Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel appears for a receiver throughout sport towards Kent State, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Norman, Okla. Gabriel is properly aware of the Cougars and their new QB, Kedon Slovis. Sue Ogrocki, Related Press
Texas head soccer coach Steve Sarkisian offers a hook’em horns gesture after talking at Huge 12 media days in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. The previous BYU star quarterback spoke respectfully of the Cougars on the annual collect in Texas. LM Otero, Related Press
Cincinnati head soccer coach Scott Satterfield solutions questions from reporters throughout Huge 12 media days in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, July 13, 2023. Satterfield spoke of the challenges of enjoying in Provo, particularly on a Friday night time. Emil T. Lippe, Related Press
West Virginia head soccer coach Neal Brown solutions questions from reporters on the NCAA faculty soccer Huge 12 media days in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, July 13, 2023. Brown, who many really feel is on the recent seat in Morgantown, noticed his crew picked to complete final within the Huge 12 preseason media ballot. Emil T. Lippe, Related Press
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell solutions questions from reporters in the course of the Huge 12 media days in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, July 13, 2023. Campbell started his run in Ames the identical 12 months Sitake began his head teaching profession in Provo. Emil T. Lippe, Related Press
BYU quarterback Steve Sarkisian prepares to stiff arm a Wyoming defender throughout sport in Provo. Now he’s the pinnacle coach at Texas and is wanting ahead to having the Cougars pay Austin a go to this season. Mark A. Philbrick, BYU Picture
ARLINGTON, Texas — When longtime rival Texas all the time needs a chunk of you and the eight remaining groups within the Huge 12 convention want to take you down a notch or two after years of beatings, you don’t should go searching for massive video games and marquee matchups when you find yourself the College of Oklahoma.
“It's going to be a beautiful ambiance. Late November, it would in all probability be about 80 levels in Provo. No, it will be a beautiful ambiance. Once more, unimaginable fan base. There’s not going to be an empty seat in the home.” — Oklahoma coach Brett Venables on enjoying at BYU
Apart from being their closing Huge 12 street sport ever, the Nov. 18 showdown at BYU actually doesn’t carry a lot additional significance for the Sooners. Possibly they are going to be enjoying for a berth within the Huge 12 championship sport two weeks later in the identical stadium by which the Huge 12 soccer media days was simply held.
BYU nearly actually is not going to.
However for one Sooner specifically — quarterback Dillon Gabriel — the sport in Provo has the potential to be particular.
For starters, Gabriel and BYU beginning quarterback Kedon Slovis are good mates, having first turn into acquainted whereas taking part on the Manning Passing Academy a couple of years in the past.
“He’s only a actually down-to-earth man,” Gabriel advised the Deseret Information Thursday because the Huge 12 soccer media days have been winding down. “I've been watching his journey from USC to Pitt and now BYU, and I'm actually impressed by him.
“He’s a man I textual content backwards and forwards with and examine in with every so often. He’s an incredible dude, and I’m lucky to name him a good friend.”
Second, Gabriel might be as aware of the BYU program, and Provo, as any returning participant within the Huge 12.
“My dad (Garrett Gabriel) performed quarterback on the College of Hawaii (and beat BYU twice, together with the day Ty Detmer gained the Heisman Trophy) and has that connection, after which clearly I do know so much about this system due to the Polynesian gamers which have been there, and are there.”
Third, Gabriel was UCF’s beginning QB within the 2020 Boca Raton Bowl when the Zach Wilson-led Cougars routed the additionally Huge 12-bound Knights 49-23 in Gabriel’s second season in Orlando.
“It's loopy that we’re enjoying them once more,” Gabriel mentioned. “Taking part in them in Provo goes to be an excellent cool place to play them. … I'm excited. It will likely be tremendous cool, and the brand new groups within the Huge 12 are going so as to add one other dimension to the atmospheres within the league, that are already enjoyable atmospheres.”
Slovis mentioned Wednesday when BYU’s gamers and coach Kalani Sitake addressed the media in Arlington that the OU sport is one he’s wanting ahead to, due to the connection he has to Gabriel, but additionally as a result of Oklahoma is, properly, Oklahoma.
