The 2011 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University in the 2011 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 first year they competed as an independent in football. They finished the season 10–3 and were invited to the Armed Forces Bowl where they defeated Tulsa 24–21.

2011 media The school announced that the annual BYU Football Media days would be July 12, 2011 and would be broadcast live on BYUtv. Special question and answer segments with current players and BYU Hall of Famers would take place throughout the day on BYUtv.org. Having no other sports to broadcast that day, ESPN announced they would simulcast two of the events live on ESPN3. All games will be broadcast on KSL 102.7 FM and 1160 AM, on the internet at KSL.com, and through the various BYU Cougars sport network affiliates. Additionally BYUtv will broadcast a one-hour pregame show live (called Countdown to Kickoff and hosted by Dave McCann, Alema Harrington, and David Nixon) followed by a Post-game Show with Interviews from players and coaches about the games outcome. The Bronco Mendenhall Monday Press Conference will be shown live every Monday on www.byutv.org (live events link) instead of the actual BYUtv Channel. BYUtv Sports will also be able to provide their own announcers for the BYUtv Gameday Replay of all home games with Dave McCann doing play-by-play, Gary Sheide or Blaine Fowler doing color commentary, and Robbie Bullough or Jarom Jordan doing sideline reporting.

BYU Radio 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, ID KMGR – Manti, UT KSUB – Cedar City, UT KDXU – St. George, UT KSHP – Las Vegas, NV [football only] KNZZ – Grand Junction, CO [football only]

Schedule

Roster 2011 BYU CougarsQuarterbacks

3 James Lark – Junior 7 Alex Kuresa – Freshman 9 Jake Heaps – Sophomore 12 Jason Munns – Sophomore 13 Riley Nelson – Junior

Running backs 5 Iona Pritchard – Sophomore 10 JJ Di Luigi – Senior 20 Josh Quezada – Sophomore 22 Adam Hine – Freshman 27 David Foote – Junior 30 Ryan Folsom – Sophomore 32 Nate Carter – Freshman 33 Bryan Kariya – Senior 35 Zed Mendenhall – Junior 41 Austin Heder – Freshman 42 Michael Alisa – Sophomore

Offensive line 50 Ryan Freeman – Junior 54 Blair Tushaus – Freshman 57 Famika Anae – Freshman 60 Terence Brown – Senior 62 Marco Thorson – Senior 64 Terrance Motley – Freshman 66 Manu Mulitalo – Freshman 67 Quinn Lawlor – Freshman 68 Austin Nielsen – Junior 70 Matt Reynolds – Senior 72 Ryker Mathews – Freshman 73 Solomone Kafu – Freshman 74 Brock Stringham – Freshman 75 Braden Brown – Junior 76 Braden Hansen – Junior 77 Michael Yeck – Freshman 78 Houston Reynolds – Sophomore 79 Manaaki Vaitai – Sophomore Devon smith – Freshman

Coaches Bronco Mendenhall – Head coach/ defensive coordinator Lance Reynolds – Asst. Head Coach/ tight ends Brandon Doman – Offensive coordinator/ quarterbacks coach Ben Cahoon – Receivers coach Joe DuPaix – Running backs coach/ recruiting coordinator Nick Howell – Secondary/ special teams coach Steve Kaufusi – Defensive line coach Kelly Poppinga – Outside linebackers coach Paul Tidwell – Inside linebackers coach Mark Weber – Offensive line coach Jay Omer – Head strength and conditioning coach Duane Busby – Director of football operations Patrick Hickman – Football h. s. relations coordinator Wide receivers 2 Cody Hoffman – Sophomore 6 McKay Jacobson – Senior 11 Ross Apo – Freshman 12 JD Falslev – Sophomore 16 Terenn Houk – Freshman 17 Dalin Tollestrup – Junior 19 Matt Marshall – Senior 21 Kurt Hendersen – Freshman 23 Cody Raymond – Freshman 24 Skyler Ridley – Sophomore 25 Rex Morgan – Freshman 26 Colby Hansen – Freshman 29 Jordan Smith – Sophomore 83 Spencer Hafoka – Senior 85 Dallin Cutler – Sophomore 87 Rhen Brown – Junior

Tight ends 18 Richard Wilson – Sophomore 80 Marcus Mathews – Sophomore 82 Kaneakua Friel – Sophomore 84 Devin Mahina – Sophomore 86 Colby Jorgensen – Freshman 88 Austin Holt – Sophomore 89 Matthew Edwards – Senior 90 Stehly Reden – Freshman 92 Grant Jones – Freshman 93 Trevor Brown – Freshman

Defensive line 41 Matt Putnam – Senior 43 Baker Pritchard – Freshman 55 Eathyn Manumaleuna – Junior 57 Moses Kaumatule – Freshman 58 Justin Blackmore – Freshman 65 Ian Dulan – Senior 71 Walter Kahaiali'i – Junior 91 Hebron Fangupo – Senior 92 Graham Rowley – Sophomore 93 Simote Vea – Senior 94 Jordan Richardson – Junior 95 Mike Muehlmann – Sophomore 97 Travis Tuiloma – Freshman 98 Romney Fuga – Junior

