2008 BYU Cougars football team

NCAATeamSeason
Mode = football
Year=2008
Team=BYU Cougars


Conference=Mountain West Conference
ShortConference=MWC
CoachRank=8
APRank=9
BCSRank=
Record=6-0
ConfRecord=2-0
HeadCoach=Bronco Mendenhall
OffCoach=Robert Anae
DefCoach=Jaime Hill
OScheme=Spread
DScheme=3-4
StadiumArena=LaVell Edwards Stadium
Champion=
BowlTourney=
BowlTourneyResult=The 2008 BYU Cougars football team represents Brigham Young University in the 2008 college football season.

BYU has won consecutive Mountain West Conference (MWC) championship titles without losing a conference game. It has also finished with an 11-2 overall record for consecutive seasons. The Cougars have won four MWC championships since the league began in 1999 (Co-Champions with CSU and Utah in 1999, and sole Champions in 2001, 2006 and 2007), and 23 conference titles overall. Their current 18-game conference winning streak is an MWC record and dates back to November of 2005. The team also has the nation's longest overall winning streak of sixteen games, dating back to September of 2007. BYU ended last season ranked 14th in the nation in the major polls, one of its best finishes in the last two decades.

BYU has not allowed a 100 yard rusher so far this season.

BYU was selected to win the MWC according to the conference's annual media poll [ [http://www.byucougars.com/Filing.jsp?ID=10917 www.byucougars.com - Cougars Picked to Win MWC] ] .

The Cougars have made three straight post-season appearances in the Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. BYU beat the Oregon Ducks in 2006 and the UCLA Bruins in 2007. BYU lost to the California Golden Bears in the 2005 game.

BYU plays its home games at LaVell Edwards Stadium, named after its legendary coach, LaVell Edwards.

Pre-season

Spring Practice started March 17th and ended April 12th with the annual Blue/White game. [ [http://www.byucougars.com/Filing.jsp?ID=10655 www.byucougars.com - annual Blue-White spring game] ]

Fall camp began on August 1st with actual practices starting on August 4th. Camp ended August 20 with a final scrimmage. Preparation for the first game began on August 22.

BYU begins the season ranked #17 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and #16 in the AP Poll.

David Nixon and Jan Jorgensen for the defense and Max Hall and Travis Bright for the offense were chosen by their teammates as captains for the 2008 season. [ [http://www.byucougars.com/Filing.jsp?ID=11000 www.byucougars.com - David Nixon, Jan Jorgensen, Max Hall, and Travis Bright were chosen as team captains.] ]

MWC Standings

"See also 2008 Mountain West Conference football season"

Rankings

Injuries and Suspensions

Russell Tialavea (nose tackle) and David Tafuna (strong safety) are recovered from their injuries suffered during the 2007 preseason. Both Travis Bright (right guard) and Garret Reden (reserve left guard) have recovered from their broken leg injuries. Bright holds the title of the team's strongest man aka Strong Man On Campus (SMOC): he holds the football team's school record for bench press (540 pounds) from his workout this summer, and the team record for the hang clean lift (434 pounds). [ [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700249441,00.html www.deseretnews.com - Travis Bright has spoken.] ]

Terrance Hooks, a reserve inside linebacker, tore his patella tendon during Spring practice and underwent surgery the following day. [ [http://www.byucougars.com/Filing.jsp?ID=10602 www.byucougars.com - Terrance Hooks out for 2008 with torn patella tendon] ] He will miss the 2008 season and will be seeking a second medical redshirt.

In late spring, senior fullback Manase Tonga was ruled to be academically ineligible for the 2008 season, and was suspended from school. Tonga may re-apply for admission in October for the 2009 Winter Semester. [ [http://www.byucougars.com/Filing.jsp?ID=10790 www.byucougars.com - Tonga suspended - ruled academically ineligible] ]

Just prior to Fall Camp Grant Nelson, a backup for outside linebacker behind Vic So'oto, had two surgeries related to kidney problems and will miss the 2008 season. Austin Collie, starting wide receiver, had limited participation in Fall Camp while recovering from a stress facture in his lower leg. Matt Bauman, starting inside linebacker, missed the beginning of camp while he recovered from a foot injury suffered in a scooter accident.

Projected starting center, Tom Sorensen, had limited participation in camp with a shoulder problem. After attempting a moderate treatment, he opted for surgery and will miss 4 to 6 weeks to recover.

