The 2013 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cougars, led by head coach Bronco Mendenhall, played their home games at LaVell Edwards Stadium. This was the third year BYU competed as an independent. They finished the season 8–5. They were invited to the Fight Hunger Bowl where they lost to Washington, 31–16.
Before the season
Coaching changes After the 2012 Poinsettia Bowl, longtime assistant coach Lance Reynolds announced his retirement after 33 years of service at BYU (29 years as a coach and 4 years as a player). To fill the vacancy, BYU looked to an old face. Longtime assistant Robert Anae was brought back from the University of Arizona as the new offensive coordinator. In addition to his position as the offensive coordinator, Anae was given the responsibility of helping Bronco evaluate the entire offensive staff.
On January 8, Mark Weber left BYU for Utah State after six years with the Cougars. Weber was hired by the Aggies as the new assistant head coach and as the offensive line coach.
On Monday, January 14, Coach Mendenhall informed running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Joe DuPaix and tight ends coach Ben Cahoon that their contracts would not be renewed for the 2013 season. It was also revealed that Brandon Doman's status with the university was uncertain for 2013. BYU announced they had interviewed Max Hall, Paul Peterson (Sacramento State offensive coordinator), and Steve Clark (Southern Utah offensive coordinator) for the position of quarterback coach for the 2013 season.
On Tuesday, January 15, BYU announced that two coaches had been hired as part of the new offensive staff for the 2013 season. Garett Tujague was hired and Mark Atuaia was moved from the athletic director's office as the assistant to the AD over to the football coaching staff. BYU's official press release said that positions wouldn't be announced until the staff was finalized, but common rumors stated that Tujague would become the offensive lines coach and Atuaia would become the running backs coach.
On Wednesday, January 16, BYU announced that Aaron Roderick had been hired as an assistant coach on the offensive side at BYU. Roderick was to join the Cougars after 8 years of service at Utah, and it was believed that he would serve as the receivers coach. Less than 24 hours after accepting the position at BYU, Roderick changed his mind and decided to return to the Utes for the 2013 season.
The final coaching staff members were announced on Friday, February 15. Jason Beck was hired as the quarterback coach and Guy Holliday was hired as the wide receiver coach.
On February 28, Bronco Mendenhall announced that Nick Howell had been promoted to the defensive coordinator position, Robert Anae was assistant head coach, and Kelly Popinga would serve as special teams coordinator.
2013 recruits
DeBeikes, England, Laulu-Pututau, Shumway, and Tapusoa served church missions right after graduation and did not join the BYU team until the 2015 season.
2013 returning missionaries Eight return missionaries, 4 on the offensive side and 4 on the defensive side, returned and played their first action with BYU during the 2013 season.
