Hey Austin, only " half bad " ? Don't sell yourself short. With a little work and clean living maybe you can be" two thirds bad " or " three quarters bad " by the start of the season. Set your hopes high, man ! Who knows how bad you could be as the season progresses... go for it !

hmmm...Collie as Quarterback? Talk about a scary threat for defensive coordinators. From what I have seen, Collie's got a pretty good arm, and we all know that he has the quicks and impressive athleticism of an all around playmaker. I think that this is a very smart move on the side of the coaching staff. Austin can improve his ability to more readily read the coverage, and improve his ability to improvise on broken plays. Plus this will definately set a spark that will ignite a motivational spark in backup quarterbacks.

I can't help but smile about the possibility of some impressive improvisational outcomes if Austin can pick up the Quarterback position quickly. He won't make a full transition obviously, unless Max gets hurt, but wow...think about popping him in their every now and again to mix things up. A whole new field of magic opens up!

Man, I can't wait until August 30th! Blue through and through!! Go Cougs!

Wow wide receiver Austin Collie will take on an additional role: backup quarterback. Scary very scary.. Also funny very funny.
How about Max Hall on the rotation for starting reciver. Or even O'Neill Chambers for nose gard.

What ever will help them get to a BCS game right?/?

Can he throw a pass to himself? Now that would be great!

Better get a transfer guy in...fast!! What happened to the guy we stole from USU?

Have heard nothing but praise about the backups all camp long. How Kurt is catching up to Gaskins, how they're improving, and all the sudden they're getting demoted behind a receiver? Did they really stink it up that bad at the end of camp or is Bronco liking the options that a quarterback like Covey gives us and sees that Collie could run some of those option plays and he just doesn't want to come out and tell other teams that we're developing a new wrinkle in the offense?

This worries me. During camp it sounded like Gaskins and Mcuen (sp)were doing pretty well until they had the last scrimmage. It seems Gaskins being pushed wasn't a result of excellence but of mediocrity.

Gaucho Ute makes no sense. Maybe he needs to go back to math class.

If you are NOT half bad, it means you are more than 50% good. So as he continues to work on things, collie will be NOT 2/3rds bad or NOT 3/4 bad which will make him even better.

Remember the simple math (and english) rule that you learn in grade school Gaucho, two negatives make a positive.

Maybe a little clean living on your part will dry out your brain and help you think clearer.

Nice, Bronco. Wonder what it feels like to have your coach publicly downplay your abilities. Sorry backup QB's. Perhaps that's supposed to be motivational.

...any team that can manage to contain this BYU offense. Assuming there are no crippling injuries, which will always be unpredictable, I see a lot of defensive coordinators up and sweating all night before they face the Y.

My guess is that Austin doesn't see more than 5-6 direct snaps all year, but those could be for touchdowns every time they happen if implemented well!

GO COUGS!!

Oh, and cute comment, Graucho Ute. You win the witty contest today!

I doubt Collie will ever play QB. The last time he played QB was age 10 as a non-throwing option QB and the coaches think he has a chance to do better than our other QB's who've had some pretty good success playing that position for the past several years? Maybe this offense is so loaded and ready to go that the coaches are just having a little fun experimenting with things.

Here's what I'd like to see happen:
1) Let Collie's leg continue to heal by not playing him in the N. Iowa game. We're not really going to need him for that one.

2) Don't actually try to have him play QB.

Having Austin play quarterback is about having a neat little trick play up our sleeve. This will translate into running the option a few times but I also bet a reverse side screen pass would be in order. And factually, the back-ups are doing a pretty good job with the first team. We have known that for two years now. It wasn't the quarterbacks that were stinking it up it was the rest of the backups; not running the right routes, the right blocking schemes, missing assignments, etc. When these two quarterbacks run the first team rotation they consistently throw touchdowns, avoid interceptions and move the ball quite well.

It will be exciting to see what kind of goofy plays they come up with. I just hope they don't try the Gary Crowton option play every 5th play. If they do Austin Collie has a much bigger frame to handle the hits.

Go BYU!

It just seems counter to everything the Anae offense has done. There are no gimmicks. Consistency is the key. Knowing your role and executing it. Why put Collie back there? Why try to develop someone who hasn't played QB since the age of 10.

Do we really think that they will pop him in now and again? I just don't see it. So far the Anae offense hasn't really done things like that. Crowton... yeah, but Anae... no. Who knows maybe this is part of its maturity.

My guess is that this is only a message to the backup QBs and that Collie will cease working with them very soon. They will give him enough time to make him a better receiver for it and also light a fire under the other QBs, and then they will move him back.

