Former BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff rose to national prominence behind his nickname the “BY-Jew.”
Now in New Orleans, the senior is already brainstorming different monikers to highlight his faith.
“Jewlane is Jewlane, everybody knows that. I heard Bayou-Jew. I think that was the best one I’ve heard so far,” Retzlaff said, joking with reporters on Friday in Louisiana.
What about the “Shalom Shotgun?” one reporter asked him.
“That’s pretty good,” Retzlaff said, laughing. “I like that.”
New slogans are just one part of Retzlaff’s new world at Tulane.
He’s going from being the first Jewish starting quarterback in BYU history to a university well-represented by his faith.
Tulane has the second-highest population of Jewish students for any non-Jewish university, behind Touro College in New York.
“It’s a cool deal because it is so opposite. At BYU, I was one of two Jews on campus. I was thinking of starting a Jewish club and me and the other guy could just go eat a lot of expensive meals with whatever budget they give us. [We’d get the budget] for a full club and pretend there are a lot of us in it,” Retzlaff said.
“That club would be a lot bigger here and I think that is awesome,” he continued. “That fact just made it so much sweeter to come here.”
Retzlaff had a devout following of rabbis from across the country while he was playing in Provo. The BY-Jew shirt was sold to faithful members at synagogues from California to England. And he’s already getting in touch with faith leaders in New Orleans.
“I’ve already been put in contact with local rabbis. I am excited to explore that side of it at Tulane, no doubt,” he said.
On the football side, he’s trying to win the starting job with limited time. He is easily the most experienced quarterback in the room, but also just learning the offense.
“It is a lot of late nights studying for sure,” Retzlaff said. “I wish I got more sleep.”
Still, he is ready for the challenge after a chaotic exit from BYU.
Retzlaff chose to leave the university instead of serving a seven-game Honor Code suspension, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. Retzlaff was sued for civil sexual assault in May, in a case that was later dismissed. Still, he faced a suspension from BYU for admitting to having premarital sex. That is against the Honor Code at the school owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The former BYU player refused to comment on the case or suspension.
“Nah, I’m just worried about where my feet are,” he said when asked about the court case.
Retzlaff said he has stayed in touch with his former teammates.
“The circumstances are what the circumstances are and I left,” he said. “But I told them, anyone call me anytime and I’ll pick up. I don’t care what I am doing. Those are my brothers over there and they know that. I’m excited to see their future and their success. I guarantee you if I have a chance to throw on one of their games [on TV], I will.”
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake publicly wished Retzlaff well on Wednesday.
“I’ve talked to Kalani a lot. He’s not just a coach to me. He’s a mentor and true friend. He’s a loved one in my eyes and he’s family,” Retzlaff said.
“We always play early games and they always play late games. I’m excited to watch whatever quarterback makes it out of the quarterback battle,” he said. “BYU is an amazing place.”
But most of all, Retzlaff said he’s ready to move on. BYU is behind him.
A new nickname for the BY-Jew awaits.