BYU’s Highs and Lows for 2016

As a BYU football fan, I like to consider myself as a part of the BYU football family. As we are heading into the Christmas Holiday and College Football bowl season, I thought we could talk as families do around this time of year. Let’s keep this civil as we are about to chat about […]

The post BYU’s Highs and Lows for 2016 appeared first on TornBySports.

As a BYU football fan, I like to consider myself as a part of the BYU football family. As we are heading into the Christmas Holiday and College Football bowl season, I thought we could talk as families do around this time of year. Let’s keep this civil as we are about to chat about how the inaugural Kalani Sitake year went.

Nick Wagner, Nick Wagner

2016 was a season that had us experience a full range of emotions. Some of the events were predictable and some of them were very unfortunate. Let’s start with the easy ones:

BYU Secondary

In 2015, I was watching the USU game and about to yank out my hair because of the of the amazing amount of times that Mike Davis and Micah Hanneman were getting torched. Yes, it was all season – yes I tweeted angrily, and yes I swore. Not just the damns and hells, it was full Christmas Story blasphemy words. F—- and it wasn’t Fudge!

With the addition of the Warner brothers, Dayan Lake, Kai Nacua and yes, even Micah Hanneman, they played so much better than 2015. They only gave up 20+ yards and held Utah State QB Kent Myers to 103 passing yards.

Sadly, Kai Nacua’s career is ending at BYU at the Poinsettia Bowl. I am actually hopeful that the dynamic duo of Lake / Warner will help fill the bill for next three years.

Jamaal Williams

Words do not express just how good this guy is. In fact, there has never been anyone who runs the football as exciting as Jamaal. His power to keep his legs driving to break tackles, to his amazing vision that allows him to anticipate running lanes, or even his lightning speed and willingness to take a pounding. It might be a few years before we start to see a running back as special as Williams has been, in Provo. I hope that I am wrong.

Now, let’s talk about the 300-pound gorilla in the front room.

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Taysom Hill

Taysom Hill suffered his fourth season-ending injury in five years at BYU. Three of those times were vs. Utah State. Last week BYU announced that the MRI and further evaluation showed his elbow had a strain that would keep him sidelined vs. Wyoming in the Poinsettia Bowl.

This injury while unfortunate and sad, was it really avoidable? Yes, it was. Stay with me folks. Hill suffered this injury in the fourth quarter when he landed on his arm in an awkward fashion after an attempt to recreate his Texas Leap and dive over USU defender Gaje Ferguson on a 12-yard run to the goal line.

It may sound reckless. It may sound like I am begrudging Taysom for playing like Taysom. However, Taysom sucks as a QB Pocket passer. He does. His stats this year were abysmal and there are a thousand reasons why. The line, the receivers, the coaching staff all could take a bite out of that humble pie… However, Taysom you are the QB.

I will say that I am glad we started to see Taysom run again. I will also say, that I changed my tune from the first of the year vs. the end of the year on the idea of Taysom starting over Tanner. I was wrong. Taysom should have started this year for one very important reason. The offensive line.

The offensive line was built and recruited for the Robert Anae’s “go-fast-go-hard” run and gun scheme. Pass blocking? It was like pulling teeth. Tejan Karoma while vastly improved on the ‘illegal hands to the face’ personal fouls in 2016, he was the ‘illegal man down field’ quite a lot. Well, let’s think about it… He was primarily the only one.

For this reason, alone, it was good that Taysom started and played the season. Let that Cowboy ride off into the sunset, in his own unique way. Now, we get Tanner and thank the maker he has come to play. I am grateful that Tanner will have a couple of weeks to get ready for Wyoming. I am grateful that the rest of the team will be able to adjust and heal up some nagging injuries.

The Saddest Story Ever
Photo Courtesy of Mahe Family Facebook Page

By now you have heard about Elsie Mahe and that she has returned to her heavenly father. Within the same week, Steve Tate (Utah) lost his boy as well. My heart quakes with love for these two families. I cannot fathom the loss of a child.

Courtesy of Steve Tate’s Instagram

Remember in the Holiday’s that it can be wonderful and a joyous celebration of family. Football can be a nice distraction, at least for a few hours. I ask that you remember these families in your prayers and that if you can give to those who might be spending this Christmas with an empty chair at their dinner table.

God Bless You, and may God Bless every BYU and Utah fan this Christmas Season.

The post BYU’s Highs and Lows for 2016 appeared first on TornBySports.