I just don't see too many trick plays on the horizon.

Next time we play Utah, maybe he can do a Collie pass to himself for the game winning touchdown! That's what I call a trick play!

Pony Mendenhall does not really understand football does he?

Oh and BYU fans, team is about as deep as a puddle.
It is depth that separates the championship teams from the 3+ loss teams.

Ute fans should look at this article and laugh.
Utah is two deep at every position but O-line.

Go Utes!!!

Sounds like Bronco is trying to take a page out of his big brother Urban's playbook. Looks like the Kewgs are in big trouble if Hall goes down.

ha ha ha this is hilarious collie at QB lets hope your guys max hall does not go downn or it is overr!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought BYU students were supposed to follow an honor code that included no facial hair?

Bronco is so smart he realizes that good execution might just not be enough for their bigger goals. Good execution will crush the Mountain West opponents. But when it comes to the BCS title game against better talent, the Cougars will need something else. Something special, some extra "magic" and lets be honest, who makes "magic happen" better than Austin Collie?

It worked for Boise State against Okalahoma....

Mendenhall doesn't understand football? Hmmm....that's an interesting comment. I'm sure your almighty wisdom on the matter is unmatched. Just wait for November...Cougs are gonna crush your little Utes on their own turf...again.

So much for building up confidence in your other quarterbacks. I know ------- Let's bring Nelsonwho BYU recruited from his mission and USU and bring him home early. After all football is more important that a mission. I don't care how you cut it, BYU's recruiting is as down and dirty as the rest of the universities. It doesn't matter what kind of a "sell job" BM puts on it.

This information about Callie was probably best not made public.

I can't believe this information was made public. So much for building up the confidence of your backup quarterbacks.

I know. Let's bring Nelson who BYU recruiting from USU and the mission field and bring him home early. Mission is not important when a quarterback is on the line. I don't care what kind of spin BM puts on this. Unfortunately with BM I don't think what you see is what you get.

Rich, "It is depth that separates the championship teams from the 3+loss teams." You are correct. Championship teams like BYU and 3+ loss teams like Utah. "Utah is two deep at every position but O-line." That would worry me if I were a Ute fan. No depth in the O-line; hmmm, see you at the Humanitarium Bowl.

When a head coach said there was a big drop off from first string on, that is a very big deal. The 2nd and 3rd are not nearly the caliber as Max. My question is why is all this coming up now?? Just doesn't make sense, these guys were basically told you're done. If that is the case, better start looking down the JC line for next year. Bronco really needs to evaluate what BYU is doing in recruiting future QB's because this never should of happened to a top D1 program. Some one really droped the ball. There is no way a guy can come in like Collie and be an effective backup QB NO WAY! Good D1 QB's have been at this stuff for most of their lives. What JC QB's are out there who could come in, in the next couple of years?

Bronco not know football? Come on. You're going to have to try harder than that. You're stuck with Wittingham so live with it. And given two months it's probably 50/50 that we beat you with our two deeps. Is Kyle dressing enough players that you have a two deep roster now? Or are they dressing themselves? You should worry about your one deeps actually covering someone, as I remember. I guess we'll see about this two deep thing in next couple years, won't we? You do know this is the last year with Urban's recruits living off of the 2004 season, right? Does anyone else sense a sinking ship? There's still time for you to bandwagon over to something else. Or are you staying loyal to the U for the girls sports? They almost saved you in the Duel Cup. Check it out sometime. It's hilarious.

To crush the utes in November.

The good thing a JC guy brings is starting (game time) experience. That helps in the ramp up time maybe a good idea.

Hmmm, that's funny, I seem to remember that '06 game featuring a heavily favored coug team needing a miracle finish.... Not exactly what I would call cougs "crush(ing)" the Utes.
This is pretty funny, though. I mean, I appreciate the comment Dave, but bronco isn't copying Urban; he's copying Kyle. Doesn't this situation remind you a lot of Eric Weddle's role on our '06 team? Well, keep on trying boys- if you copy us enough, maybe you'll start coming a little closer to accomplishing what the Utes did four years ago... though even if the mighty cougs ever make it to the BCS, I wouldn't be surprised if they pull a Hawaii and get blown out.

Just ask every mediocre MWC opponent the U has lost to the past three years. Wittingham understands football better than Bronco.

The better question is how Bronco gets into these top ten coaches on the rise polls without understanding football. Amazing!

Or maybe.... Rich doesn't understand football.

Let me explain it to you. Let's say that you have 4th and 18 in the final minutes, the opposing team has a sophomore QB, and you're playing defense. You should definitely NOT leave their starting receiver wide open at the fifty yard line. Maybe bring a little heat or something. Especially if you lost to a similar prayer last year. Basic defensive principals.

