BYU's Bear Bachmeier, LJ Martin, and Isaiah Glasker 1 on 1 From Big 12 Media Days

BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier gets brutally honest about his historic freshman season with the Cougars.

Bachmeier explains how he learned Aaron Roderick’s offense after arriving at BYU, reveals the toughest Big 12 defenses he faced and breaks down his unforgettable touchdown run against Utah. He also opens up about playing through an ankle injury in the Big 12 Championship Game, BYU’s College Football Playoff disappointment and why he believes the Cougars have national championship potential.

BYU linebacker Isaiah Glasker reveals the side of quarterback Bear Bachmeier that fans rarely get to see.

Glasker explains why Bachmeier is far more outspoken and competitive on the field than his laid-back personality suggests, including the trash talk and swagger he brought to BYU from the moment he arrived.

BYU running back LJ Martin reveals the gruesome details of the shoulder injury he played through during the Cougars’ run to the Big 12 Championship Game.

Martin explains how he initially thought the injury was only a stinger before learning that part of the bone had broken off. He details the decision to brace the shoulder instead of undergoing immediate surgery, why he refused to abandon his teammates and how a timid performance against Texas Tech changed his mentality for the rest of the season.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

All right, back live at Big 12 Mini Days. I'm John Kurtz, joined now by Bear Bachmeyer, quarterback of the BYU Cougars. Bear, I appreciate you uh taking some time.

SPEAKER_00 0:07

Yeah, thank you for having me on.

SPEAKER_02 0:08

Where do you feel like you have taken the biggest strides as a quarterback this offseason? Like what have been your biggest focuses?

SPEAKER_00 0:14

Yeah, I've been uh really honing in on just being deliberate uh with my progressions and um yeah, just having yeah, and then being deliberate uh with uh my pocket presence as well. So um yeah, those are two two two facets of of my game I've been working on.

SPEAKER_02 0:29

What was the process like of learning Aaron Roderic's playbook when you came in last year? Like what is the what is the day-to-day of that look like? I feel like people talk about that and maybe don't have a concept for how difficult that is to do. So what was that like on a day-to-day basis?

SPEAKER_00 0:43

Yeah, it was uh I mean that was a hard deal. I mean, we uh when I was at Stanford, I would uh hop on Zoom calls with uh the our quarterback coach, and and yeah, we'd be on call for like two hours just going through install one, install two, install three, and um then I would uh uh do my own studying as well right after and just try and regurgitate as much as I could. And yeah, so it was a hard process, but yeah, it paid it, it paid off.

SPEAKER_02 1:06

Okay, people talk about like a playbook. Is it literally like a like a book, like a binder? Like how thick is this thing that you're you're having to figure out?

SPEAKER_00 1:14

Yeah, I mean there's uh I guess you could call it a binder with with yeah, certain chapters, I guess, and different installs, but yeah. Okay, it's yeah, it's big, big deal. There's a lot of plays, and then in the season you use you try and scheme up the other team, and it's like you got you add in uh additional plays, so it's yeah, it's it's fun.

SPEAKER_02 1:31

Okay, so the binder gets like thicker, yeah, as it as the season goes on, yeah. Okay. What was the toughest scheme to prepare for last year, you think?

SPEAKER_00 1:38

Oh man. Um, I mean, there's a lot in the Big 12 because it's like Arizona was tough, uh, like Cincinnati was was was was tough. I mean Iowa State, uh TCU, it's like kamikaze out there. It's like you like sometimes you have no idea what's going on, and but uh yeah, that's that's that's why I think the big the Big 12 is just trying to scheme up every week. It's like new deal every week. So yeah, it's fun.

SPEAKER_02 1:59

Yeah, yeah. So what is what's the off-season routine like? What take me through like a day in the life these days of Vare Bachmeyer right now?

SPEAKER_00 2:06

Yeah, so right now we're uh we got morning uh run and lift, and uh then we'll probably have a meeting and and then um we'll we'll we'll do PRPs. We're in the the PRP stage. Uh yeah, and then maybe do some treatment. And so we get to the facility probably like six, and then you you're probably out by like 11 or 12, and then um either golfing or playing the guitar.

