"If it's worth doing then it's worth doing right."
This is a principle that was instilled in BYU outside linebacker Bryan Kehl at a very early age by his father Gary. Kehl continues to apply this within all aspects of his life, including school, family and football.
BALANCING THE SCHOOL LOAD
The 6-foot-3, 231-pound senior from Salt Lake City first came to BYU after earning academic recognition at Brighton High School with a 4.0 grade-point average. An economics major, Kehl has continued his academic success at the collegiate level, earning Academic All-Mountain West Conference honors for the past two years.
Balancing football and academics is something Kehl is continually working towards. He recognizes the importance of taking his education seriously.
"There's no point in coasting and going through the motions," Kehl says. "If I'm going to go to class and get a degree, I might as well do it right and get something out of my education. I appreciate the actual learning part of education and making myself cultured, distinguished and diverse in my knowledge base."
LESSONS LEARNED AT HOME
Gary and Nancy Kehl adopted Bryan through LDS Family Services when he was only two days old. He was the third of six children adopted into the family and is the eighth oldest out of nine. Three of the adopted children are of mixed race, including Bryan.
"There's a mixture of when people arrived, how old we are and what color we are," he says. "We're just one big happy family."
From a young age Bryan demonstrated characteristics that would prove useful later in life. Gary fondly recalls a particular fishing trip to Canada during which a young Bryan caught a 53-lb. king salmon weighing almost as much as him.
"He pulled that thing in faster than anyone else did all day," remembers Gary.
Whether it was on fishing trips or starting out in little league football, when Bryan earned the nickname "Flash", Gary is proud to say that his son has always been a hard worker.
"I've always told Bryan that he can accomplish anything he wants to in this life as long as he is willing to put in the extra effort and work harder than everyone else," Gary says.
Kehl remembers scoring his first touchdown when he was 10 years old and hopes that his hard work and determination this season will mimic the same result.
"A big hole opened up off to the right tackle," he recalls. "The safety tried to bring me down by grabbing my facemask, and I stiff-armed him. As he fell down I raced for a 60-yard touchdown. That was an amazing feeling. I need to repeat that this year and get in the end zone."
When it came time to decide which college to attend, Kehl followed in the footsteps of his two older brothers, Ed and Brandon, who also played football for the Cougars.
"I was a BYU fan before either of them came here," he explains. "But after they played here that really solidified the decision for me. It wasn't really a choice at all; that was the destiny. It was a decision that was already made."
Healthy competition has always come naturally for the Kehl brothers, whether over a game of chess or numbers recorded on the stat sheet. Bryan feels up to the challenge.
"I have big shoes to fill and big steps to follow," he says. "My dad and my brothers have been my greatest influences when it comes to football. My brothers set the example and led the way before."
Kehl attributes many of his successes, not solely those football-related, to his parents and is appreciative of the lessons they taught him beginning at a young age.
"My parents were really good at teaching us that you take care of yourself spiritually, physically, academically and in all aspects of your life," says Kehl. "We're down here to serve each other. What I've really learned in life is that the ultimate reason that we're here is to help each other, strengthen each other, uplift each other and to be a support and of service to our fellow men."
Growing up biracial with white parents prompted curiosity from others, and Kehl was frequently faced with the question, "What are you?"
"I think it's fun to be unique and good to be different," he says. "That's what makes the world an exciting place. I'm glad I grew up that way and have the viewpoint that I do, being different in a place where the vast majority of people are a certain ethnicity."
Similar to his own family, the 2007 BYU football team is composed of a variety of players from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, including 9 African Americans and 18 Polynesians on the current roster. Embracing diversity is one thing Kehl believes has brought the Cougars success in the past.
"Despite our differences, the team is able to band together as a group of brothers," says Kehl. "That's what makes us successful. It's important for us to reach across ethnic or religious barriers and come together as a team. If we can do that this year, like we did last year, we'll be successful."