Let's face it Rich. The biggest difference between the U and the Y the past two years hasn't been talent, its been coaching. Bronco knows what he's doing. Not sure about Wittingham.

Watch out! I hear UNLV is stacked this year!

I am so impressed with the way BYU fans predict the future. Ok, give Collie the ball and let's find out what the facts are. Folks, every time the television camera is on Mendenhall, he has that look on his face that conveys the question "what do I do now." It is the BYU fan who turns his every statement and action into a prophetic utterance. Face it folks, it is not Mendenhall working what you perceive to be magic but rather the talented assistants with whom he has surrounded himself. THAT is Mendenhall's magic...smoke and mirrors for adoring and gullible BYU faithful.

As with any organization, turning Collie into part-time quarterback was likely the Offensive Coordinator's idea (borrowed from Utah's playbook). Mendenhall simply approved the idea and delivered the message to the media. As always, BYU fans will take it from there. Well done!

Here's a prediction for you...given the vote of confidence that Mendenhall has PUBLICLY expressed in his back-up quarterbacks (nice work coach, sound principles on which to build a team), I predict both quarterbacks will be playing for someone else next year!

Comments welcome...

I think its great that Collie is being asked to play backup QB. Collie is the magicman of BYU. I would love to see him run all over the yewts.

Here we go!! Start making stuff up now for reasons we didn't win it all. Nice P.R. job Bronco. Hey at our school our guy gets hurt and we just throw in a guy that use to start in the SEC. Have fun being the big fish in little pond.

Weddle, Louk, when they came into the games, the other teams defense needs to be prepared for it, another thing to prepare for during the week, another thing to discuss in meetings, another thing to think of during the games.

Teams from pee-wee football do it, so unless your saying Urban and Kyle steal from pee-wee teams...

Just another distraction to the opposing team. Adds unpredictability.

Was that you or your horse (Rich) talking? Bronco is the champion stallion. I seem to remember Eric Weddle taking on more than defense. A gifted athlete such as Collie could play any skill position.

In this hyped season, and the wind fall that could result from pulling it off, yeah, find a way to put your best players in position to score. Even if is but one game. As I said in this blog last year, put Collie a QB, he has a cannon arm. No, not he nickle dime 7-10 yd pick'em apart stuff. I am talkin 30-40 yards down the side line ON A ROPE!
Just the kind of stuff that Chambers needs!

Next, lets get four down linemen in the pass rush. Take the pressure off Jan, and lets lead the nation in sacks. Never mind the GREEN coverage!

Ok BYU fans, you have all been brainwashed into thinking Austin Collie can actually do something more than catch a football. He hasn't played since age 10? Are you serious? He says he ran a lot of option when he played QB? WOW!!! That must have been an amazing offense Austin ran in order to become a potential backup at BYU. I bet he excecuted all three plays of 8-10 year old offense perfectly. That is not called an option offense Austin. It is called run play one, two, or three. Don't try and sell BYU fans on your amazing QB skills based on 3 plays you ran during your first year of pee-wee football. It is obvious BYU is looking for an Eric Weddle but they won't find him. Because unlike BYU the U recruits real athletes.

I am a huge Cougar fan but this is just not sitting right with me in every way. First, there is absolutely NO WAY the Cougs are actually looking at grooming Collie as a QB. As badly as the backups have apparently done the last week or so, they all can run an offense light years better than Collie could - I don't care what kind of athlete he is! This is about trying to motivate the backup QBs but I don't like how Mendenhall is doing it. Move Covey to #2 if it will light some fire under the other two. And what happened to the great start these guys had to fall camp? They must have REALLY fallen off lately to warrant this. And this motivational plow is only taking Collie away from finishing his rehab, getting back into top shape, and running routes. If this were about putting in a trick play or two Mendenhall would not be ripping his backup QBs in the process. And actually, Collie is not blindingly fast if we are looking for a trick play from behind center. Everything about this stinks - and may just start breeding negativity among players.

funny realist you guys recurit athletes, and we recruit football players

Insted of Fourth and 18 or Harline's still open it can be "Collie to Collie for the Touchdown!"

Congratulations to the cougar bashers that stay up until the wee hours of the morning to get in their licks. What do you do the next day? Sleep on the job, and dream about things that will never be. To the cougar fans, remember nobody kicks a dead dog.