SPEAKER_02 2:28

Okay, yeah. We were talking about guitar. How how good of a golfer are you?

SPEAKER_00 2:31

Oh, I'm uh I'm alright. Yeah, I just picked it up. Uh all the guys all the guys are playing, so just something to do with the guys.

SPEAKER_02 2:37

Yeah, well, is that like Kalani's okay with that as opposed to like going and playing basketball or something? Something that might get you hurt.

SPEAKER_00 2:43

Yeah, I know for sure.

SPEAKER_02 2:44

Yeah, okay, okay. I dig it. Uh when you think about last year, speaking of being a little banged up, right? Big 12 championship game. How how banged up did you get in in that game? How tough was that to play through?

SPEAKER_00 2:55

Uh yeah, I got got my ankle rolled on, and uh those are always tough to kind of get through, but yeah, it was Big 12 championship. You can't you can't get out the game because of a rolled ankle, you know. So uh yeah, it was tough, but I I kind of looked back and it was like, man, like I should have just should just push through like even more because like that the pain is temporary, so like yeah, but no, it was yeah, so I don't know, I was kind of rambling.

SPEAKER_02 3:20

Well, no, but when you say when you say push through even more, is that like don't be as ginger on it, run the ball more? Like what what kind of what do you think that is?

SPEAKER_00 3:28

Well, it was just man, it was pain, it was painful, so like yeah, like I should have just I mean like sometimes your mind just has to take over and just say you're good, but yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:36

I see. Okay. Was there anything like could they do anything on the sideline to to help you out much? Yeah, we're doing some stuff.

SPEAKER_00 3:41

I mean, taped it up, but yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:43

Yeah. I gotcha. Okay. What was your favorite play from last season?

SPEAKER_00 3:46

Ooh, my favorite play. Uh oh, I mean, probably the Utah run. Okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:53

Yeah, I mean, that's the obvious choice.

SPEAKER_00 3:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:55

Can you can you run me through that? Like what you were seeing in your mind? Do you realize what you're doing as it as it happens?

SPEAKER_00 4:01

Uh not I mean, kinda, I just we'll sort it. I was running, made a cut, saw another guy, and then I saw the goal line and uh I got stopped, and then uh I feel like everybody was just behind me, just pushing me in. So it was uh it was a team touchdown. It was awesome.

SPEAKER_02 4:16

How many times have you watched it?

SPEAKER_00 4:18

Uh I mean, I guess a lot, it's pretty cool to watch it, but uh I mean like clips will just pop up, but yeah.

SPEAKER_02 4:26

What was the whole I mean Kalani obviously got a lot of attention this offseason, rightfully so, for the job that that he did. When you guys were waiting and like the rest of us wondering what was going on with Penn State that week, what what was that like for you as a player?

SPEAKER_00 4:39

Uh yeah, I mean it was uh it was a it was a weird deal. I mean, we're getting ready to play in the Big 12 championship, but you know we we uh no we had a lot of confidence he was staying and and yeah, he's he's our guy. Uh I love playing for him, so I'm glad he's glad he's glad he's here.

SPEAKER_02 4:54

That's right, man. I keep saying this. I've done this multiple times today, where I say, like, oh yeah, this offseason he got quartered by Ben State. Like, no, it wasn't the off season. I was like, Well, you guys were waiting to yeah, you know, I mean, so that that adds to it, right? Like that made it a little a little more intense.

SPEAKER_00 5:06

Yeah, I mean, uh yeah, that I mean we we were it was everything was was was pretty normal. It was just kind of in the back of the head, I guess.

SPEAKER_02 5:14

Yeah, yeah, I got you. All right, who were your like quarterback heroes growing up? Like, who did you really pattern your game off of?

SPEAKER_00 5:20

Yeah, I love uh watching my older brother play, Hank. Um, yeah, he's still playing, and yeah, he's kind of taught me basically everything I know. And uh yeah, so I like I like watching him, Aaron Rodgers, the Tom Brady, Drew Brees. I mean, kind of everybody. And uh I like watching Joe Burrow now and and the Patrick Mahomes.

