Y. offensive line needs a nickname
Dick Harmon
But the week after BYU's offense rushed for more than 300 and passed for nearly 400 yards against Air Force, it is hard to place a label on these guys. Except maybe "effective." Saturday marked the first time in 16 years that a Cougar offense produced a 300-300 game, dating back to a 70-31 win over Utah in Provo.
Offensive coordinator Robert Anae said he'd leave such identification up to offensive line coach Jeff Grimes. And Grimes said he's always called offensive linemen "the hogs," or "the big hogs up front," a generic group name he's always used in the business. Quarterback John Beck couldn't think of anything, although he praised them. Same with halfback Curtis Brown, who did say they could be called a beast of some kind, plural usage, of course.
Junior tackle Jake Kuresa, whom Beck calls the "Cache Valley Killer," said he didn't have anything to offer, although he'd welcome suggestions and have the team vote on the top five. Kuresa then joked he's nicknamed freshman Terrance Brown "Safety" because when shooting rabbits this past summer, he always left the safety on.
To this day, Sanders is nicknamed "Lunch Room," or "Lunch" for short.
After Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry said BYU's linemen were typical Cougars, 30 years old and 400 pounds, Sanders cracked up his teammates in the third quarter last week when, exhausted, he sat on the bench and said, "I'm one tired, 30-year-old 400-pounder."
When asked what was something he'd most like to see, he replied: "My ribs." Going off this, perhaps the Cougar offensive line could be called "The Cafeteria." The regulars average 23.2 years of age and all are over 300 pounds.
Two of the big surprises are mission-bound Terrance Brown and Dallas Reynolds, who was on a mission to Seattle last winter. Anae said the 6-4, 345-pound Reynolds has stepped in and is driving would-be tacklers. "He's got a nasty streak in him. Nice guy off the field, but on the field, he can move people around."
Regardless of labels, this group is the best BYU has fielded since 2001, the protectors and blockers of Brandon Doman and Luke Staley. They've got depth, they are big, motivated, confident and genuinely like one another. They certainly have shown chemistry. And with the exception of Sanders, tackle Eddie Keele (senior) and Brown (mission bound), if center Lance Reynolds is granted a medical hardship year — they all return next season.
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