Gotta vent a bit more - I know that Bronco is pushing this team to be something special and calling out players publically is something he has really started to do this fall camp. It seems to have lit a fire under Fui and hopefully will under Dulan but I am worried about what he is doing with the backup QBs. It is such a position based on confidence and he is publically ripping them big time. And just as troubling - why is he throwing our top and one of the best receivers in the nation - who needs to get back into shape and rythm - into this motivational nonsense? I love Mendenhall as much as anyone but I'm afraid this will backfire both on our backup QBs AND our top receiver. This can be a special season - motivate each kid to become their best but things are getting too public and criticial.

Great article...but it's pathetic that yewt fans (both of them) insist on reading and whining about BYU...SCOREBOARD!

P.S. UNLV sends their love...and WYO is gonna give some accountability of their own this year.

I saw Austin throw a wide receiver reverse option in high school. It was the prettiest spiral you ever saw.

It seems like some fans are getting bent out of shape that this ploy by Mendenhall is being criticized. The head football coach at BYU is not a general authority. It's not like your criticizing your Bishop. You won't get hauled before your stake high council for voicing displeasure. Mendenhall has upped his criticism of players this summer. He has to carry the same public scrutiny and to me this is not a good way to motivate some young kids doing their best at the backup QB spots. Maybe the Stripling Warriors speech behind closed doors would be better? Or if that has lost it's effect maybe something like - "hey men, turn with me 1 Nephi 2:15 - "And my father dwelt in a tent" and you will dwell your rears on the bench your entire career at BYU if you don't get it in gear!" I don't know, I'm reaching here but I'm afraid this one will hurt the Qbs and Collie.

To "BYU fans are the best" you are talking out of both sides of your mouth. First its don't give any credit to Bronco because his assistants are the ones doing everything; but then you blame Bronco for everything that goes wrong. Or should I say, might go wrong? Well, which is it? If you are going to blame Bronco for what might go wrong, then you also have to credit him for what has gone right. Of course if he were such a bad coach, then Utah fans wouldn't even care about what happens at BYU. As it is, Utah fans can't seem to get enough of BYU. By the way, can't wait to see the triple reverse again this year Utah. There's some coaching for ya.

This is a bad move for Pony Mendenhall to be authorizing. BYU has invested EVERYTHING into two players, and have promised their fans a BCS bid while they are at it.

First- Playing QB in the NCAA is not something that someone can learn in a couple weeks, Utah snapped the ball to weddle a couple years ago, but that was because Weddle was going to RUN the ball, they did not rely on a SS to throw them out of tough situtations.

Second, I never hope that a college player gets hurt,but the teams they are playing are hitting hard, and knowing that their best wide receiver is going to back up the QB does not send a message that I would want other teams to hear. BYU has a target the size of Alaska on their backs.
Still, I hope that no injuries come to any players on BYU, Utah or any other team for that matter.

BYU has not recruited for the future, and bronco is showing what kind of future BYU is going to have with HIS recruits.
Not such a bright future for BYU football.

I love those of you who point out that Donko is doing this to "throw other teams defenses off". Your logic doesn't make a whole lot of sense, if he were trying to throw other defenses off, why would he go to the press to write a story about the way in which he would throw defenses off? Wouldn't he try to keep it hush hush. I am guessing that after 17 days of training camp the media has just run out of things to write about.

"Uh hey Joe Glenn, this is Kyle Whittingham, just thought I would let you know so you can prepare. We are now planning to run a triple reverse to throw you off."

I love what Bronco is doing to give his best athletes the exposure they need to help the team. Adam Timo Snow Canyon yesterday ran for 198 yds. as thier starting QB. He was a running back last year. The cougars are in for a treat next year when he comes in.

Is there anything better than a Cougar player or coach that rankles the yewts...I think not.

Triple reverse? Oooh, another play from Utah's play book! Historically BYU fans have called them gimic plays that BYU would never stoop to. Now, it seems they are well liked - how nice. Typical BYU fan behavior but nice that you support your team!

After reading your post, my argument remains unchanged. To explain (again) I give credit to the assistants for the work they have done. I did not blame Bronco for "everything that goes wrong" as you suggest; he trashed his back-up quarterbacks in the media. Was it, or was it not, Mendenhall who made the comment about the quarterbacks?? This is a factual point that I believe your agitated emotional state has caused you to overlook.

Further, I do not buy into the Bronco "teaches principles of life" touted by so many BYU football fans either. This latest faux pas is yet another prime example of what a coach should not do, and oh yea, how about recruiting kids without providing an adequate understanding of the "honor code" so they get kicked out of school.

I reference the two "what is Bronco doing" posts written by one your own. Again, comments welcome (especially from "Fully Invested"...it's entertaining!)