SPEAKER_02 5:40

So I was hoping you'd say that. I'm a Chiefs guy, so like are you you are a Mahomes fan?

SPEAKER_00 5:43

Yeah, I love watching Mahomes. Yeah, he's just he's playing shortstop out there all all the time. So I I love I love his game.

SPEAKER_02 5:49

I heard you've trimmed down a little bit this offseason. Is that true? I was word on the street is yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:55

I got uh uh yeah, trimmed up a little and got my eating habits in order.

SPEAKER_02 6:00

So okay. What was the biggest what was the biggest hang up on that?

SPEAKER_00 6:03

Like what was your uh I'm just mitigated some some uh or I mean regulated some some milkshake consumption and some rice crispies, so okay.

SPEAKER_02 6:12

I feel like that's that's pretty Utah of you, right? Like everyone loves the sweets.

SPEAKER_00 6:16

Yeah, I love the sweets, yeah. Well, I'm not from Utah, but I know, but I know, but you're no no no, there's a lot of there's a lot of uh uh uh dessert dessert uh shops, yeah, like swig and all that. Yeah, there's swig, yeah. There's soda, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:29

So are you are you swig guy?

SPEAKER_00 6:30

Uh I'm not no, I'm not really a swig guy.

SPEAKER_02 6:33

They probably don't want you to be on the on the floor.

SPEAKER_00 6:35

Yeah, I mean funny enough, I well I drink I drink water all the time. Like I only like drinking water, but uh for desserts, like I'll have a I'll have a milkshake. What do you think is the ceiling for this team this year? Like how good how good can you guys be? The ceiling, uh I mean, well, national championship. I I think we got the talent, we got the guys, we just we gotta we gotta perform in big time moments and we gotta uh uh just the little things, you know, just being deliberate with the little things. So yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:02

It's a frustrating last year watching the college football playoff discussion and not look, I'll say it for you, not being included as much as you should have been.

SPEAKER_00 7:09

Yeah, I mean it was frustrating. I know uh I mean at the end of the day, we can't leave it up to a committee. You know, we gotta we gotta go win win games and we gotta win every game, you know.

SPEAKER_02 7:18

So what's uh what's a good fact or story about Kalani Sataki that would give us some insight into who he is that we don't know?

SPEAKER_00 7:26

Yeah, so on my visit, um he was telling a story about uh the previous year when they were getting ready to play uh Utah. So it's a big rivalry game, BYU versus Utah. And um two of our uh two of the assistant coaches on defense, uh their daughters were playing in a volleyball tournament uh like on Tuesday and Wednesday. And uh Kalani was telling us that he he went up to um these coaches and said, uh, you know, are you guys gonna go to your your daughter's games? And they're like, Oh, we well, we're gonna miss practice. And and he was like, No, you you got you gotta go to your daughter's games. And uh that resonated with me uh uh immensely because my my dad was always adamant on us going to um you know, if it was our oldest brother's game like really late at night or our youngest brother's game early in the morning, and uh so just that family-oriented environment. I I I just became enamored with with uh you know Coach Kalani in that sense, and and I love playing for him. And and yeah, so that's that's a good story for for him.

SPEAKER_02 8:21

Yeah, I I love that. Seems very emblematic of who he is. Favorite song to play on the guitar?

SPEAKER_00 8:25

Uh Wagon Wheel. I like uh yeah, Wagon Wheel.

SPEAKER_02 8:29

Okay, you you sing too while you play, right?

SPEAKER_00 8:31

Yep, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 8:32

Okay, all right. Well, we gotta you gotta hit us with a video on social sometime, a wagon wheel. I'm not gonna make you do it here. There's a lot of people around, I get it.

SPEAKER_00 8:37

Yeah, no, we got a gig coming up, me and my brother, and my uncle.

SPEAKER_02 8:40

So okay.

