The Thirty third-annual Valero Alamo Bowl, pitting No. 17 BYU in opposition to No. 23 Colorado, is shaping as much as be a showcase for 3 of probably the most recognizable figures in school soccer, CU coach Deion Sanders, possible Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
The Cougars, who’ve three first-team All-Big 12 gamers, however no superstars, are completely effective with that, a number of of them stated Monday throughout a teleconference that additionally included BYU head coach Kalani Sitake.
“We are simply tremendous excited, actually. They are an awesome staff. We are tremendous excited to go play within the Alamo Bowl and to get to play them,” stated one among BYU’s all-conference choices, defensive finish Tyler Batty. “I don’t assume there are any emotions of men being bummed out. I believe it’s simply pleasure to go play a very good staff and go compete along with your brothers. It is one other alternative to go play soccer, so we’re all about it.”
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Some BYU and Colorado followers have expressed disappointment by way of social media that the sport pits two Big 12 groups — a number of of us on either side wished to play Miami within the Pop-Tarts Bowl — however BYU offensive lineman Connor Pay stated seeing the Buffs (9-3) is okay with him as a result of they haven’t confronted off as Big 12 members and received’t till subsequent season in Boulder.
“Obviously there’s the unknown of going and enjoying somebody within the ACC (that’s intriguing), however no, we’re not disillusioned,” Pay stated. “The Alamo Bowl obtained first alternative. So we had been glad we obtained picked first.”
Iowa State, which fell to Arizona State within the Big 12 championship sport after 4 groups tied for first with 7-2 data, will meet Miami in Orlando a number of hours earlier than the Cougars and Buffaloes collide in San Antonio. Most pundits are calling the BYU-CU matchup the most effective bowl sport outdoors the College Football Playoffs.
“Obviously it will appeal to a number of eyes, which is nice,” Pay stated. “Lots of people are going to be watching BYU soccer on the twenty eighth (of December).”
The Cougars (10-2) are properly conscious that Colorado, probably the most celebrated coach within the sport (Coach Prime) and the aforementioned dynamic gamers would be the large draw — at the very least on tv units all through the nation — however that may solely function additional motivation for them to arrange tougher and extra effectively.
“They are nice athletes. They have an awesome program. They are elite, proper? You have a look at their guys and what (honors) they’re within the operating for,” Batty stated. “It is a superb alternative for us. I’m actually excited to go compete in opposition to them.”
Batty agreed that the truth that BYU and Colorado haven’t met on the gridiron for the reason that 1988 Freedom Bowl in Anaheim, California, a 20-17 BYU victory, makes the league-mates factor much less of a giant deal. Colorado leads the sequence 8-3-1, most of these video games coming once they had been within the Rocky Mountain Conference and the Mountain States Conference collectively earlier than 1947.
“Historically we haven’t actually performed them. We weren’t within the (Pac-12) with them, so we simply haven’t seen them a lot. So yeah, it’s thrilling to go play them,” Batty stated.
“They are nice athletes. They have an awesome program. They are elite, proper? You have a look at their guys and what (honors) they’re within the operating for. It is a superb alternative for us. I’m actually excited to go compete in opposition to them.”
— BYU’s Tyler Batty on enjoying Colorado within the Alamo Bowl
At the welcome information convention on Sunday, CU’s Sanders stated that every one of his “pro-bound” gamers are going to play in opposition to the Cougars.
Asked on Monday if any BYU gamers will decide out, Sitake stated the subject has not come up but in Provo and that he’s anticipating all the fellows who haven’t entered the switch portal to be out there to play. As of Monday, the next gamers had introduced they had been getting into the portal: receiver Kody Epps, tight finish Jackson Bowers, security Micah Harper, operating again Miles Davis, lengthy snapper Dalton Riggs, defensive lineman Dallin Havea, receiver Tyler West and security Crew Wakley.
“I can’t communicate for all of them, however I think about all the fellows are going to follow and play. They are all practising (now),” Sitake stated. “There are guys who’ve entered the portal. I believe these guys are searching for totally different alternatives to play and get on the sphere, and issues like that.
“We have had conferences, and none of them had been tremendous detrimental. They are searching for different alternatives, and that’s effective,” the coach continued. “For probably the most half I haven’t heard anyone speak about opting out. They are practising and doing all that stuff. I haven’t had that dialogue. I think about our guys are going to play.”
Pay and Batty, who’re getting into the NFL draft in April, stated they may play.
Said Pay: “I’m enjoying. No doubt about it.”
Said Batty: “Yeah, completely. … Super excited for one more alternative to exit and play soccer with the fellows and have enjoyable and go compete.”
Where do the Cougars stand on the damage entrance?
Of the BYU gamers who’ve hit the switch portal, solely Wakley is a starter. Just a few different starters — offensive linemen Brayden Keim and Isaiah Jatta and operating again Hinckley Ropati — missed BYU’s 30-18 win over Houston on Nov. 30 with accidents and are questionable for the bowl sport.
“They are all kinda in the identical boat. They will not be prepared this week. We are hoping for subsequent week. And then the week after that’s going to be sport week,” Sitake stated. “Hopefully subsequent week we are able to see some extra enchancment and get them prepared.”
Sitake stated as a result of Keim and Ropati are seniors, they’ve to think about whether or not coming again too quickly places them in peril of reinjury and never being prepared to arrange for combines and professional days.
Jatta has one other yr of eligibility, however as a result of he’s a switch from Colorado he has some additional incentive to play within the sport in opposition to his former teammates.
“I do know (Jatta) is involved in enjoying,” Sitake stated.
