhall's deadly defensive formula.
With the Poppinga family, the firecrackers seem to come in three-packs. Brady Poppinga and his two brothers each played high school football for the Evanston Red Devils and have gone on to play Division I football in the state of Utah.
Brady has been an outspoken defensive menace at BYU, while his brothers Casey and Kelly opted to play at Utah State.
Casey, who went on to play for the Seattle Seahawks, started on the offensive side of the ball while Kelly is currently a sophomore linebacker for the Aggies. Casey played the 1996 season at the University of Wyoming before transferring to USU.
Family devotion was put to the test in 2002 on a brisk October evening when Brady and Casey, along with their corresponding teams faced off in Logan. BYU squeezed by the Aggies in that contest, but both of the Poppinga brothers said they cherished the experience. "It's not too often that you get to play against your brother at that level, it was special," Brady said.
The brothers pooled their skills to host a mini training camp in Evanston where they teach pigskin fundamentals to up-and-coming football players from all over the region.
There is a short growing season in Evanston, elevation 6,749, but as Poppinga attests, the stock that is homegrown in Evanston is hearty and knows how to win.