SPEAKER_00 8:41

Yes, we'll we'll uh we'll record some stuff.

SPEAKER_02 8:45

Okay, nice. Bear, I appreciate it, man. Best of luck. Thanks so much. All right, John Kurtz back with you live from Big 12 Media Days with LJ Martin, reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Uh LJ, I appreciate you taking some time to join me here.

SPEAKER_01 8:56

No, yeah, thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_02 8:57

So I didn't actually see the clip earlier on social media, but someone was circulating a clip of you being asked about Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, and that you didn't the the caption was you didn't think much of being named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. What are your thoughts on being named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year?

SPEAKER_01 9:13

I mean, it's just a preseason award. This time last year, I was I don't think I was on any preseason team, so it's like, you know, it's cool, but um, everything that matters is done on the field, so we haven't played on the field yet, so nothing really matters right now.

SPEAKER_02 9:25

Yeah, I got you. Take me through the decision-making process to to come back to BYU. You obviously had had plenty of options last year. Why why come back?

SPEAKER_01 9:33

Yeah, um, you know, uh, I just thought it was best for my career. Um, I, you know, had an opportunity to go to the NFL, but um just knowing uh I would have to to get drafted where I wanted to be, I would have to test pretty well. And uh I feel like I can test well. And um I I just had to get surgery, so I wouldn't have been able to prepare for my testing. I probably wouldn't have been able to test. So um with that, I was just like got to come back for another year so that way I could have an opportunity just uh you know up my draft stock and possibly not even have to test this year, you know. And then yeah, if if if testing happens this year, I'm I'll be able to, you know, be ready for it and um you know, be able to train for it and get ready.

SPEAKER_02 10:11

How's everything gone from a health standpoint?

SPEAKER_01 10:13

Uh everything's gone great, it's been real well. Um, you know, surgery got surgery in December and worked out really well. Talked to Kalani and you know, she was like, Yeah, if you're gonna, I think it's the best to get the surgery right now, just so that way if you come back or if you leave, like it just speeds up your recovery process. So I was like, Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:30

How tough is it to play through? I mean, you were playing through some stuff last year, right? Like, how how tough is that to do?

SPEAKER_01 10:35

Yeah, it's tough, but um, just seeing the season I was at last year, you know, I think before I got hurt, I was like averaging like a good amount of yards per game. And um, you know, like I was on my pace, on pace to have a thousand yards, so I was just like, you know, um, I just wanted to be able to. They said I was gonna have to get surgery either now or I could do it at the end of the season, but no matter what, it was gonna be the same surgery. So I was like, you know what, if it doesn't hurt too bad, like why not try to play? So um try to play through it. I was able to play through it and went pretty well for me.

SPEAKER_02 11:01

I'm trying to remember, was the did you get hurt in the Iowa State game?

SPEAKER_01 11:04

Yeah, I got hurt Iowa State. We played Texas Tech next week, and um, I don't think I was just ready mentally, you know, just to play because um, you know, you're still coming back from injury, so you're still like unsure and stuff. And I remember after that game, they just beat us down so bad that I remember running kind of timid. I was like, you know what? Like, yeah, I don't play like that. There's no reason in playing. I should just get the surgery. So I was like, you know what, and worst thing that's gonna happen is I get surgery. So I was like, why not just run as hard as I can and shoot? I just I just pop it back out again and I get surgery, you know what I mean? So after that, it just kind of put me in another gear, and um, yeah, I was able to play pretty well after that.

SPEAKER_02 11:38

Do you remember the the specific play it happened at Iowa State?

