"It was a full house against Notre Dame, the season opener and all the fans were screaming," said senior tight end Jonny Harline. "It was awesome. I was nervous about how it was going to turn out, but once the game started nothing was different. You just go out there and catch the ball."
That was the 2004 season opener and the first college football game for Harline, a 6-foot-4, 238-pound senior from Orem.
In his first season as a Cougar he saw most of his playing time on the special teams. Harline followed up that first year at BYU with one of the best seasons a tight end has had at BYU in many years. He was named team receiver of the year, just the beginning of his accolades from the 2005 season.
The road to BYU
Harline prepped in BYU's backyard at Orem High School. He grew up playing basketball but in ninth grade was persuaded to play football.
"I had played basketball since I was in seventh grade," said Harline. "Some friends wanted me to come out and play tight end and receiver so I tried out."
By the time he started his senior year of high school, he was known as one of the top athletes in the state of Utah, earning first-team selections in both football and basketball. During Harline's senior year at Orem the football team made it to the state playoffs, appearing in the quarterfinals, and the Tiger basketball team placed second in the state tournament.
"Jonny was an amazing high school athlete," said Erik Freeman, who grew up down the street from Harline and was his high school football teammate. "He was all-state in basketball, and we were both all-state in football."
The college football table was set for Harline. Ricks College had offered him a scholarship to play football for them in what would be their last season. After Harline played in the Utah state all-star basketball game the Ricks basketball coach asked him to play hoops at Ricks after football season was over.
"I was really excited to go to Ricks and play football and basketball there," said Harline. "In the second-to-last football game I tore my ACL. By then BYU had offered me a scholarship to play football so I came down here that winter and that was the end of my basketball career."
Harline spent one season in junior college football and was a first-team All-Region 18 selection as a freshman. He led the league with over 20 yards per reception and had eight touchdowns on the season.
"Jonny was by far the best player on the team at Ricks, which normally doesn't happen to someone straight out of high school," said Freeman, who was also Harline's teammate at Ricks and now at BYU. "He got offers straight out of Ricks because he was amazing."
Career as a Cougar
During his first season at BYU Harline saw time on special teams and spent most of that year learning the tight end position. Just before the 2004 season started he returned from serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New York City.
"The first year at BYU was tough," said Harline. "I think my body was recovering from the mission, and it just took a little time to get back into it. My body just needed some time to recover from the mission physically. I just kept working harder and harder."
Harline's second season as a Cougar was one of the best for any tight end in BYU history. He ended up being the leading receiver on the team with 63 catches and amassed five touchdowns on the season. His first TD grab came at South Bend against the Fighting Irish.
"That was a cool feeling," said Harline. "It was the sixth game of the year, and I had a bunch of catches already. To have my first touchdown at Notre Dame on live television was awesome. I really don't know how to describe it."
Dubbed his breakout year, Harline impressed the coaches, teammates and fans every time he stepped on the field during the 2005 season. He was a first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection and the Nassau County Sports Commission named him the John Mackey Tight End of the Week for his play against New Mexico when he caught 10 passes for 123 yards.
Fans know Harline by his signature acrobatic catches and never give up attitude. Defenses know Harline as a tough competitor and a potent threat on offense. Coaches know Harline as a tireless worker and a team leader.
"Jonny is just a great athlete," said senior wide receiver Nate Meikle. "He's got great coordination and a lot of speed for his size. He is one of the best athletes on the team."
Harline Off the Field
Harline was a focused boy growing up. His mom said she had trouble getting him to go do errands with her because if he was busy with something he wouldn't get up and leave it. Harline loved sports. In Idaho, where he lived when he was a boy, Harline and his older brother would play sports everyday with their friends.
"Jonny was intense and competitive with whoever he played against," said Paula, Harline's mother. "Whether he was playing in a youth league, with friends in the backyard or even against me he hated to lose."
From the time Harline was five his mother and him would play a game called "invisible basketball." Harline made the game up, so he set the rules and determined what happened on each play. Not only did Harline decide when he scored, how much and who won the game, he was so competitive that Paula never remembers scoring a point.
"Harline has always been the same guy off the field as he is on," said Freeman. "Ever since we've played together before our missions at Orem High and Ricks and even after our missions at BYU, he has always been quiet, humble and just did his job without attracting too much attention."
Poetry in motion
As Harline has gotten older, the player he has become is reflective of the type of person that he is. Growing up, he traveled with his parents a lot because of his dad's work as a history professor at BYU.
"Jonny was a very poetic person growing up," said Paula. "I think he became that way because of the trips we took as a family. He became a graceful player on the football field and on the court. Watching him play basketball or catch a football in a game was visual poetry to me because he is so naturally athletic."
It was no surprise to Harline's mom that he decided to be an English major because of his interest in poetry as a boy. After his playing days at BYU are over he hopes he has the opportunity to continue to play football, but if not his English major holds many options for him.
Future plans
As the 2006 season draws to a close Harline continues to focus on simply doing his job. Harline leads the team in touchdown receptions and total receiving yards and is second on the team in receptions.
"We still have a lot to do," said Harline. "From a big road win verses a ranked opponent to all the individual stats, there is still a lot that we want to accomplish this season."