Dan Van Sweden, reserve inside linebacker, broke his leg during camp and will be out 8 to 10 weeks.

In the third week of camp, Kelly Bills, reserve fullback, quit as a player after suffering his fourth concussion, but was enthused to stay on as a graduate assistant for the team.

Starting fullback, Fui Vakapuna, missed the first game against Northern Iowa due to an academic issue which he resolved that week.

Vic So'oto, starting outside linebacker, broke his foot in the first half in the game against Washington and is expected to be out for about five to eight weeks.

Michael Reed, starting wide receiver, injured his knee in the Wyoming game and will be out for 2 to 4 weeks. He is expected to be ready for the New Mexico game.

Players' backgrounds

Because BYU is sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), many of the team members are Latter-day Saints (LDS) commonly referred to as Mormons. Because of this religious and cultural affiliation, many of the team members have served a two-year proselyting mission (often in a foreign country, speaking the native language), are married, and sometimes have children. Because of missions the average age of the team is often slightly higher than other college football teams. The effect of a mission is believed to be both an advantage and a disadvantage. It is an advantage in that the players can be either more physically developed, or more intellectually or emotionally mature. It is a disadvantage in that the player often returns from the mission grossly under-conditioned and out of practice. A player often redshirts his first year back from his mission.

Because of the long-standing ties of the LDS Church in Polynesia, many football players are also Polynesian. Bryce Mahuika, for example, is Māori, and he introduced the tradition of the team performing the Haka in 2005.

Of the players participating in 2008 fall Camp, 60 served a two-year mission and 42 speak a second language. Sixteen players speak Spanish, 12 speak Tongan, eight speak Portuguese, two speak German and one each speaks Mandarin Chinese, French, Haitian Creole and Tagolog. There are 27 of the players are married. The most recent newlywed, Dennis Pitta, married quarterback Max Hall's sister-in-law. [ [http://www.byucougars.com/Filing.jsp?ID=10951 www.byucougars.com - Sixty players served missions, of which 42 speak a second language. Twenty-seven players are married.] ]

Roster

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Recruits

Recruits joining the team this year include O'Neill Chambers and Justin Sorensen. Justin Sorensen was widely regarded as the best high school football kicker in the country last year with a record high 62 yard field goal and kickoffs that regularly go into the endzone and often through the goal posts.

Awards and citations

Outland Trophy

Senior offensive linemen, Ray Feinga and Dallas Reynolds, were named to the 2008 Outland Trophy watch list. [ [http://www.byucougars.com/Filing.jsp?ID=10691 www.byucougars.com - Ray Feinga and Dallas Reynolds named to the 2008 Outland Trophy watchlist] ] BYU boasts two previous Outland Trophy winners, defensive lineman Jason Buck (1986) and offensive lineman Mohammed Elewonibi (1989).

Rotary Lombardi Award

Junior defensive end Jan Jorgensen, junior tight end Dennis Pitta and senior offensive linemen Ray Feinga and Dallas Reynolds were all named to the preseason watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award awarded to the best lineman or linebacker in college football. [ [http://www.byucougars.com/Filing.jsp?ID=10721 www.byucougars.com - Jan Jorgensen, Dennis Pitta, Ray Feinga and Dallas Reynolds named to the 2008 Rotary Lombardi Award watchlist] ] No other team has as many candidates on this watchlist except for the University of Hawaii.

Lott Trophy

Jan Jorgensen was selected as a preseason candidate for the Lott Trophy's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. [ [http://www.byucougars.com/Filing.jsp?ID=10733 www.byucougars.com - Jan Jorgensen selected as a candidate for the Lott Trophy] ] He is one of 42 preseason candidates being considered for the award.

Bronko Nagurski Trophy

Jan Jorgensen was named to the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy which is awarded to the best defensive player in college football. [ [http://www.byucougars.com/Filing.jsp?ID=xxxxx www.byucougars.com - Jan Jorgensen on the preseason watchlist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy] ]

Ted Hendricks Award

Jan Jorgensen is also a candidate for the Ted Hendricks Award presented to the premier defensive end in college football. [ [http://www.byucougars.com/Filing.jsp?ID=10932 www.byucougars.com - Jan Jorgensen is candidate for the Ted Hendricks Award] ]

Chuck Bednarik Award

Jan Jorgensen is a candidate for the Chuck Bednarik Award.