SPEAKER_01 11:41

Yeah, I was like, I was running towards the sideline and uh I dipped on the dude, ran him over, and he kind of right, so then we got pushed out to the sideline, so I was out of bounds, and uh, I just remember my shoulder just feeling like like it just like kind of numb and just like a stinging feel stinging feeling. So they always talk about stinger, so I was like, Oh, I got a stinger, right? That's what I thought I had. Well I got a stinger, I'll be fine. But I was like, I need one for this play. So then they sent someone in, and the trainer comes, then I'm like, it's not going away. But he comes and he starts checking on me, and his face drops, so I was like, oh, something. I was like, that at that moment, I was like, Yeah, my shoulder's out. So then because I had surgery on the shoulder before. Okay, so then I was like, Yeah, so that was pretty disappointing. But then um, what's it called? We went back to the tent and they told me what happened. I had like broke some of the bone off and stuff, and you know, I was pretty disappointed. But then they're like, Well, if you want to brace it up with the play, you can, or you could just get surgery now. I was like, Yeah, I'll just brace it up because you know, we at that point we were still undefeated, had a good chance to make the conference championship, and uh I was like, I don't want to let my guys down, so I was like, let's just brace it up and we were able to get this conference championship and you know, be able to do some good stuff.

SPEAKER_02 12:51

Yeah, worked out pretty well, worked out pretty well on that front. Man, I mean I felt like you guys should have been gotten a lot more respect in the playoff picture at that conversation. Like, what was that like as a player to have to continue to watch you guys be left out on the outside looking in there?

SPEAKER_01 13:04

Oh yeah, it's pretty disappointing, but at the end of the day, if we win, we're in. So um, you know, I don't I don't blame anyone else but but ourselves, you know, because all we gotta do is just go out there and dominate and uh we're in no matter what. So um, you know, that's just kind of our mindset for this year. Like, if you want to be in, you just gotta win. So don't give it up to the media, don't leave it up to anyone else. You just gotta go out there, just give it your all and just win.

SPEAKER_02 13:26

What do you feel like the ceiling is for this team this year?

SPEAKER_01 13:28

Uh, I think we could be a really good team. I mean, you know, we just gotta I think we can win every game that we're scheduled to play so far. So um I think we're very possible to you know end up in the Big 12 championship, but that starts with winning an easy game. So we gotta start from the beginning. You know, it's gonna be Utah Tech Week one, and then we've got to win every game after that. So we're just really focused on that first one.

SPEAKER_02 13:49

You guys motivated by getting another shot at Texas Tech if that were to work out?

SPEAKER_01 13:53

Um that would be cool, but um, for me it doesn't matter. I just want to win. You know, I don't care who I play, I just I just know it doesn't matter who we play, you know. Just as long as we line up and we're competing and we're going, I mean, we're trying to be gods across from us.

SPEAKER_02 14:06

What about Notre Dame? Notre Dame game gonna be a cool one to play?

SPEAKER_01 14:10

Notre Dame would be cool, but um, you know, it's not gonna mean as much if we're if we're just dropping games left and right, you know what I mean? So it starts with that, those first the games before that, and uh we gotta focus on those. You know, it's gonna start week one with Utah Tech, because if we lose to Utah Tech, like, you know, no one's gonna be like, oh, like what about the Notre Dame game? They're just gonna talk about that game. So it starts week one, and then we gotta go on after after after. All right, what was your favorite play from last season? Uh favorite play from last season. Um honestly, I would say it was one against Cincinnati, and uh, I don't know, I just kind of cut back on the uh whole defensive flowing. I just cut back, and there's a guy that's a safety, and I didn't know what to do, so I just kind of gave him a left right and he like stopped, and I just dipped on him, and I just kind of blew him up, and I was just like, I just remember it was just like boom. I was like, oh shoot, and then like I was still up and I was just going, so yeah.

SPEAKER_02 15:03

Would you rather run a guy over or like juke a guy?

SPEAKER_01 15:06

Oh I like to juke a guy just because um usually your momentum's still going, so you're able to get to the end zone, but it running over a guy don't don't hurt too bad, you know. I feel like it just hurts them more, so yeah, you know, I'll I'll I'll go with either.

SPEAKER_02 15:18

Okay. Could you have recreated the Bear Bachmire run against Utah? Like, could you have pulled that off?

SPEAKER_01 15:24

Could I have pulled that off? Um, I don't know. I don't think so. I think I think that was a good play by him. Um, yeah, it just it was unique. I think I think I probably would have tried to go downhill, just run it as fast as I can, try to run some over. So I don't think I would have been doing all that. So, you know, but he got that touchdown, so that's all that matters.

