Football continues to prep for bowl week

PROVO, Utah – The BYU football team is into its second week of bowl practices in preparation for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against Western Michigan on Dec. 21. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. MST at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. The game will be televised on ESPN.

Live radio coverage can be found on the BYU Sports Network two hours prior to kickoff with Greg Wrubell, which will be broadcast on BYU Radio Sirius XM 143/89.1 FM HD2, KSL 1160 AM/102.7 FM, BYUCougars.com/LiveRadio, BYURadio.org and on the BYU Cougars app, BYU Radio app and KSL app.  

BYUtv will provide pregame and postgame coverage with Countdown to Kickoff starting 1 p.m. MST. Postgame coverage runs for half an hour or more after the game depending on the timing of the game.

BYU (6-6) vs. Western Michigan (7-5)
Friday, Dec. 21, 2018
Kickoff: 2:00 p.m. MST (ESPN)
Boise, Idaho
Albertsons Stadium (36,387)

BYU Game Notes
Western Michigan Game Notes

FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL. BYU will be making its first appearance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl has been played since 1997 and was formerly known as the Humanitarian Bowl. Last year, Wyoming defeated Central Michigan in the Potato Bowl. Western Michigan is making its second Potato Bowl appearance after falling to Air Force in the 2014 game. 

THE SERIES. BYU and Western Michigan have played five times, with the Cougars holding a 3-2 advantage over the Broncos. All five games took place between 1962 and 1970, and the two teams have never met on a neutral field. Western Michigan defeated BYU 35-17 in the last matchup in 1970, while the Cougars' last win came in 1968 in Kalamazoo. Marc Lyons threw a 15-yard touchdown pass in a 17-7 victory. 

BACK TO BOWLING. After having its streak of 12 consecutive years bowling come to an end last season, BYU is back in a bowl game in 2018. This will be the Cougars' 36th bowl game in history, which is tied for No. 5among all FBS programs. BYU has attended more bowl games than noteable programs Missouri (33), Iowa (32), Oregon (32), Virginia Tech (32), Stanford (30), Wisconsin (30), Michigan State (28), California (23), South Carolina (23) and Utah (22). 

MACTION. BYU is playing its second team this year from the Mid-American Conference. The Cougars and Broncos both faced Northern Illinois of the MAC earlier. BYU fell to the Huskies 7-6 while the WMU won 28-21 in the regular season finale.

FROSH PHENOMS. Both teams in the matchup feature freshmen quarterbacks. BYU's Zach Wilson has started six games, throwing for 1,261 yards and eight touchdowns, while adding 198 yards and two scores on the ground. WMU's Kaleb Eleby has played in the last four games and has totaled 917 passing yards and four touchdowns. 

ALMA MATER COACHES. Both head coaches in the matchup are coaching at their respective alma mater. Tim Lester played quarterback at WMU from 1996-99, while Kalani Sitake was a fullback at BYU in 1994, 97-2000. BYU is 3-2 this season against teams with head coaches at their alma maters with wins over Wisconsin (Paul Chryst), McNeese (Lance Guidry), Hawai'i (Nick Rolovich) and losses to Utah State (Matt Wells) and Boise State (Bryan Harsin). 

YOUNG GUNS. BYU has played 26 freshmen this season, including 17 true freshmen. There have been 14 different freshmen that have started games for the Cougars, including five true freshmen. Against Hawai'i, BYU started seven freshmen, including six on offense. Only Minnesota had started more freshmen on offense in a game (7). Freshmen have accounted for just shy of half of BYU's total scoring this year (152 of 305 total points – 49.8 percent). The top passer, Zach Wilson, and top rusher, Lopini Katoa are both freshmen. Center James Empey and left tackle Brady Christensen are both freshmen and have started every game on the offensive line. 

The following quotes are from head coach Kalani Sitake's media availability earlier this week.

Head coach Kalani Sitake
On getting ready for the bowl
I am grateful for an extra 15 practices. We are using every one of them. We may have a few short practices in between. I think it is important for our guys to get out and run, do our system and do all of our install for the game. It is a lot of time to prepare for this game so I think we will be sharp.

On the new redshirt rule
It has been working really well. There are some guys that have gone past the four games mark but for the majority the guys have an extra game to play. We are going to utilize all the time to get them ready and give them a chance whether its running down on a kickoff or giving more depth. It is just a huge advantage for us.

On contribution from the freshman class
A lot of them are playing. They are competitive. I think with our game time when they compete at practice they get rewarded with playing time in the game. I think that is something that a lot of the guys are looking forward to. I applaud a lot of the coaches for trusting the freshman and going with the talent. We are going to compete regardless of their age or experience so the best will play.

On their being extra intensity after missing a bowl game last year
There is a lot of excitement and energy in it, even more so than for spring practices. The guys are excited about the game and the opponent. They are watching a lot of film and trying to balance it with finals but I think this has become a huge priority for a lot of our players, doing it for the seniors and missing out on last year.