BYU concludes spring football practices with Alumni Day

PROVO, Utah - The BYU football team finished up spring football with its final practice Friday morning as part of Alumni Day.

Over 400 people, including former players and their families visited practice, had lunch and participated in activities with the football team and coaching staff throughout the day.

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BYU had 15 practices, along with strength and conditioning workouts during spring. The Cougars will now turn to summer workouts, fall camp and the start of the 2017 season with Portland State at LaVell Edwards Stadium on August 26.

Learn more about this year's squad with the 2017 BYU Football Spring Prospectus. 

The following quotes are from Friday's post-practice media availability. 

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake
It was a really good 15 practices. I thought we got way better. We got more comfortable. Our guys came in knowing the scheme already and we were able to focus on technique and fundamentals of football. I was just really pleased and we actually had some time to do some new install. I think it is going to help us in the fall. We’ve got some really good film now for our new guys to watch and some cut ups so we can do a lot of install during the summer. We can do a lot of coaching with our players and we will have a lot of player run practices this offseason so they will have a lot of film to go back on. Once we hit August we will be ready to go.

On what you’ve learned about this team after spring
I think it is still kind of in the works. I don’t want to make definite statements or anything like that. I just want to keep things progressing. I think we are getting better and right on the path that I want to them to be and our coaching staff wants them to be on. The goal was to get stronger and work through our offseason phase. In the meantime, take advantage of 15 practices and work on football. That’s why we weren’t really focused on the 40-second clock or anything like that. We were focused on running the plays and doing them correctly and having the right technique. As we get closer to being in football shape we are going to work towards that as we get to camp.

On practicing after the spring scrimmage
It is really helpful because we use it to scout our opponents a little bit and go through what we would do during the season on our regular Monday and Tuesday practices. A lot of these guys haven’t worked through that with some of them coming off scout team or being new this semester. We were able to do that and make some corrections that we saw from the spring scrimmage and practice. I think it was huge for our guys, especially in the learning process.

On staying healthy
The main focus was to not disrupt our offseason conditioning and strength program. For us, the weight room was the most important part of this phase and football–we felt like we could do both. After seeing what Coach Nu’u Tafisi does in the weight room our guys have bought into that. I feel like we were able to accomplish both things with the main emphasis being on our offseason conditioning.

On having fun in spring
It’s football. It’s a game. I want these guys to have a fun time doing it. When it doesn’t feel like work–that’s my job. I get to coach a great group of young men and represent our wonderful university. It doesn’t feel like a grind. I am just having fun with these guys. The game of football is fun. At the next level, I don’t know how much fun it is. But we are going to make it last as much as possible.

On talking about the fans deserving an exciting season
I just love the fans. That statement was made because we love our fans so much. I was a fan before I was a football player at BYU and definitely before I was a coach. I side with the fans all the time. The one thing that the fans can all be united on is winning. So let’s try to win and make them happy and see what happens. In the meantime, we are going to build this program around love and a foundation of love. Love their teammates, love their fans, love their community, love what they stand for and what they represent and we will see how many wins that gets us.

On Alumni Day
I want to make sure that our players are really thankful and show gratitude to the guys that did it before them and know they can always come home and feel comfortable here. I want them to know that we appreciate them and that our guys are excited to join the fraternity of alumni when they graduate and leave school as well.

Defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki
I think mission accomplished as far as spring goes. We stayed healthy for the most part and technique got better. Guys are starting to master the scheme. That’s really what we talked about, just getting better with technique and master the scheme, those were the two goals for spring.

On communication between the linebackers and defensive line
It all just comes down to those guys understanding and mastering the scheme which was one of our goals. Some of the intricate parts and little details and adjustments, they are starting to see now a little bit better pre-snap. With all the adjustments going on and so many things, the communication has been good. The linebackers have been doing a really good job.

On defensive standouts in spring
The backers are good. The three that played last year are really good and their backups are really good as well. We are comfortable with six guys that can go in, possibly seven or eight guys. Those down the line guys will definitely be special teams players for us so there is a lot of good depth there. 

Offensive coordinator Ty Detmer
We have tried to focus on the little things this spring. We didn’t put a lot in because we just wanted to focus on the little things. It’s been good to see individual technique work being sharper and cleaner. That was kind of the focus this spring, and I felt like we accomplished a lot of those things.