SPEAKER_02 15:43

He did, he did. Who who would be tougher to take down? You or Bear Bachmeyer?

SPEAKER_01 15:47

Um, you know, bear usually Bear is able to go backwards, and he's a quarterback, so you know he's back there in the pocket. So, you know, I would say I'll give that shit.

SPEAKER_02 15:55

He get he gets like a running start, right? And it's not really not really fair.

SPEAKER_01 15:58

Yeah, and he does creep up on you. You know, you're you're expecting him to be a quarterback, but he don't hit like a quarterback, so yeah, it's pretty fun.

SPEAKER_02 16:04

Who was the hardest hitting defense that you played last year?

SPEAKER_01 16:07

Hardest hitting defense last year. Um honestly, uh, I would say Cincinnati and Iowa State, they had some good linebackers, tough guys. Um, yeah, I just remember hitting them. I was like, oh shoot, they got they got something to them, and you know, it kind of made me happy just because I love competing, and it was like, okay, like they're here for real. You know they're gonna come out here and just they're not gonna back down. You know it's gonna be a long battle, even though it was a very long battle for me against Iowa State. But yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:35

Do you have a good uh Kalani Sataki story for us?

SPEAKER_01 16:39

Um, not really. I mean what I think he just I would say the biggest thing is just the first time I met him, and he was just like he just dabbed me up, and I I didn't even know he was a coach, to be honest, because it was on my visit, and I just started talking to him for like a week, so I didn't even know he was the coach, really. And then um what's it called anyway? So we had a beating like upstairs, like in his uh office and stuff, and we're I'm talking to him, and we're not really we're not even really talking football, we're just like just talking, and then that that's like my favorite moment, just because it was like he didn't really care about me as a football player, he cared more about me as a person, so that just kind of told me like no matter what, like if I come to ULEU, he's always gonna take care of me like as a as a person and also as a football player.

SPEAKER_02 17:25

Yeah, who else was recruiting your artist? What was the recruiting process like?

SPEAKER_01 17:29

Yeah, it was real fun. Um, I was committed to Stanford for a little bit, committed to Texas Tech too. So um, yeah, love Coach McGuire, but I just felt like his system was the right fit for me at the time. Now they do run the ball a lot more, so um, yeah, you know, it changes quite a bit, but yeah, at the time there were more air raids, so I was like, Yeah, I'm not trying to yeah spend my college years past blocking.

SPEAKER_02 17:50

So yeah, I get that. Well, it's worked out pretty well.

SPEAKER_01 17:52

Yeah, it has been.

SPEAKER_02 17:53

LJ, I appreciate it, my friend.

SPEAKER_01 17:55

Appreciate you.

SPEAKER_02 17:55

Back live at Big 12 Meaty Days, John Kurtz with Isaiah Glasker, the BYU Cougars. Uh, appreciate you taking some time. How much different is it? Is it this time around for you?

SPEAKER_03 18:04

Um, it's around the same, I would say so. Uh, I don't know, it's always fun coming to these just because you can get to talk to a lot of people, and uh, I don't know, especially being around these other players too, kind of see who who they're bringing and the type of guys, you get to conversation with them. So I know it's a great experience. Yeah, who who are you closest with on other Big 12 teams?

SPEAKER_02 18:24

Like who are guys that you're tight with or buddies with?

SPEAKER_03 18:27

Um, I have some some boys on uh Utah, University of Utah.

SPEAKER_02 18:31

Okay, well that makes sense. Yeah, I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 18:34

I don't really talk to a whole lot of other people, I guess.

SPEAKER_02 18:37

Who's your who are your best friends on Utah?

SPEAKER_03 18:40

Um well is you you know, Smith Snowden. Yeah, oh yeah. So I was Smith Snowden, those were some of my guys up there, Lander Barton, those guys. Um trying to think who else is playing. Oh, this year it's do you know who Rabbit Evans is? Yeah, yeah. So that's that's one of my boys right there. Uh trying to think who else. My mind just starts.

