Football: Talking 'D' with Andersen
I know a lot of you are panicked about the defensive line and the lack of experience and depth in that area. I finally caught up with defensive coordinator Gary Andersen to get his take on it.
First of all, he told me he is going to move Greg Newman inside and leave Koa Misi outside. He is also hopeful that Keni Kaufusi (6-2, 275-pounds) out of Cottonwood High will be here in August and contend for a spot along with Dave Kruger. Kaufusi, if you remember, was thought to be headed to a junior college before he made up several needed credits through BYU's independent study program to become academically eligible.
"I'm fairly positive Keni can come in and compete as a freshman," Andersen said. "He is very strong and athletic and has done an outstanding job getting himself ready academically. We've got two young guys who can walk in there and play as freshmen."
There is another possibility too with El Camino defensive end Folau Tui'one (6-4, 255-pounds) telling JCGridiron.com that he will join the Utes in August. Tui'one prepped at Leuzinger High in California then served a two-year mission in Panama before playing for El Camino.
However, since Utah has maxed out its 25-limit scholarship, he'll have to join as a walk-on. Unfortunately I couldn't get Andersen's take on him since he hasn't signed with the Utes so coaches can't discuss him, but I'm sure Andersen welcomes as many bodies on the line as he can get.
If Tui'one does make it to Salt Lake City he'll join another El Camino product in Lamar Chapman, a defensive back who signed with the Utes in February.
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I see Tuesday's post generated quite a few comments. Just to make it clear, I'm questioning the role mission presidents could knowingly or unknowingly have in the recruitment of athletes. Wondering about such things and how more and more aggressive recruiting could affect athletes on missions and the programs interested in them doesn't make me anti-LDS by any means.
First of all, he told me he is going to move Greg Newman inside and leave Koa Misi outside. He is also hopeful that Keni Kaufusi (6-2, 275-pounds) out of Cottonwood High will be here in August and contend for a spot along with Dave Kruger. Kaufusi, if you remember, was thought to be headed to a junior college before he made up several needed credits through BYU's independent study program to become academically eligible.
"I'm fairly positive Keni can come in and compete as a freshman," Andersen said. "He is very strong and athletic and has done an outstanding job getting himself ready academically. We've got two young guys who can walk in there and play as freshmen."
There is another possibility too with El Camino defensive end Folau Tui'one (6-4, 255-pounds) telling JCGridiron.com that he will join the Utes in August. Tui'one prepped at Leuzinger High in California then served a two-year mission in Panama before playing for El Camino.
However, since Utah has maxed out its 25-limit scholarship, he'll have to join as a walk-on. Unfortunately I couldn't get Andersen's take on him since he hasn't signed with the Utes so coaches can't discuss him, but I'm sure Andersen welcomes as many bodies on the line as he can get.
If Tui'one does make it to Salt Lake City he'll join another El Camino product in Lamar Chapman, a defensive back who signed with the Utes in February.
******
I see Tuesday's post generated quite a few comments. Just to make it clear, I'm questioning the role mission presidents could knowingly or unknowingly have in the recruitment of athletes. Wondering about such things and how more and more aggressive recruiting could affect athletes on missions and the programs interested in them doesn't make me anti-LDS by any means.
11:04 AM
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9 Comments:
But the thing is they didn't use up all their schollie allotments. They had a lesser amount of schollies to give due to numbers already in the program. However with the loss of Wiley, Filiaga, Jordan Nelson, and possibly La Peterson, Utah has a few schollies to still dole out.
"Wondering about such things and how more and more aggressive recruiting could affect athletes on missions and the programs interested in them doesn't make me anti-LDS by any means." ...
No. It doesn't ... but i think you could wonder about them in a less insulting tone.
For instance, just the other day i was wondering if you would use your blog as a forum to question the ethics of the Mormon church. Of course, you'd never do that ... i just wondering if you would.
One of the key points in this case is that parents, not the school contacted the mission president. I imagine this would be far more important than which school was offering a scholarship.
Many missionaries take a little time to apply for college or for scholarships. It is encouraged to be kept to a minimum, but certainly families of non-football players have asked to get in touch with their sons or daughters and been given permission to make those post-mission plans when necessary.
I'm not surprised a few people found it insulting to casually wonder if the Big Bad Church is going to use it great influence to grant special access to BYU to recruit any athletes serving missions for them.
What has happened has far more to do with the relationship between the missionary, his family, and the president, than the particular school ... be it BYU, Utah, or Nebraska.
Basically, I'd expect direct contact from any school to be received about the same by any president ... 'why are you bothering my missionary?'
I would expect having a father call and say 'President, we've been in touch with a school X. They would like to talk to our son, and we'd like them to be able to talk to them. Can he write them an email?' would be far less likely to be problematic for a mission president to deal with.
For the record ... the mission president in question is not a graduate of the U or BYU, or any Utah college. He is not even from Utah. To insinuate that or "wonder" if he or really any other mission president would try to influence kids to attend BYU to improve the football team looks like nothing more than a gratuitous cheap shot at the LDS church and BYU on the Ute Blog.
Greg and Uncle completely mis-read the last post. I understand exactly what you were posing Lya.
You two should take of the rose colored glasses and re-read the story. It had nothing to do with Riley in that section. Just a hypothetical thought. You zealots need to relax.
Xanthis: Here's the quote I am responding to "Just to make it clear, I'm questioning the role mission presidents could knowingly or unknowingly have in the recruitment of athletes." Please put your reading glasses on (I will take off my "rose" colored glasses) and let me know where I missed the point. Again, questioning the role of mission presidents (Riley's or any other) is just ignorant. Ok, I am taking my rose colored glasses off again.
As a Ute fan and Mormon I submit that this "zealot" finger pointing has more to do with BYU fans general inability to tolerate any critical perspective what-so-ever. So far as I'm concerned the "hypothetical" is possible. Is the fball program not an extension of the mission effort? I would ask you to provide one example where a Mission President has denied access when a BYU coach comes calling. If they did, the Pres would get a friendly tap on the shoulder and be asked to reconsider. Not acknowledging the connection between BYU's "reach" and the church/mission field is pretty deep seeded denial. Just ask the Bishop that was overruled in the BYU baseball player eligibility issue. The church would be better off to shut this kind of worldly conversation down when elders are supposed to be "serving"!
Well said Gils. I couldn't agree more.
As for the defensive line, I am nervous it could be the downfall of the team this year. The offense should be good and so should the secondary and linebackers. Hopefully Anderson can work some magic upfront.
Uncle that quote you just used said nothing in it that was anti-LDS or a shot at the church did it. What if the mission president was a Ute fan and influenced the kid to go to the Utes? That quote didn't have a lick of anti-lds sentiment at all.
Like David Locke says, "Its amazing when you are a fan, you all of a sudden can't read."
We're not talking about the Mormon Church, we're talking about BYU football. These are two distinct entities. The BYU football team and its fans does not represent the LDS Church as a whole, even though it thinks it does. It represents a small number of church members.
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