“OU is traditionally a blue-blood college, and has had loads of success not too long ago, too. Rising up, they have been all the time within the Rose Bowl, all the time within the playoff,” Slovis mentioned. “I do know Dillon Gabriel fairly properly, so attending to play towards him will likely be enjoyable. We have been speaking concerning the sport a little bit bit earlier. I'm wanting ahead to each alternative like that.”
OU coach not on board
Whereas Gabriel is wanting ahead to catching up with mates — Sitake can also be a buddy, along with his Hawaii ties — in Provo, his coach will not be.
“It's going to be a beautiful ambiance. Late November, it would in all probability be about 80 levels in Provo,” quipped OU coach Brett Venables, tongue firmly in cheek. “No, it will be a beautiful ambiance. Once more, unimaginable fan base. There’s not going to be an empty seat in the home.”
Venables was an assistant coach on the 1996 Kansas State crew that BYU (and QB Steve Sarkisian, now Texas’ coach) beat within the Cotton Bowl. He was an assistant on the 2009 OU crew that BYU downed 14-13 at then-newly opened Cowboys Stadium.
“It's going to be a mature soccer crew, like most of the BYU groups are,” Venables mentioned. “Coach (Sitake) and his employees have accomplished an incredible job to ascertain a tradition of toughness. You will should go earn the victory. They don't seem to be going to offer you something. So hopefully we're enjoying our greatest soccer at the moment of the 12 months.”
Baylor QB has been there, accomplished that
Baylor, the 2021 Huge 12 champion, will not be on BYU’s schedule in 2023 (together with Kansas State, UCF and Houston), a lot to the Cougars’ chagrin as a result of BYU kinda, sorta is hoping to construct a pleasant rivalry with the Bears.
Baylor QB Blake Shapen was a part of the Bears’ 26-20 loss to BYU in double time beyond regulation final September at LaVell Edwards Stadium, and he advised different Huge 12 groups what to anticipate once they go to the 63,470-seat stadium that sits 4,649 toes above sea stage.
“That was in all probability among the finest spots I've performed in to this point. That crowd, the power they introduced, was fairly particular,” Shapen mentioned. “So what different groups can count on once they stroll in there's a packed-out stadium and followers that get loud. It's a excellent spot to play.”
No snark from Sark, in relation to BYU
Sarkisian, coming into his third season in Austin, is aware of all about enjoying in Provo — which is why he’s glad he doesn’t should take the Longhorns into LES of their closing 12 months within the league. Texas hosts BYU on Oct. 28 within the first assembly since Taysom Hill ran for 3 touchdowns — together with the “leap of religion” — in a 41-7 Cougars romp in Austin in 2014.
Texas head soccer coach Steve Sarkisian offers a hook’em horns gesture after talking at Huge 12 media days in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. The previous BYU star quarterback spoke respectfully of the Cougars on the annual collect in Texas.
LM Otero, Related Press
As was the case final 12 months, Sark was requested early and infrequently at media days concerning the college for which he performed in 1995 and 1996. Recognized by Texas media as being a critical, no-nonsense man, he by no means grew weary of the inquiries about BYU.
“You understand, individuals have requested me earlier than about BYU now being within the Huge 12 and the way that will likely be,” Sarkisian mentioned. “To me, BYU has been a nationwide model for many years, going again to teach (LaVell) Edwards and what he was in a position to do and a number of the nice groups and nice packages (he had). And now to be in a Energy 5 scenario within the Huge 12, I'm completely satisfied for them.
“I'm completely satisfied for his or her alumni and people gamers. I feel it's a nice alternative. Then we get an opportunity to play them. I'm glad we don’t should go to Provo. We get them in Austin, in order that will likely be enjoyable,” Sarkisian concluded.
Cincy coach says Friday nights in Provo are not any enjoyable
New Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield mentioned he has one scholarship participant on his crew proper now who was with the Bearcats final fall. Cincinnati added 21 gamers from the switch portal, about the identical quantity as BYU.
Cincinnati head soccer coach Scott Satterfield solutions questions from reporters throughout Huge 12 media days in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, July 13, 2023. Satterfield spoke of the challenges of enjoying in Provo, particularly on a Friday night time.
