LAS VEGAS – Head Coach made his first appearance at Big 12 football media days on Wednesday, so naturally the spotlight fell on the Colorado Buffaloes’ second-year leader at Allegiant Stadium.
Hordes of reporters covered Deion Sanders’ every moveevery statement, and the bold and brash former NFL star delivered plenty of coveted catchphrases to reward your interest.
Aside from the usual gaggle of television, radio, website and print reporters who cover BYU sports, not much attention was paid over the two days to the Cougars — who were picked to finish 13th in the 16-team league in 2024 and They have done little to distinguish themselves as newcomers in 2023.
Still, many coaches and players from the league’s other 15 programs were willing to talk about BYU, particularly University of Utah quarterback Cam Rising, whose comments tuesday were well publicized. Others were notably more respectful, including Sanders himself, who praised BYU head coach Kalani Sitake during an appearance on BYUtv.
“At the Big 12 meetings (earlier this year), just sitting next to him, he was so welcoming, man, and so kind,” Sanders said. “He’s a big guy too. So he’s intimidating. But he’s one of the best guys ever. And the spirit he has lit up the room.
“I love it because BYU is in good hands. This man loves the program and not only loves the kids but also the game,” Sanders continued.
BYU and Colorado will not face each other in 2024.
But the Cougars and Oklahoma State Cowboys will have a rematch of that thriller that the No. 21 Pokes won 40-34 in double overtime last November in Stillwater, and OSU coach Mike Gundy said he is already looking forward to playing and train at LaVell Edwards Stadium. for the first time.
“On the plane ride here, the players we brought talked about playing in new facilities and new places, and they’re excited about playing in Provo,” Gundy said. “So this is a fun part of college football and we’re excited to play two games in the mountains (BYU and Colorado).”
Gundy said he has been to BYU before, but has never coached or witnessed a game in the LES.
When BYU was being considered for Big 12 membership in early September 2021, Gundy was in favor of adding the Cougars saying “from coast to coast, people view BYU as a Power Five team.”
On Tuesday, he said BYU showed last year in close losses to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State that it will only be a matter of time before the Cougars find their footing in the new league.
“Kalani is an excellent coach and he will figure this out,” Gundy said.
BYU hosts OSU on October 18, a Friday.
Cowboys running back Ollie Gordon II, who rushed for five touchdowns and 166 yards against BYU last November, also drew a lot of attention at media days because he attended the event despite being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in 30 of June.
Gordon, the reigning Doak Walker Award winner, said he has “heard a lot” about the atmosphere at BYU games and is eager to see for himself, but is not looking forward to playing at high altitudes. The stadium in Provo is 4,630 feet above sea level and the air is thinner.
“Yeah, it’s kind of hard to breathe up there,” Gordon said. “But I feel like we’ll be fine. We’ll bring these little oxygen tanks with us.”
One of the league’s other top running backs, Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks, got experience playing at BYU last year when the Red Raiders lost 27-14 to BYU. Brooks ran for 101 yards on 30 carries and said his breathing was difficult because he had asthma.
“BYU has a great team and it was fun. Salute to those guys – they won the game,” Brooks said. “We just didn’t come to play this game. I remember it was a great environment. I love playing in the grass, for sure. Grass feels better on your feet, on your ankles. It was a great spot.”
BYU replaced its 15-year-old grass surface with new grass this spring, and the field is ready to go; Unfortunately, Texas Tech and BYU will not face each other this season in Lubbock or Provo, Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire noted.
He learned a lesson from Provo that he will never forget.
“I absolutely love that place. It’s like when they come to us, they feel the same way. It’s a university town. It’s a great atmosphere,” McGuire said, recalling some changes in technology that were caused, in part, by crowd noise.
“If I start as a freshman quarterback, I don’t want to get the ball on the student section end (south end),” he said. “Because when we fumbled the second time, it was probably the loudest I had ever heard in a stadium, before that disaster. Having a freshman having to deal with that was difficult enough. It’s such a good atmosphere. Big, big fan of playing there.”
Some Big 12 players who had a much better experience at LES — Iowa State defensive back Beau Freyler and Cyclones defensive lineman J.R. Singleton — said the scene was unforgettable and the 45-13 victory even sweeter. .
“The mountains and the altitude and everything reminded me of home,” said Freyler, who is from Colorado Springs, Colo., and is familiar with BYU’s reputation as a college football powerhouse in the Rocky Mountain region.
“It’s a tough transition, especially when you’re playing against new teams, learning their schemes, their style, how to play in their stadiums,” Freyler said. “It’s a totally new experience and I think success only comes with time. BYU will be fine.”
Singleton added: “I noticed the crowd there at BYU is electric. I’m not going to lie – they were also a pretty respectful crowd. Compared to, say, Iowa or places like that. It was a really cool experience.”
