Quarterback Bear Bachmeier won’t say he’s 100% healthy.
But he expects to be before the Cougars take on Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl later this month.
“Feeling good. Feeling prepared,” Bachmeier said this week. “I’ve been out there, slowly increasing the reps and feeling good.”
Is he 100%?
“Getting there,” he replied.
Bachmeier struggled in BYU’s Big 12 title matchup against Texas Tech, clearly hampered by an injury.
But offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said there was never any discussion about going to a backup despite his QB’s apparent ankle injury.
“He was a little banged up,” the coordinator said, “but I think with the adrenaline and everything he kept saying, ‘No, I’m good to go.’”
Roderick expects Bachmeier to play against Georgia Tech. He didn’t practice during the first week of bowl prep out of precaution and was walking around in a boot. But Roderick doesn’t think the injury will have any long-term effects on the quarterback’s offseason.
“He’s good. It’s not anything anybody’s worried about,” he said.
Vibe check
The Cougars could, understandably, be disappointed.
First, they missed out on the College Football Playoff.
Next, they were teased and then denied a chance to play a blue-blood Notre Dame team in a bowl game.
But, perhaps surprisingly, the vibes seem pretty good as everyone gets ready for a Pop-Tarts Bowl matchup with Georgia Tech.
“The vibe I’ve gotten is everybody is excited to play,” Roderick said. “These guys like football. We’ll show up and play anywhere. Put the ball down there in the parking lot and we’ll play.”
Perhaps the real test of that will be how many players opt out of playing in this game.
But, so far, there haven’t been many.
“I haven’t heard of any yet,” Roderick said. “As far as I know, everyone is excited to play in this game. We had everyone out here at practice, dressed.”
Defensive coordinator Jay Hill echoed that, saying “the big majority” of his players would suit up in Orlando.
“That’s the way of the world right now. But I don’t see it really happening that much at BYU,” Hill said. “We have great kids that want to play one more game together.
Jay Hill’s future
Hill had nothing but good things to say about his boss’ long-term extension.
“Elated,” Hill said. “Kalani is the best guy in the world to work for. He’s super fair. He loves us. He’s passionate abut BYU. Kalani being here is a huge deal.”
But security for Sitake also means there’s no room for Hill to move up — and that’s something a lot of experts expect the coordinator to do at some point.
“Sure. That always is intriguing,” Hill said when asked if he had a desire to be a head coach somewhere at some point in the future. “But you just never know. You’ve got to be where your feet are. That’s a hard question. Yes, but no. I love where I’m at and it would have to be something where everyone says, “I get that.” It would have to be a great situation for family and everybody.”