Vincent DePaul Draddy Trophy

Jan Jorgensen is on the watch list for the Draddy Trophy.

Maxwell Award

Junior quarterback, Max Hall, was named on the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award, given to the year's best college football player. Ty Detmer won the award at BYU in 1990.

Davey O'Brien Award

Max Hall is one of thirty-one quarterbacks named to the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award watch list. [ [http://www.byucougars.com/Filing.jsp?ID=10914 www.byucougars.com - Max Hall on the watch list for the Davey O'Brien Award] ] The award honors the nation's best quarterback. Jim McMahon, Steve Young, and Ty Detmer (twice) have all won the award. Honored four times, BYU has earned more Davey O' Brien Awards than any other team.

Walter Camp Award

Max Hall was one of 35 candidates named on the watch list for the Walter Camp Award for the Player-of-the-Year. [ [http://www.byucougars.com/Filing.jsp?ID=10998 www.byucougars.com - Max Hall on the watch list for the Walter Camp Award] ] In his first year as a starter in 2007, Hall was the nation's top sophomore quarterback in terms of passing yards. On the season, he completed 298-of-496 passes for 3,848 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Heisman Memorial Trophy

Max Hall is a Heisman Trophy candidate. Ty Detmer won the Heisman at BYU in 1990.

John Mackey Award

Dennis Pitta is one of thirty tight ends named to the John Mackey Award preseason watch list. [ [http://www.byucougars.com/Filing.jsp?ID=10949 www.byucougars.com - Dennis Pitta on the watch list for the John Mackey Award] ] [ [http://www.nassausports.org/mackey/2008%20John%20Mackey%20Award%20Watch%20List.pdf www.nassausports.org - John Mackey Award watch list] ]

Fred Biletnikoff Award

Junior Austin Collie is on the watch list for the Fred Biletnikoff Award.

Dick Butkus Award

Senior outside linebacker, David Nixon, is on the watch list for the Dick Butkus Award.

Doak Walker Award

Sophomore Harvey Unga is one of 42 of the nation’s top college running backs named as a candidate for the Doak Walker Award. [ [http://www.byucougars.com/Filing.jsp?ID=11028 www.byucougars.com - Harvey Unga on the watch list for the Doak Walker Award] ] Luke Staley won the award at BYU in 2001.

All-America Team

Candidates for the All-America team are Ray Feinga, Dallas Reynolds, Jan Jorgensen, Max Hall, Harvey Unga, Dennis Pitta and Austin Collie. [ [http://www.ksl.com/?nid=294&sid=3114427 www.ksl.com - NationalChamps.net All-Americans.] ] Fifty-three BYU players have earned 59 All-America citations including 11 consensus All-Americans and 21 Academic All-America citations. [ [http://www.byucougars.com/football/history/all-american.jsp www.byucougars.com - Fifty three BYU players have earned 59 All-America citations] ] Harvey Unga earned Freshman All-America accolades last year. [ [http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/news/2007/allamerica080107.html FWAA's 2007 Freshman All-America Team] ] [ [http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=744124 Rivals.com 2007 Freshman All-America Team] ]

All-Mountain West Conference Football Team (Pre-season) [ [http://themwc.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072108aai.html themwc.cstv.com - 2008 All-Mountain West Conference Football Team (preseason picks)] ]

First Team Offense: Max Hall, Harvey Unga, Austin Collie, Dennis Pitta, Ray Feinga, and Dallas Reynolds
First Team Defense: Jan Jorgensen
Second Team Offense:
Second Team Defense:
Offensive Player of the Year: Max Hall
Honorable Mention:

External links

* [http://www.byucougars.com/football/ BYU Cougars football]
* [http://www.cougarstats.com/ Cougar Stats]
* [http://www.cougarboard.com/ Cougar Board]
* [http://deepshadesofblue.com Deep Shades of Blue (2007 BYU player)]
* [http://www.cougarblue.com/ Cougar Blue]
* [http://www.cougarlegion.com/ Cougar Legion formerly My 3 Cents]
* [http://www.bluefangroup.com/ Blue Fan Group (Garn videos)]
* [http://www.cougaroutpost.com/ Cougar Outpost]
* [http://www.cougarfan.com/teams/football/ Cougar Fan]
* [http://www.cougarchampion.com/ Cougar Champion]

Notes and references