SPEAKER_02 19:00

No, that's no. That's all you you did well. You answered the question there. Man, I mean, does it feel like you guys are getting more attention these days after what you've done the last the last couple years when you come here?

SPEAKER_03 19:11

I definitely feel like these past couple years, it's like we're kind of flying under the radar. And then uh, I don't know, after the couple these two years that we had, I feel like kind of have a target on our back now. Yeah, doesn't really feel that for us, I guess.

SPEAKER_02 19:24

Well, yeah, I mean, it's gotta be a little frustrating to have those seasons and then see like, did you see ESPN put the playoff graphic up and it's like 10, 11 skips you guys, goes to 13, like not even on the graphic? Like, how how frustrating was that for you guys as players to have to see?

SPEAKER_03 19:39

Uh honestly, kind of used to it now. Yeah. After these past couple years, but um, I don't know. It just kind of drives us a little bit more just to want to take that extra step and try to win that Big 12 championship and then hopefully get to the playoffs.

SPEAKER_02 19:52

So what do you what do you remember from that game? The Big 12 championship game, like what sticks with you the most from that one?

SPEAKER_03 19:57

Um, really, just my my main memory was just being on the sideline, looking over and just seeing all the boys were all all gas, tired, and then just going back out there and keep fighting.

SPEAKER_02 20:08

So yeah, I mean Bear gets hurt too, right? In that game. There were there were just a lot of things that felt like it went against you, but you were still in the middle of the third quarter, you were right in that game. Yeah, I mean that was you you felt like that one went better than the first one against Texas Tech, I would assume. Yeah, most definitely.

SPEAKER_03 20:24

I feel like the the uh the momentum just switched in the beginning of the game in the first one, and uh it kind of just threw us off. And props to them because they have a solid team, and uh their environment out there is they got a crazy environment, their their student section is crazy. So uh I don't know. I'd be excited to see if we can run it back with them.

SPEAKER_02 20:41

So yeah, what what was your favorite play from last year?

SPEAKER_03 20:44

Ooh, I don't know what it is against Colorado, but it's it's always against Colorado. Yeah. I don't know. I feel like the interception to end the game last year, I feel like that was my favorite play of last year.

SPEAKER_02 20:56

So that was that was definitely a good one. What's what's the hardest hit you think you delivered last year?

SPEAKER_03 21:04

Uh uh there was there was a couple hits I had against Texas Tech that were some I felt like were some big hits. I I feel like every game you kind of just you hit people and uh kind of all feels the same. Okay, okay. How much do you guys hit in practice? Maybe that's like a dumb question, but do you get to hit in practice? So once they get once we get into the season, we have like we go against our scout team, they we do fully wrap up. We don't take to the ground, but we we wrap up. So I don't know. I'd if that answers your question.

SPEAKER_02 21:31

Well, see, one I that's a setup because one of the questions I wanted to ask you is who's harder to tackle, LJ Martin or Bear Bachmeyer? See, I've never they never let us know. I was gonna say, I'm sure you've never tackled Bear Bachmeyer. Uh who okay, who do you think would be harder to tackle out of those two?

SPEAKER_03 21:49

Honestly, I've seen LJ run people over, and I've seen Bear run people over. Um, I'd probably say LJ. He's yeah, he's a downhill runner, he runs hard, probably be hard to tackle.

SPEAKER_02 22:00

Okay. Okay. Do you have any good uh Bear Bachmeyer stories for us? Bear Bach.

SPEAKER_03 22:07

Um not really, I want to say this is a story, but when he first got to BYU, just the trash that he was talking, I he's a swagger guy. So I don't know. I I I think it's fun playing with him and and having him on my team just because I know every game he's gonna bring that swagger.

SPEAKER_02 22:23

So that's really interesting because I just talking with him a second ago, I mean he seems pretty laid back, right? But when he gets on the field, that's that's not the case. Not the case at all. Okay, okay. Who else who else talks on the team?