TURNING POINT FOR THE PROGRAM
The day was Oct. 8, 2005 in Albuquerque, N.M., and the BYU Cougar football team was attempting to claw its way back from a five-point deficit with less than three minutes remaining in the game. Junior quarterback John Beck led the Cougars on a five-play, 80-yard drive that ended with the Cougars taking a three-point lead, resulting in the game winning score of 27-24.
"We were up against the wall and had nowhere to turn," recalls Kehl. "If we lost that game we would have fallen to 1-4 and people would have written us off as another terrible season. I remember going into the locker room after that game and being on top of the world. That's really when our program turned around and got heading in the right direction. Being a part of that was something special."
BYU went on to lose only five of its next 20 games and closed the 2006 season with an 11-2 record, a lopsided victory against Oregon in the Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl and a No. 15 national ranking.
RAISED EXPECTATIONS
Upon being asked what his expectations are for the team this year, Kehl responds with one simple word, "High."
In 2006 Kehl played an active role on a BYU defense that ranked 10th nationally
in scoring defense, allowing just 14.7 points per game, and a defense that ranked fourth in the nation in turnover margin (1.08). He also earned honorable-mention all-conference honors. Despite the success and recognition, Kehl feels there is room for improvement.
"That bar's been raised," Kehl says. "We want more. Last year we executed at a great level, played with phenomenal effort and had success."
The start of the 2006 season started out dismal with two close losses to Arizona and a ranked Boston College. Hopes are that this year the team starts out strong.
"We started a little slow and lost to two teams I felt we were better than," shares Kehl. "That's the way football goes. Two plays away from being undefeated last year. Two plays from going to a BCS bowl game in January. So those are our goals this year. We're going to do what it takes to go undefeated, to win the conference, to win every game at home and play at a bowl game on the national level in January."
At the start of his senior season Kehl was chosen by his teammates to serve as one of four team captains for 2007. He is grateful for this opportunity to lead and understands the magnitude of this responsibility.
"As you get called to be a captain, you're a senior and a starter," Kehl says.
"You have to step up and lead by example. You have to lead with word when people are down, spirits are down and energy is low. You have to be that source that people look to, both on and off the field."
Not only does Kehl expect more from his team this season, but he also has high expectations for himself.
"I spent my offseason getting excited for the season and trying to get bigger, faster and stronger," says Kehl. "I watched more film than I have in the past. I really want to take my game forward with that type of studying."
After recording three sacks in 2006 he hopes to step up and raise that number into the double figures.
"I can't miss any plays," says Kehl. "I want to hustle every time I'm on the field and play every play like it's my last. I want to do everything I can off the field, in the film room, the classroom and at church to prepare myself to be the best help that I can be for my team."
At the conclusion of this season Kehl has hopes of continuing to play professionally but also has other goals in mind for the future.
"Hopefully there will be a family starting somewhere in there," he says. "Someday I hope to be a successful husband, father and businessman. The number one thing is just to be happy."
BRYAN'S BIGGEST FAN
Gary Kehl is proud to say that he has
never missed a single game that his son
Bryan has played in. No matter where he
is in the stadium he makes sure his son
knows he is there to offer support.
"I have a whistle that drives people
crazy," says Gary. "It's a particular
whistle that [Bryan] can hear from
anywhere in the stands, even with
65,000 screaming fans."
Bryan and his two brothers, who also
played at BYU, Ed and Brandon, can
distinguish their father's whistle and
interpret what it means in each
particular circumstance.
"After a really good play it usually
means, 'You're doing good,'" says Gary.
"Otherwise I'm trying to tell them,
'Come on, pick it up and step to the
next level.' All of my sons have told
me that it means a lot to them."
Bryan says that his father has always
been supportive of his football career
and offers encouragement often.
"My dad has been an influence on me
because he gives me the expectations
and the goals to shoot for and provides
the motivation,"
says Bryan. "A lot of the reasons why
I play football are because of him."
Kehls Who Have Donned Cougar Blue:
Bryan Kehl, Linebacker 2002,2005-2007
Brandon Kehl, Defensive Back 1997
Ed Kehl, Defensive End 1995-1998