Logan coach "not sure" who initiated Nelson saga
I called Logan football coach Mike Favero this afternoon, hoping he could shed some light on the situation that has dominated sports talk radio shows and captured newspaper headlines around Utah the past two days.
I didn't get much.
Favero coached Riley Nelson, the quarterback who is transferring from Utah State to BYU when he returns home from his LDS Church mission to Spain, when Nelson played at Logan High, just down the road from USU.
Let's just say the affable coach was a lot more talkative when Nelson was setting all those records for the Grizzlies.
I asked the question a lot of people have asked me since the story broke on Memorial Day. Did BYU initiate the contact with Riley, or did Riley's family contact BYU?
"I'm not sure," Favero said.
I told him that Riley's father, Keith, has said in various interviews that Favero told the family of BYU's interest a few months ago after Favero talked with BYU receivers coach Patrick Higgins, who recruits the area for the Cougars. Is Mr. Nelson's account accurate?
"Sure, you bet," he said.
So did the BYU coach bring up Nelson first, or did Favero mention him first?
"I don't even remember," he said. "A number of people have asked about Riley."
As readers of this blog are well aware, college recruiters are beating a path to Logan High again because the Favero has another dandy at quarterback, 6-foot-4 senior-to-be Jeff Manning. Certainly, BYU has its eye on Manning, too.
Favero then said that he has had " a lot" of college coaches from "a number of schools" ask about Nelson since he's been on his mission which, ironically, began before Nelson turned 19 so he would be home in time for USU's spring camp in March of 2009.
"And it wasn't always BYU," Favero said. "I had a number of schools, a number of people, a number of football fans ask about Riley.....I've been asked many times how he was doing and what his plans were. I've said the same thing the whole time: I'm not sure."
Favero said the only communication he has had with Riley is a congratulatory letter that Riley sent after the Grizzlies won the 3A state championship last fall.
I asked Favero if it was common for college coaches to ask about guys who are in other college programs.
"When you are as decorated as Riley Nelson was as a high school player, a lot of people ask," he said.
Like I said, I didn't get much.
I didn't get much.
Favero coached Riley Nelson, the quarterback who is transferring from Utah State to BYU when he returns home from his LDS Church mission to Spain, when Nelson played at Logan High, just down the road from USU.
Let's just say the affable coach was a lot more talkative when Nelson was setting all those records for the Grizzlies.
I asked the question a lot of people have asked me since the story broke on Memorial Day. Did BYU initiate the contact with Riley, or did Riley's family contact BYU?
"I'm not sure," Favero said.
I told him that Riley's father, Keith, has said in various interviews that Favero told the family of BYU's interest a few months ago after Favero talked with BYU receivers coach Patrick Higgins, who recruits the area for the Cougars. Is Mr. Nelson's account accurate?
"Sure, you bet," he said.
So did the BYU coach bring up Nelson first, or did Favero mention him first?
"I don't even remember," he said. "A number of people have asked about Riley."
As readers of this blog are well aware, college recruiters are beating a path to Logan High again because the Favero has another dandy at quarterback, 6-foot-4 senior-to-be Jeff Manning. Certainly, BYU has its eye on Manning, too.
Favero then said that he has had " a lot" of college coaches from "a number of schools" ask about Nelson since he's been on his mission which, ironically, began before Nelson turned 19 so he would be home in time for USU's spring camp in March of 2009.
"And it wasn't always BYU," Favero said. "I had a number of schools, a number of people, a number of football fans ask about Riley.....I've been asked many times how he was doing and what his plans were. I've said the same thing the whole time: I'm not sure."
Favero said the only communication he has had with Riley is a congratulatory letter that Riley sent after the Grizzlies won the 3A state championship last fall.
I asked Favero if it was common for college coaches to ask about guys who are in other college programs.
"When you are as decorated as Riley Nelson was as a high school player, a lot of people ask," he said.
Like I said, I didn't get much.
6 Comments:
Nice investigative work Jay. You really need to get to the bottom of this. It just isn't right. Contacting Nelson must be illegal and someone must be held accountable. The young man signed with USU and he should be made to play there. And he should not spend even one minute on his mission thinking about his future. If you don't resolve this, who will?
PLEASE ... WHO CARES! New topic please!
jim: You represent the BYU mentality well.
"Don't go digging for the truth!! Even though it may exonerate BYU, there is a chance it will condemn our behavior! Burn the witch, burn the witch!"
Athletes who leave on missions are re-recruitable. Unless BYU contacted Nelson or his family during a "dead period," there is no violation. As an Idaho State fan, I've seen some of our mission athletes poached by other schools -- Justin Jones who was taken by Utah State, for example. It's one reason why some coaches are hesitatnt to take mission athletes -- you essentially have to recruit them twice.
I agree with UteThunder. We need to get to the bottom of this once and for all. Stop what you're doing, Jay, and do whatever you have to do to find out who initiated contact. This question needs to be answered.
I don't care if you have to take the red-eye to Barcelona tonight to talk to Riley himself- you find out. Literally dozens of Ute fans need to know, and they need to hold us accountable.
As far as us Cougar fans, I know I wouldn't be able to ever walk into LaVell Edwards Stadium with a clear conscience ever again unless I know for certain that Bronco Mendenhall doesn't speak to missionaries.
Give me a break.
Jay, you haven't completed the Riley Nelson investigation and now you have one more - a kid on a mission in New York who had signed to play for UNLV - has just announced he will return to BYU. He will arrive in the Fall. Your investigation of "who knew what when" needs to be completed before Congressional hearings can be scheduled. Get moving!
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