Deep Blue

When John Beck returned from his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he hoped for a successful career as BYU Football's starting quarterback. But when the football program faced major challenges and John struggled on the field, how did he find the courage to push through? In part two of our interview, hear how John navigated the beginning of his collegiate football career...

Former BYU Football quarterback John Beck's NFL career didn't go as planned, but he's made a name for himself as one of the best quarterback coaches in the nation. In this Part 1 episode, John shares how he transitioned from the NFL to become an elite quarterback coach, overcame adversity in high school, and navigated a rocky start to his recruitment at BYU.

How do two people who speak different languages and come from different countries become as close as siblings? According to Richie Saunders and Fousseyni Traore: be good at basketball. In this episode, they discuss how Fouss ended up living with Richie's family, how Richie helped Fouss adapt to the US and learn English, and what their relationship means to them today. They also discuss the madness...

Leon White had high hopes for BYU's Football team entering the 1984 season, but his world turned upside down with the devastating news of his father's cancer diagnosis. In this podcast episode, discover how Leon faced an unimaginable choice and found strength in his father’s encouragement to stay with the BYU football team. His mission became clear: to lead his team back to the Holiday Bowl in his...

When LaVell Edwards was hired as BYU's head football coach, he needed the right quarterback to lead the passing attack. That quarterback was Gary Sheide. In this podcast episode, Sheide talks about how he initially refused LaVell's recruiting offer but eventually came to Provo to become the most prolific passer in school history, propelling the program to new heights.

Why would a credentialed NBA coach decide to become the head coach at a university he never attended? The quick answer: God works in mysterious ways. In this episode, BYU Basketball Coach Kevin Young details the pivotal moments in his life that have led him to being the coach of the Cougars. He also talks about his vision for the basketball program and why he's ready for the challenges that lie ah...

Most high school athletes dream of playing professional sports; few dream of coaching them. Why was new BYU Athletics Hall-of-Famer Brian Billick drawn to a career in coaching football at such a young age? In this episode, Coach Billick describes getting into coaching, working his way to the NFL, and leading the Baltimore Ravens to their first championship. He also talks about his BYU Football pla...

When the BYU Cougars entered LaVell Edwards' final season in 2000, quarterback Brandon Doman was buried on the depth chart. But late in the season, they turned to Doman to save their season when the Cougars were depleted by injuries and faced the prospect of sending LaVell out on a losing record. In celebration of 100 years of BYU football, Jason Shepherd interviews Brandon Doman to discuss saving...

How do you capture the essence, history, and entirety of BYU Cougar Football in one book? Sounds like a tough task, but that's what Brett Pyne and Duff Tittle, two long time BYU Athletic Department employees, set out to do in their book "100 Years of BYU Football." In this episode, the book's authors go over some lesser-known facts about BYU football history and the significant time periods that h...

The Cougar's cornerback, Marque Collins, dreamed of playing wide receiver. How did he end up guarding that position instead? Find out why he made the switch, and why he is grateful for needing two medical redshirt seasons in this edition of Deep Blue's Practice Chats.

BYU Football wide receiver Darius Lassiter was raised in a unique situation. His uncle, former NFL football player Kwamie Lassiter, adopted him when he was still in grade school. Why? In this podcast episode, Darius explains what it was like growing up in a home with a former professional football player, how his family dealt the with passing of Kwamie, and the worry and wait while the NCAA determ...

As impressive as it is for a football team to go 14-1, why do we still celebrate BYU's 1996 season decades later? Former Cougar's tight end Chad Lewis returns to the Deep Blue podcast to explain the importance of that season. He discusses crucial wins in the Pigskin Classic, the WAC Championship, and BYU's first New Year's bowl game against Kansas State Wildcats, the same team BYU is playing this...

Tyler Batty knew from a young age he wanted to play professional football. Little did he know that his football pursuits would enable him to help those in need. In this episode, BYU Football's star defensive end discusses his equine therapy non-profit, his goals of playing in the NFL, and the decision to return to BYU one more year before turning professional.

After the sudden passing of his mother, Hinckley Ropati was faced with choosing where to play football after competing at Cerritos College. How did his mom's legacy help convince him to become a Cougar after the team had previously rejected him for being too short? In this episode, he discusses what his mother's life means to his family, what he's done to make her proud, and how he uses his faith...

Chase Roberts burst onto the BYU Football scene in 2022 with a big game against Baylor and is now solidified as one of the team's leaders. What does he do to keep himself grounded while surrounded by the spotlight? In this podcast episode, Roberts shares his deep faith in Jesus Christ, how he glorifies God on the football field, and the legacy he wishes to leave at BYU.

Chris Burgess didn't think his history with BYU was over when he left Provo in 2022 to take a coaching job at the University of Utah. That's why he didn't get rid of any of his Cougar gear. Burgess talks about BYU Basketball's vision under new head coach Kevin Young, why he thinks he is a good recruiter, and why he didn't come to BYU when he was a player coming out of California.

Former BYU basketball coach Dave Rose was recently inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame. But as a native of Houston, Texas, what path did he take to becoming a legend in Utah sports? Rose joins the show to discuss his path to becoming BYU's basketball coach, his battle with health challenges, and his own stellar collegiate basketball career.

BYU quarterback Treyson Bourguet chose to come to BYU because it allowed him to grow his faith in God. How does his faith shape him as a man in the classroom and on the field? Find out in this edition of Deep Blue's Practice Chats.

Mike Smith may not have taken the chance to be a BYU quarterback, but he did manage to become a first-round pick in the NBA Draft. What does he make of his professional basketball career, and how did he transition from player to commentator? In part 2 of our interview, Mike explains what it was like playing with NBA legends like Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parrish. He also talks about how...

Most know BYU Hall-of-Famer Mike Smith as one of the best to wear a Cougar basketball jersey, but few know how close he was to wearing a BYU football jersey. In part one of our two-part series, Mike discusses his incredible high school sports career, how he decided BYU basketball was the team for him, and why the state-champion QB never suited up for LaVell Edwards in Cougar Stadium.

Braden Brown’s journey to becoming BYU Football’s director of mental health and mental performance started after his NFL career ended, all thanks to his wife’s suggestion to give the field a try after deciding coaching football players was not the way to go. But Braden’s life experiences on and off the field helped him to become the guy who is now trying to build mentally strong Cougars.

Curtis Brown is one of the greatest running backs in BYU football history. But after his freshman season in 2002, he found himself at the bottom of the depth chart and seriously considered transferring. How did he fight back to the top and become the school's leading rusher a few years later? In this episode, Brown chronicles his journey to BYU, the most memorable plays from his record-setting car...

Kyle Collinsworth was poised to have a stellar career at BYU. But after an ACL injury threatened his basketball career, how did he overcome that injury and come back stronger than ever? Collinsworth shares how receiving an impression from God led him to improve his nutrition, which expedited his recovery, and how his improved nutrition and relentless work ethic landed him in the NBA.

C. Shane Reese was offered his dream job. BYU alum Andy Reid wanted to hire the statistician to work for the Philadelphia Eagles. So, how could someone who loves sports analytics turn down such an offer? In part two of our conversation with BYU's President, Reese talks about what went into his decision to stay at BYU, growing up in New Mexico, and how a conversation with another BYU president help...

Shane Reese never applied to be the president of Brigham Young University nor was he aware he was even being considered for the role. How did this lively statistician end up with this unique assignment? In this part 1 episode, he outlines the appointment process and dives into what a day is like for the president of BYU. He also elaborates on the importance of BYU athletics in achieving the univer...