SPEAKER_03 22:35

Um it's usually it's always a battle with with the O-line because it's especially playing linebacker, it's like you're filling gaps, and the first person you you're gonna see is either a tight end or it's gonna be a little like a tackle or a guard. So I don't know. It's probably one of those. Are you are you a talker? I I usually uh I don't really talk unless people talk to me. That's yeah, I usually just stick my head down and play.

SPEAKER_02 22:58

So okay, gotcha. What what can you tell us about K Dulawabe, who's uh new to the linebacking court now this year?

SPEAKER_03 23:04

Um so me not playing spring ball, I've got to uh watch him and uh I feel like he's done a good job. He's he's a leader type guy, and uh and then working out with him, he's he's just a hard worker. So you know you're always gonna get his best when you're when you're with him.

SPEAKER_02 23:18

So how tough was that to to not be able to go this spring for you?

SPEAKER_03 23:22

Uh it was pretty tough. I don't know. I I really did want to leave, but I had get surgery on my shoulder, and then just me seeing all the boys come back. I just I knew we should run it run another year back.

SPEAKER_02 23:33

So yeah, yeah, yeah. All right, so I was just looking at your bio before you walked over here. I you you've been to Uruguay for mission, is that right?

SPEAKER_03 23:42

I I didn't actually get there. So I was in the the home MTC for for a mission, and I ended up having to get surgery on my pelvis, so I never cared.

SPEAKER_02 23:50

Got it. Okay, okay. So you have not been to Uruguay? I have not.

SPEAKER_03 23:54

I definitely that's a destination I need to go see. I've heard great things about it.

SPEAKER_02 23:58

So what was it like uh when when Kalani was contemplating whether or not he was gonna go to Penn State? Like how how how did you personally handle all that?

SPEAKER_03 24:06

Um I really I I I had just had a uh intuition inside that I knew that he was gonna leave. He uh he loves us and and and we love him. And uh I don't know, just just the culture that we built around BYU, I just don't see him leaving.

SPEAKER_02 24:22

So yeah, yeah, yeah. What AJ DeBonsa, did you get a chance to to hang out with him much while he was at BYU?

SPEAKER_03 24:28

No, not really. I just seen him play.

SPEAKER_02 24:30

That was that was about it. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 24:32

Are you a basketball player? Are you a Hooper? Yeah. Okay. It's probably the best on the team.

SPEAKER_02 24:38

I was gonna ask you who the best was on the team. Do you guys get to play much, though? That's the thing.

SPEAKER_03 24:42

Like if you're we get to play, so so they let us play in the the basketball, their practice is only. Oh, okay. So like sometimes we'll here and there we'll go have some runs over there.

SPEAKER_02 24:52

So that's what I wasn't sure. If like does Kalani care if you guys go play basketball?

SPEAKER_03 24:58

As long as you don't get hurt, that's the main thing. Okay, but it's uh usually it's like when you play against football guys, they play like football players. Yeah, but we do have a lot of basketball kids on our team that are pretty good at basketball.

SPEAKER_02 25:08

So were you like a wing, would you say? You like a stretch four, or what do we get I was like a 3-4. Okay. So okay, I can see that. Because how how tall are you? Six five. Six five. All right. Did they list you at six five?

SPEAKER_03 25:21

I think they did. Okay. I'm almost positive. I'm like six five and three quarters.

SPEAKER_02 25:25

Okay, okay. How fired up are you to play Notre Dame this year and get that chance?

SPEAKER_03 25:30

Finally, really just uh excited for that opportunity. Um, I feel like last year it was either us or them in the playoffs. And uh I don't know now that we got the opportunity to finally play them, it's it's gonna be exciting.

SPEAKER_02 25:41

So what do you think the ceiling is for for BYU this year?

SPEAKER_03 25:45

Yeah, I feel like it's whatever we make it. It's like everything starts with us, and uh if we if we do what we're supposed to do, I feel like we can get all the way to the playoffs.

SPEAKER_02 25:53

So Isaiah, I appreciate it, my friend. Thank you. Yeah, I appreciate you. Cool.