Emil T. Lippe, Related Press
That’s partially why Satterfield wasn’t completely satisfied when he noticed the schedule-makers have Cincy enjoying at BYU on Friday, Sept. 29, which will likely be BYU’s first Huge 12 dwelling sport.
“Once I checked out our schedule, that’s the very first thing that stood out — very difficult,” Satterfield mentioned. “No. 1, I hate enjoying on quick weeks. I don’t know anyone that actually likes it.”
BYU historically performs on Friday night time in late September or early October, somewhat than Saturday, so the sport doesn't battle with Common Convention of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“That’s a protracted journey for us and that’s going to be an evening sport, I feel perhaps 10:30 Jap time (kickoff) on that Friday night time,” Satterfield mentioned. “We all know that’s a hostile surroundings, going out to BYU. They’ve obtained an incredible soccer crew and nice fan assist there. That’s going to be an excessive problem.”
The Bearcats host Oklahoma on Sept. 23 of their Huge 12 opener, whereas BYU will likely be at Kansas that day.
“After the Oklahoma sport we’ll have a plan in place to get ready as attainable to go on the market and be ready to play BYU,” Satterfield mentioned.
Take me (distant from) dwelling, nation roads
Every week after they make the journey to Austin, the Cougars should fly throughout the nation to play West Virginia on Nov. 4, which is already being billed as a conflict of cultures.
West Virginia coach Neal Brown, who's on the recent seat, spent appreciable time Thursday from the massive stage at AT&T Stadium wailing concerning the media selecting the Mountaineers to complete final within the Huge 12 this season.
West Virginia head soccer coach Neal Brown solutions questions from reporters on the NCAA faculty soccer Huge 12 media days in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, July 13, 2023. Brown, who many really feel is on the recent seat in Morgantown, noticed his crew picked to complete final within the Huge 12 preseason media ballot.
Emil T. Lippe, Related Press
“Upset concerning the media ballot. Undoubtedly don't agree with that,” Brown mentioned. The coach added that he was sitting on a seashore final week when he obtained the information from WVU’s sports activities data director for soccer.
“From that time on, my trip was over,” he mentioned. “… Wanting ahead to proving all people unsuitable on that entrance. We gained’t end there.”
Later, Brown acknowledged to the Deseret Information that having BYU on the house schedule “is odd,” however not unprecedented. West Virginia downed BYU 35-32 in Landover, Maryland, in 2016.
“BYU is a program that I've appreciated from afar. I've in all probability studied BYU this summer time greater than I've in my total profession. I’ve all the time appreciated how they went about it, what they stood for. There's a actually bodily model of soccer that they play, and the fanbase is extraordinarily passionate. BYU is certainly an added worth for our league.”
From watching BYU on TV to actuality
When BYU hosts Iowa State on Nov. 11, will probably be a bucket checklist merchandise, of types, for eight-year coach Matt Campbell, who took over in Ames when Sitake took over in Provo. Requested about going through Huge 12 newcomers BYU and Cincinnati, Campbell praised each faculties and their soccer packages.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell solutions questions from reporters in the course of the Huge 12 media days in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, July 13, 2023. Campbell started his run in Ames the identical 12 months Sitake began his head teaching profession in Provo.
Emil T. Lippe, Related Press
“Nicely, you already know, you simply speak about each of these establishments, and the historical past, the success, the excellence that these two manufacturers actually embody, after which two wonderful locations to go play soccer,” Campbell mentioned.
“As a younger child, I all the time dreamed of enjoying towards BYU and that Provo space is one thing that I grew up watching these video games late night time on ESPN, and actually look ahead to the chance to go compete there.”
Later, Campbell advised the Deseret Information that his father, Rick, was a highschool soccer coach in Ohio and was a “large” fan of legendary BYU coach LaVell Edwards.
“BYU was on TV so much, and I bear in mind me and my father sitting and watching a few of these nice video games BYU performed in,” Campbell mentioned. “I grew up with a father who had the utmost respect for that BYU program.”
BYU quarterback Steve Sarkisian prepares to stiff arm a Wyoming defender throughout sport in Provo. Now he’s the pinnacle coach at Texas and is wanting ahead to having the Cougars pay Austin a go to this season.
Mark A. Philbrick, BYU Picture