2020 Fab 40: Matt Bushman
Matt Bushman, BYU Tight End Age 24 • Orem • Scorpio The Bushman family lived in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, which led Matt and his family to relocate in Tucson, Arizona. As a high school senior several years later, Matt became the perfect storm on the field and was invited to play […]
20 Q’s with Chad Lewis
During the 20th year of Utah Valley Magazine, we’re re-interviewing cover stories with 20 new questions. Utah Valley Magazine: What do you remember about being on the cover of Utah Valley Magazine in 2002? Chad Lewis: It was a great honor at the time, and I still feel the same way now. UV: What advice […]
Obstacle Obliterator: Timpanogos High Star Leads BYU Men’s Cross Country Toward National Title After Life-Threatening Scare
Jacob Heslington’s first running adventures weren’t on the track or the cross country course. They were on his makeshift steeplechase course on the family farm by Utah Lake. “I would hurdle hay bales and time myself,” Jacob says. Now, Jacob is a senior on the BYU cross country team and one of the leaders on […]
Tall Tale: Heather Gneiting has come a short way down I-15 from Pleasant Grove High to BYU
Heather Gneiting has a hard time sneaking past anyone. The 6-foot-4 superstar middle blocker for the Cougars makes a statement when she walks into a room. Even as a freshman entering the coaches’ offices at BYU, she sent expectations soaring. “They asked about my goals as we started the season,” Heather remembers. “I mentioned wanting […]
From Marriage and Fatherhood to Playing on Both Sides of the Rivalry, Austin Lee Comes at College Football with a Wider Approach
Austin Lee is not just another jock in a jersey. First of all, he’s married, to Kortnie Dansie of Spanish Fork, who he met in true 21st Century style, after she saw a video of Austin on Instagram and began following his account. After a DM from Austin to Kortnie, the two went on a […]
Super Striker: Hermann Trophy Candidate Elise Flake is True Blue, Through and Through
Elise Flake’s family loves homemade, thoughtful Christmas gifts. “My uncle made a poster where my face was Photoshopped on the BYU soccer team photo and I hung that poster on my wall,” she says. Luckily for the Cougars, the poster was prophetic. After a junior season that saw Elise lead the team with 14 goals […]
Breakdown of BYU Football’s Defense
When the schedule includes nationally leading programs like Tennessee, USC, Washington, Utah and Boise State, it helps to have a solid defense that can keep the team in the ballgame while the offense gets going. This is good news for the Cougars, who finished last season No. 18 in total defense, including No. 1 field […]
Breakdown of BYU Football’s Offense
Sophomore Zach Wilson emerged quickly last year into the offensive leader for the Cougars, starting the last seven games of the season, enamoring fans with his arm and his legs, finishing the season with a team-high 1,578 yards passing — setting a BYU record for freshman passing efficiency with a 157.23 — and was fourth […]
Anchor’s Away: KSL’s Dave McCann Calls Cougar Football and His Own Game Plan
As a BYU broadcasting student, Dave McCann earned a $1,000 scholarship from KSL, which he used to help fund an internship in Indiana. He didn’t return to the KSL building again until he was walking in wearing a Nordstrom suit as the nightly anchor for the leading Salt Lake City station in May 2012. Dave […]
UV To Do: August 2019
School may be just around the corner, but it’s not too late to cross the last few items off your summer bucket list. Here are some events in Utah Valley in the month of August to add to your calendar. Events Highland Fling When: July 27 – Aug. 3 Where: Heritage Park Cost: Varies Site: […]
Stop and smell the turf: behind the scenes of LaVell Edwards Stadium turf upkeep
BYU football fans know their team works hard in practice so they can leave it all on the field come game day. What fans might not know is that the grounds grew puts just as much effort into preparing the field at LaVell Edwards Stadium for a home game. Before each BYU football home game, […]
Super similar: Bump-set-touchdown for two generations in a row with Lewis and Bushman lineup
BYU tight end Matt Bushman and Cougar opposite hitter Emily Lewis Bushman tied the knot this summer like thousands of other Provo couples, but the average height of their wedding reception attendees was anything but average. The June nuptials doubled as a BYU student athlete party. Matt and Emily’s relationship is headline-worthy, partly because it’s […]
The long and winding road: Dylan Collie finishes his journey back where it started — Provo
Dylan Collie knows what it means to wear the blue-and-white with the “Collie” name on the back. He’s been attending games since he was a 6-year-old fan, watching his older brothers Austin and Zac catch touchdowns in LaVell Edwards Stadium. Even before the Collie brothers were born, their dad, Scott, was playing for the Cougars […]
Fan-tastic feats: BYU gets social with box drops nationwide and cutting edge technology inside the stadium
The BYU football program is not just about its roster — it expands to its fans. That must be why BYU football extends the gameday experience through #BYU50 and now the social media and technology advancements inside LaVell Edwards Stadium. Nifty fifty For 5 years, Cougar fans have counted down to kickoff with swag-filled social […]
Weekend sports roundup: BYU football wins season opener; BYU volleyball upsets No. 1 Stanford
If you were as busy as the Cougars and Wolverines were this weekend, chances are you didn’t get to watch all of the games. Here’s a quick recap of how it all went down. BYU football wins season opener BYU football team started off the 2018 season strong with a 28–23 win over Arizona in the […]
Reboot and reload: A breakdown of the BYU football roster for game day