On what happens the next couple months
That is the worst part. You get a shot of working with the players for about a month, and then you have to turn them loose and hope that they’re putting in a lot of work on their own to come back ready to go. Our strength staff will work with them and get them ready for us, and we will put a plan together and be ready to go come the end of July.

On the run game
Like I said, we didn’t put a lot in this spring. We kind of simplified some things, but I think overall we are pretty good up front. It’s just like anything else, it takes reps and takes timing because we are adding different combinations of offensive lines in there. Once you get the 1s in there working together the whole time, things tend to get sharper and the timing gets better. I feel good about where we are at.

On new talent
You don’t really expect guys to come in and contribute right away. There may be a few as the season goes on that get more and more comfortable. Right now this is probably our group that we will go play games with. I feel good about this group of guys. Obviously some of the injured guys that weren’t out here–Tanner Balderree and Aleva Hifo and that group—will make an impact for us. As for guys transferring in or coming right off of missions, it is hard to jump right in.​

Linebacker Fred Warner
Last year around this time we had uncertainties with the coaching staff. We knew the scheme a little bit, but we hadn’t mastered it, so I think the biggest part of this spring is mastering the scheme. As well as being fundamentally sound and building chemistry.

On leadership
I think that our group [linebackers] is the leader of this defense. Out of us, I think we will be the ones making plays on the defensive end this season, and that we will be the vocal leaders when it comes time.

Balance between having fun and getting the work done
I think that anytime we step in between the lines and have our helmets on that it is all business. There are times when you can have fun and dance around and do whatever, but when the ball is about to be snapped, it’s go time. That’s how I think about it, and I think that is how the rest of the team goes about it.

On summer break before fall camp
I want to grind hard through these workouts these next few months. I think Coach Nu’u (Tafisi) has a great program ready for us this offseason. For me it’s about getting bigger, faster and stronger, just as it always has been. I am excited. 

On communication on the defensive side
I have seen a change in the spring. It’s increased throughout all position groups. At my level I am communicating with the safeties a lot, so I think that has improved. The middle linebacker and the boundary guy are communicating to the defensive line a lot. That just comes with mastering the scheme and being for comfortable with it. 

Quarterback Tanner Mangum
Overall, I think we are happy with where we are right now. We took some big steps forward, especially looking back to where we were at this time last year. We have seen progress. Building on what we did this past season, we have got a lot more in offensively and now it is just working on the chemistry. I feel that we have to become a lot better as an offensive group and as a team as a whole. It stinks it’s over. We are in that dead period now between spring and summer, but we just have to keep grinding. And next think you know, it will be fall camp. I think it was a good spring, and it’s time to just keep moving forward.

On benefit of practices after spring scrimmage
I felt like I didn’t have my best day on Saturday, so it feels good to come out and get some redemption and end on that note. I like being able to come out and learn from those mistakes and try to correct them. Coming out and finishing on a high note is good. It builds the confidence and helps me learn from that spring scrimmage and carry it this week and into the offseason.

On focusing on corrections
I think Ty (Detmer) mentioned I was getting a little greedy on Saturday, and kind of pushing it down field a little bit. So, just being smart with it, but not changing my gameplay and style. Ty told me to not worry about those bad throws. He told me to keep throwing it and pushing it and keep my confidence up. I think the big thing is just keeping my confidence on a high level, and not letting Saturday get to me and rattle me. I felt like overall I did a good job of making good decisions all spring.

On speaking with alumni
One of the cool things about being at BYU is the tradition that we have here. There are so many great teams and players from the past, and I’ve got the greatest one by my side every day in Ty Detmer. Max Hall is out here today and I talked to him. Steve Young has reached out which is very cool and nice of him. You always see guys around that are just coming to visit and check out the team. It’s cool and kind of surreal. Sometimes I have to remind myself just how lucky I am to be here. I grew up dreaming of playing for BYU and now to actually do it is a dream come true. I have to remember that and be grateful for that.

On the next couple months
These next few months are tough. You have to be patient. Now we are kind of on our own as players. We are in charge of the practices. We are in charge of the throwing and 7 vs. 7s. A lot falls on our shoulders, and at times you get impatient and just want the season to be here already. But, you have to remind yourself that you have a long way to go. You have a lot to work on, and I think that is what motivates us. During this dead period, we have to remind ourselves of how much we have to work on and improve. We have to fine tune those little details so that come fall camp, we are ready to go.​