2013 departures The following Cougars graduated, transferred, or chose to serve two-year church missions after the 2012 season and didn't return to the team in 2013. Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes James Lark 7 QB 200 St. George, UT Graduated Riley Nelson 13 QB 199 Logan, UT Graduated Ezekiel Ansah 47 LB 280 Accra, Ghana Graduated; 1st Round, 5th pick by Detroit Lions Braden Brown 75 OL 300 Salt Lake City, UT Graduated; NFL Free Agent Signee with St. Louis Rams Ryan Freeman 50 OL 287 Orem, UT Graduated David Foote 27 RB 200 St. George, UT Graduated Zed Mendenhall 35 RB 253 Alpine, UT Graduated Braden Hansen 76 OL 307 Sandy, UT Graduated; NFL Free Agent Signee with Oakland Raiders Walter Kahaiali'i 71 OL 325 Lahaina, HI Retired during 2012 due to knee surgery & Graduated Robbie Buckner 26 DB 176 Ashdown, AR Graduated DeQuan Everett 21 DB 209 Long Beach, CA Graduated Mike Hague 32 DB 190 Salt Lake City, UT Graduated Ian Dulan 39 DL 271 Hilo, HI Graduated Romney Fuga 98 DL 318 Huntington Beach, CA Graduated; NFL Free Agent Signee with Denver Broncos Russell Tialavea 52 DL 265 Oceanside, CA Graduated Simote Vea 98 DL 270 Hauʻula, HI Graduated Uona Kaveinga 4 LB 233 Hawthorne, CA Graduated; NFL Free Agent Signee with Denver Broncos Preston Hadley 7 DB 200 Pleasant Grove, UT Graduated; Invited to attend Seattle Seahawks camp Joe Sampson 1 DB 203 Oakland, CA Graduated Eathyn Manumaleuna 55 DL 288 Anchorage, AK Graduated Austen Jorgensen 34 LB 229 Mt. Pleasant, UT Graduated Brandon Ogletree 44 LB 228 McKinney, TX Graduated; NFL Free Agent Signee with Miami Dolphins Reed Hornung 96 DS 249 Anoka, MN Graduated Riley Stephenson 99 K & P 205 St. George, UT Graduated Houston Reynolds 78 OL 205 Provo, UT Retired for medical reasons Jordan Smith 23 WR 203 Salem, UT Not medically cleared to play, won't return for senior season Kevan Bills 46 LB 245 Provo, UT Tore Achilles tendon, will medical redshirt 2013 season Roman Andrus 62 DL 259 El Dorado Hills, CA LDS mission (returning in 2015) Tyson Brook 57 DL 265 Connell, WA LDS mission (returning in 2015) Nate Sampson 48 LB 220 Pleasant Grove, UT LDS mission (returning in 2015) Butch Pau'u 38 LB 211 Anaheim, CA LDS mission (returning in 2015) Rhett Sandlin 43 LB 214 Sandy, UT LDS mission (returning in 2015) Lene Lesatele 51 LB 238 Artesia, CA LDS mission (returning in 2015) Matt Hadley 17 DB 191 Connell, WA LDS mission (returning in 2015) Micah Hannemann 24 DB 185 Alpine, UT LDS mission (returning in 2015) Connor Noe 38 DB 195 Mason, OH LDS mission (returning in 2015) Sawyer Powell 28 DB 201 West Richland, WA LDS mission (returning in 2015) Morgan Unga 18 DB 182 Ogden, UT LDS mission (returning in 2015) Quin Ficklin 64 OL 242 Mesa, AZ LDS mission (returning in 2015) Austin Hoyt 66 OL 248 Ione, CA LDS mission (returning in 2015) Ryan Jensen XX OL 220 Alta, UT LDS mission (returning in 2015) Trevor Brown 93 TE 210 Provo, UT LDS mission (returning in 2015) Brayden El-Bakri 24 RB 215 Salt Lake City, UT LDS mission (returning in 2015) Bryan Engstrom 34 RB 168 Sandy, UT LDS mission (returning in 2015) Daniel Lacey 32 RB 180 Farmington, UT LDS mission (returning in 2015) Alex Kuresa 15 WR 180 Millville, UT LDS mission (returning in 2015) Dylan Collie 9 WR 173 El Dorado Hills, CA LDS mission (returning in 2015) Taggart Krueger 87 WR 185 Sammamish, WA LDS mission (returning in 2015)
Spring Game The annual Spring Game was held on Saturday, March 30, 2013. Instead of doing a traditional 20-minute scrimmage with 5 minutes per quarter, the Cougars held a 50-play scrimmage that became more of a 75-play scrimmage. More than 12,000 fans turned out to see the first team offense and second team defense (titled BYU West) take on the second team offense and first team defense (BYU East). Several expected starters, including QB Taysom Hill, who had not been cleared for full contact, were held out of the scrimmage. The offense scored four touchdowns and added one field goal in a 15–13 victory by the West team.