Everyone involved with the BYU Cougars football team — fans, players, parents, coaches, groundskeepers, cheerleaders and food vendors — agrees that finishing the year 4-9 is not OK. Fine. Done. Can we all take a cleansing breath and move on? With significant changes to the coaching staff (especially on the offensive side of the ball) […]
BYU football selects 8 team captains for 2018 season
BYU football head coach Kalani Sitake announced the team captains for the 2018 season. For the 2018 season, team members voted on the captains and the coaches announced the selected leaders on Monday. There are eight total captains: four offensive and four defensive. “I’m pleased to announce our captains for the season,” Sitake said in […]
Keys to a better season for BYU football in 2018
No better example of Murphy’s Law exists than BYU’s 2017 football season. Everything that could go wrong for the Cougars did go wrong. A flurry of injuries, an inept offense, and an inconsistent defense all combined to help BYU finish with its most losses in a season since 1955. Now, the Cougars are looking to […]
Steve Young congratulates Ray Lewis with ‘squirrel dance’
When Steve Young realized he couldn’t make it to Ray Lewis’ induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he sent his friend a video message. Lewis, who received the honor along with seven other football players, is known for his signature “squirrel dance.” So Young closed his video with his attempt at the trademark dance […]
BYU basketball announces 2018–19 conference schedule
The West Coast Conference announced the 2018–19 men’s basketball conference schedule on Wednesday, complete with the scheduling changes made in May 2018. After reports said Gonzaga’s basketball program was considering switching to the Mountain West Conference, the WCC Presidents’ Council approved a change to the scheduling. This change was made as a part of the Conference’s […]
5 BYU newcomers who could make a splash in 2018
Many position battles are far from settled as BYU opened up its fall football camp on Thursday. That may not be a bad thing for the Cougars as they look to bounce back from a disastrous season. Competition at quarterback, receiver and other key positions is giving BYU a chance to develop some quality depth. […]
Quarterback vs. quarterback: who will lead BYU’s offense in 2018?
Injuries and ineffective play created a revolving door at quarterback for BYU last season. With a new offense in place, the Cougars hope to avoid a repeat scenario this fall. The search for the right quarterback to run this new offense will extend into fall camp. BYU finished spring ball with several players making a […]
BYU receivers seeking to elevate their game in new offense
Things feel much different for Dylan Collie in his second stint at BYU. Collie, a graduate transfer from Hawaii, is becoming a mentor to a group of receivers short on experience but long on potential. The senior definitely has plenty of wisdom to impart from his time with the Rainbows. But he has also learned […]
Dastrup announces transfer from BYU basketball to Oregon State
Former BYU basketball forward Payton Dastrup has decided to transfer to Oregon State University, Dastrup announced on Instagram Monday night. He announced he would transfer from BYU in May. Dastrup, a 6-foot-10 forward from Mesa, Arizona, played for the Cougars for two years. He has two years of eligibility remaining. With much consideration, and pondering, […]
BYU counting on coaching experience to build a better offense in 2018
Experience has become the tool of choice for BYU in rebuilding an offense from the ashes. The Cougars sunk to unthinkable depths a year ago en route to a 4–9 season. Putting points on the board, or even moving the chains, became a virtually impossible task at times. Last season, BYU ranked among the bottom […]
UVU men’s basketball coach Mark Pope signs new six-year contract
Utah Valley University basketball coach Mark Pope signed a six-year contract with the university on Thursday. The new contract, which will keep Pope at UVU through the 2023–24 season, replaces the previous five-year contract that would expire in 2020. “We’ve got some real momentum going at Utah Valley University and in our athletic department because […]
Payton Dastrup to transfer from BYU basketball
BYU basketball announced Thursday that forward Payton Dastrup will transfer from the program. Dastrup, a 6-foot-10 forward from Mesa, Arizona, played for the Cougars for two years. He has two years of eligibility remaining. “We are grateful to Payton for the time he spent here at BYU,” said BYU coach Dave Rose. “He is a […]
BYU men’s basketball announces home-and-home series with former MWC opponent
BYU men’s basketball has agreed to a home-and-home game series with former Mountain West Coast opponent San Diego State, the teams announced Tuesday afternoon. The teams will first meet at San Diego State in Viejas Arena on Dec. 22, 2018. In 2019, San Diego State will travel to the Marriott Center for the second game in […]
Bryant announces end to BYU career to pursue professional basketball dreams
BYU basketball guard Elijah Bryant is leaving BYU to pursue his professional basketball dreams, Bryant announced on his vlog Wednesday. “As a little kid, it was always my dream to play in the NBA,” Bryant said in a YouTube video. “And now is my opportunity to fulfill that dream. I am honored to say that […]
BYU Cougarettes earn second place with hip hop and jazz routines at NDA College Nationals
The BYU Cougarettes have done it again. BYU’s dance team earned two second-place trophies at the 2018 NDA College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida on Saturday. This year the BYU dance team won second place in the Jazz 1A category with a 9.726. They also took second place in the Hip Hop 1A division with a 9.691 score. For the […]