Deep Snapper 96 Reed Hornung – Junior Linebackers 1 Jordan Pendleton – Senior 2 Spencer Hadley – Sophomore 3 Kyle Van Noy – Sophomore 4 Uona Kaveinga – Junior 22 Manoa Pikula – Freshman 31 Aveni Leung-Wai – Senior 34 Austen Jorgensen – Junior 36 Alani Fua – Freshman 37 Uani Unga – Junior 38 Seth Probert – Freshman 39 Zac Stout – Sophomore 42 Zach Newman – Freshman 44 Brandon Ogletree – Junior 45 Tyler Beck – Junior 46 Kevan Bills – Freshman 47 Ezekiel Ansah – Junior 48 Jameson Frazier – Senior 49 Jadon Wagner – Senior 51 Lene Lesatele – Freshman 52 Cody Monsen – Freshman 53 Tanner Cox – Freshman 56 Connell Hess – Junior 59 Va'a Niumatalolo – Freshman

Defensive backs 5 Joe Sampson – Junior 6 Jordan Johnson – Freshman 7 Preston Hadley – Junior 9 Daniel Sorensen – Sophomore 15 Carter Mees – Junior 16 Gavin Fowler – Freshman 17 Logan Obering – Freshman 18 Jray Galea'i – Sophomore 19 Kori Gaines – Freshman 20 Chase Pendley – Sophomore 21 DeQuan Everett – Junior 23 Travis Uale – Senior 24 Cameron Comer – Freshman 25 Corby Eason – Senior 26 Robbie Buckner – Junior 27 Teu Kautai – Freshman 29 Skye PoVey – Sophomore 32 Mike Hague – Junior

Kickers/ Punters 28 Brian Smith – Sophomore 37 Justin Sorensen – Sophomore 99 Riley Stephenson – JuniorSources:

Rankings

Regular season Mississippi

BYU's first game as a football independent."Defense Comes Up Big in 14–13 Win". BYUCougars.com. Retrieved October 18, 2011. Sources:

Texas "BYU Falls to Longhorns On the Road 17–16. BYUCougars.com. Retrieved October 14, 2011. Sources:

Utah "BYU Falls in Deseret First Duel." BYUCougars.com. Retrieved October 18, 2011. Sources:

Central Florida "Special Teams, Defense Help Cougars to 24–17 Win." BYUCougars.com. Retrieved October 19, 2011.

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Utah State "Nelson and BYU Come Back to Win 27–24." BYUCougars.com. Retrieved October 19, 2011.

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San Jose State "BYU Gets 29–16 Homecoming Victory." BYUCougars.com. Retrieved October 24, 2011.

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Oregon State "Hoffman Leads BYU to 38–28 Win" BYUCougars.com. Retrieved October 24, 2011.

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Idaho State "BYU Beats Idaho State 56–3" BYUCougars.com. Retrieved October 24, 2011.

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TCU "BYU Suffers 38–28 loss to TCU" BYUCougars.com. Retrieved October 28, 2011.

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Idaho

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New Mexico State

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Hawaii

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Armed Forces Bowl- Tulsa

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Cody Hoffman (BYU) was voted the offensive MVP of the game because of his 3 Touchdown Receptions and Dexter McCoil (Tulsa) was voted the defensive MVP of the game because of his 2 Interceptions. Kyle Van Noy was 2nd in the defensive MVP voting.

Season news During Spring Training QB Jake Heaps was named one of the top 3 non-AQ players to watch in 2011 by ESPN's Andrea Adelson.

Rivals.com named OT Matt Reynolds as No. 24 on their top 100 countdown in 2011. Reynolds would later be named on ESPN's Pre-Season All-American team.

At the Utah State game, Brandon Doman proposed benching Heaps and seeing what Riley Nelson could do. Nelson rallied the Cougars to beat the Aggies and would become the starting QB for every game he was healthy in the rest of the season. Nelson would go on to win 4 FBS Independent Player of the Week awards.

BYU decided to add running back Michael Alisa to their running back rotation at homecoming. Alisa would become the starting RB for the rest of the season after going for 91 yards on 16 carries.

Matt Putnam was ruled eligible for the Cougars starting in October and became one of the many linebacker beasts.

On November 7, Bronco Mendenhall announced that senior Jordan Pendleton would have season ending knee surgery. As a tribute for his teammates play and attitude, Kyle Van Noy would wear his number at senior night. Pendleton won two FBS Independent defensive player of the week awards during his senior season.

On December 5, Jake Heaps announced he would transfer after the semester ended. James Lark would resume the backup QB role for the bowl game and for the 2012 season. It was later announced he would transfer to Kansas.

References