Pre-season honors Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Kyle Van Noy 3 LB 235 Reno, NV Walter Camp POY Watch List, Butkus Award Watch List, Rotari Lombardi Watch List, Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, Bednarik Award Watch List, Lott Trophy Watch List, Maxwell Award Watch List, Preseason All-America Candidate, Preseason Phil Steele 1st Team, Preseason USA Today All American Cody Hoffman 2 WR 210 Crescent City, CA Bilentnikoff Award Watch List, Preseason All-America Candidate, Preseason Phil Steele 2nd Team Michael Alisa 42 RB 220 Laie, HI Doak Walker Award Watch List Jamaal Williams 21 RB 200 Fontana, CA Doak Walker Award Watch List Spencer Hadley 2 LB 227 Connell, WA Butkus Award Watch List Uani Unga 41 LB 233 Rancho Cucamonga, CA Butkus Award Watch List Eathyn Manumaleuna 55 DL 305 Anchorage, AK Outland Trophy Watch List Kaneakua Friel 82 TE 261 Kaneohe, HI DJohn Mackey Award Watch List JD Falslev 12 RB 175 Smithfield, UT Paul Hornung Award Watch List Bronson Kaufusi 90 DL 282 Provo, UT Hendrick Award Watch List Ross Apo 1 WR 207 Arlington, TX Earl Campbell Award Watch List
Media
2013 Media Day Football Media Day was held on Wednesday, June 26, at 10 a.m. MDT. BYU announced a 2-for-1 series with USC scheduled to begin in 2019, a 2015 affiliation with the Poinsettia Bowl, and the 3-year extension of head coach Bronco Mendenhall, pushing his contract through the 2016 season. New BYUtv Sports reporter Spencer Linton conducted webchats with some of BYU's returning starters, new starters, and head coaches. Trevor Matich returned from ESPN to act as a special analyst alongside BYUtv analysts Blaine Fowler, Jan Jorgensen, and Brian Logan. A TV special titled LaVell Edwards and the BYU Quarterback Factory was also held. Dave McCann acted as the panel host alongside LaVell Edwards, Robbie Bosco, Ty Detmer, Gifford Nielsen, Steve Sarkisian, Gary Sheide, Marc Wilson, Steve Young, Jim McMahon, and others.
Cougar IMG Sports Network affiliates KSL 102.7 FM and 1160 AM- Flagship Station (Salt Lake City/ Provo, UT and ksl.com)BYU Radio- Nationwide (Dish Network 980, Sirius XM 143, and byuradio.org)KIDO- Boise, ID [football only]KTHK- Blackfoot/ Idaho Falls/ Pocatello/ Rexburg, IDKMGR- Manti, UTKSUB- Cedar City, UTKDXU- St. George, UTKSHP- Las Vegas, NV [football only]
Roster
Schedule BYU faced schools from every BCS conference except the SEC: the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and the AAC. Notre Dame was an additional Top 25 opponent, and BYU also played rivalry games against Boise State and traditional rival Utah State. BYU played in the 2013 Fight Hunger Bowl.
Game summaries
Virginia
BYUtv Panel: Alema Harrington, Brian Logan, David Nixon, and Andy Boyce. Sideline Reporters: Dave McCann and Blaine Fowler Sources:
BYU and Virginia entered into the game with both teams debuting new offenses and hoping for the best. Bad news occurred for Cougar fans before game time as it was revealed Cody Hoffman had an ankle sprain and would be unable to play. The first quarter saw BYU's total yardage as nearly quadruple that of Virginia's, but neither team was able to score. As the two teams got ready to start the second quarter, lightning struck within 15 miles of the stadium. Both teams were sent to their locker rooms, and a two-hour lightning delay began.
The lightning also caused havoc with the TV arrangements. ESPNU had another game to start broadcasting at 7 p.m., but BYU at Virginia would only be in the second quarter. As a result, ESPN decided to move the entire nation, except for those in the states of Virginia and Utah, to the Washington State/ Auburn ESPNU game while the markets of Utah and Virginia would remain with the BYU/ Virginia game. The game would be made available on ESPN3 for the rest of the nation. However viewers on DirecTV and Dish Network had no choice but to move to the next game as they couldn't put in territorial restrictions. Dish Network was able to air the remainder of the game on Channel 147, an ESPN alternate station, but DirecTV fans were to go unhappy, unless they had internet access to ESPN3.
The Cougars were able to strike first in the second quarter, and it provided hope for the Cougars as the Cougars had only lost three times in the Bronco Mendenhall era when BYU scored first. However a 53-yard field goal and a blocked punt gave Virginia the momentum, and they never looked back.