This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Provo • Long after BYU's final scrimmage of preseason training camp had ended Thursday, sophomore quarterback Tanner Mangum and injured senior receiver Nick Kurtz remained on the field at LaVell Edwards Stadium, talking and working on some passing drills.
Not what one would expect to see from the backup QB and a guy who hasn't seen contact all camp due to a fractured foot. Then again, Mangum is clearly not the typical backup QB. He started in 12 games last season, played in all 13, and helped the Cougars win nine games.
Hours after BYU coaches announced on Tuesday that they had picked senior Taysom Hill to be the starter over Mangum in the opener on Sept. 3 against Arizona, rumors started flying that Mangum would take his act elsewhere.
He laughed at that notion when asked about it by The Salt Lake Tribune on Thursday.
"I wouldn't even think about transferring, no," Mangum said. "I love it here. I mean, I am in a good spot, a good place. I wouldn't even think about leaving."
Coaches said Tuesday that Mangum, who turns 23 next month, won't be asked to redshirt in an attempt to "save" a season. He confirmed that, but also said he won't ask for a redshirt late in the season if he hasn't seen any playing time.
True to form, Mangum spoke positively about the decision, which offensive coordinator Ty Detmer delivered late last week.
"He was great about it," Mangum said of Detmer. "He and I are on the same page. We understand. I think there is a common understanding of the situation we are in, with Taysom being here, and so it wasn't like it was a shock or a surprise. I just took it, and we keep going, keep playing."
Head coach Kalani Sitake said Tuesday that Mangum took the news like a champ, and his play Thursday reflected that. Although he mostly faced the first-team defense in the scrimmage viewed by hundreds of boosters, but not the media, Mangum looked sharp, Sitake said.
Both quarterbacks "did a great job," Sitake said. "Taysom is running well and throwing well. He and Tanner had great days today, and our receivers had a really good day today. Our offense did some really good things."
All the projected starters saw action except the two mainstays who are injured — Kurtz and defensive tackle Travis Tuiloma, still coming back from a Lisfranc foot injury — and linebacker Fred Warner said it was a good final run.
"Yeah, one defense against the twos and threes [on offense]," Warner said. "I feel like we did what we were supposed to do. We were supposed to dominate the twos and threes, which we did."
Sitake mostly agreed with Warner's assessment.
"Defensively, we did some good things, too," Sitake said. "But we still are hoping to get some of our depth all polished up, and we got to hit and tackle a few of them towards the end. I think we will be ready."
"Ready" is a word Mangum used a lot on Thursday as well. That's his task now, he said, to be ready to go at a moment's notice, just like last year in the opener against Nebraska when he stepped in when Hill went down with a season-ending foot injury and delivered back-to-back last-minute heroics.
"We both knew that that decision was going to be made, and either way we are both excited," Mangum said. "Taysom and I have talked a lot throughout fall camp, and he and I just both want to win games. And that's all that matters to us.
"Obviously, he is a phenomenal player, a great leader, and he gives us a chance to win games. So I am more than happy to follow his lead, and be right there alongside him helping this team win. He and I are good friends. We have been good friends through it all. Nothing but respect and love for him."
Mangum said there aren't any plans to get him in for a series each game, or anything like that.
"I played well this fall camp," he said. "It is not like I played badly. I will just keep being me, keep preparing, staying on top of things and be ready to go. Obviously, mentally you can't all of a sudden take plays off, or relax. Just like I did last year, I'll prepare like I am going to be playing, and visualize that, and by doing that, you are able to step in and play to the best of your ability when the time comes."
Twitter: @drewjay —
Final scrimmage highlights
• First-teamers went against second-teamers at LaVell Edwards Stadium in a workout.
• Backup quarterback Tanner Mangum said he definitely won't transfer out of the program, even though Taysom Hill got the starting nod for the opener.
• Receiver Nick Kurtz (fractured foot) worked out with Mangum after practice, but did not participate in the scrimmage.