Nate Crowley: Okay, there is nothing more deflating than opening up a season with a two yard run up the middle.
Josh Crowley: All right, welcome in, brutally honest BYU Pod, Maiden Voyage pilot episode. super stoked. I'm Josh.
Nate Crowley: I'm Nate.
Josh Crowley: we are brothers, if you can't see the the resemblance.
Nate Crowley: you
Josh Crowley: huge BYU fans, been talking about doing a podcast for super long time. brutally honest, as the name implies, we've got strong opinions, and would love to to just I mean, we talk about these things anyway, so might as well hit record
Nate Crowley: Mm-hmm.
Josh Crowley: and see if anybody wants to listen to two
Nate Crowley: For sure.
Josh Crowley: passionate BYU fans chit chat for an hour. So if you're here, glad to have ya.
Nate Crowley: Yeah. Welcome.
Josh Crowley: all right, so first segment how good is this team really? Nate, you wanna you wanna explain kinda what we're gonna do with this this segment?
Nate Crowley: Yeah, yeah, so we just thought it would be fun to go back in time a little bit and go through some of the best players that we've seen in the Bronco Mendenhall era. And so I was assigned to come up with the best starting 11. of the Bronco Mendenhall era for the defense. So and
Josh Crowley: And I did the same for the offense. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: Josh did the same for the offense. we come to this conglomerate team from 2005 to 2015. We will debate whether that created team is better than the 2026 BYU football team.
Josh Crowley: Yeah. not to bury the lead, but we're pretty high on the twenty twenty six team. So that's why I thought independent
Nate Crowley: Right.
Josh Crowley: slash mountain west era all bronco team. Is that better? And I I I haven't obviously heard your starting eleven, you haven't heard mine, so
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: it'll be interesting to see what what our conclusion is when we hear it. But yeah, so hit us with your all bronco defense.
Nate Crowley: OK, so let's just say as going through some of these teams, our corners, like, peace be upon them, were not power 5, power 4 level corners at any point during the Bronco. Always
Josh Crowley: No. Always the weak point. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: the weak point. But OK, I'll start at the back end. Daniel Sorensen is my free safety. Feels pretty obvious. Others that were in consideration, Quinn Gooch, Scott Johnson.
Josh Crowley: Okay.
Nate Crowley: Those guys were good. Travis Uale, they were all good. But I think Daniel Sorensen is pretty clearly the best.
Josh Crowley: Yeah, dirty den, yeah.
Nate Crowley: Yeah. Then at my strong safety, might be a little bit bending the rules here. I with Kai Nakua. I was like, you know.
Josh Crowley: yeah, no, that's yeah. If he played under Bronco at any point, I think it's on the table. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: He's he played I think more for Yeah Okay So he was again 2015 version of kai nakuha Might be better than 2016. I don't know. Maybe that's a hot take I feel like kai was pretty elite in that his junior year. Also. He was
Josh Crowley: yeah.
Nate Crowley: pretty amazing that 2016 year, but so yeah, the others that were consideration craig bills andrew rich Those were some good run stopper, hard hitting guys. you just, you just, right,
Josh Crowley: Both really good, yeah. But the ball hawking of Kainakua is you can't sit him. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: that's what I'm saying. You got to go with Kai. OK, and then we'll stay in the back end and we'll go with our corners. I feel like you have to go with Michael Davis, right? I mean, that guy played in the NFL. That's what I'm saying.
Josh Crowley: for sure. Yeah. Not that the college version of Michael Davis was particularly great, but yeah, we'll just assume that all these guys were taking not necessarily at the best of their whole career, but like the best
Nate Crowley: That's it. Yeah.
Josh Crowley: that they were at BYU, they're playing
Nate Crowley: Okay.
Josh Crowley: well. I think that's a fair way to do this.
Nate Crowley: Yeah, because again, I think he had one career interception. And in
Josh Crowley: That's crazy.
Nate Crowley: 2016, he gets benched for Diane Lake or Diane Gonwallekoo, whichever one you want him to go by. So
Josh Crowley: Right.
Nate Crowley: that's pretty crazy, to be honest. I feel like that being said, feel like he was pretty tall. He was really fast. I feel like he's probably the better corner. And then this second corner option, which is crazy that this is over the course of 11 years that I couldn't go, for sure. That guy
Josh Crowley: clearly, yeah.
Nate Crowley: like, so I'm going with Brian Logan.
Josh Crowley: I I thought that you because Diane never played for Bronco, is that correct?
Nate Crowley: Correct.
Josh Crowley: Okay, 'cause he'd be clearly, clearly the
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: next one up to me. But I was like, yeah, I'm pretty sure he didn't ever play for Bronco. Ben Critdle? I mean, like maybe
Nate Crowley: I know. You know what I have in parentheses here?
Josh Crowley: Yeah, yeah, hit me.
Nate Crowley: 2013 Mike Hague. Because, yeah, I do.
Josh Crowley: no you don't That's amazing bro
Nate Crowley: I don't know. who do I really trust to cover some Power 4 receivers? And I'm like,
Josh Crowley: Yeah.
Nate Crowley: Man, guess Mike Hague had some speed, but that guy, I feel like was held together by duct tape and arm sleeves by the end of his career.
Josh Crowley: Right. Shout out Mike Higg.
Nate Crowley: I think I'm sticking with Brian Logan, even though he's,
Josh Crowley: Yeah.
Nate Crowley: taller, I'm taller than him, but still. I'm not tall. Not tall at all. Okay,
Josh Crowley: Yeah. And you're not you're not tall, yeah.
Nate Crowley: so then this is the hardest probably, but funnest part is the linebacking core, but. You gotta go Kyle Van Noy, obviously.
Josh Crowley: Course.
Nate Crowley: Then I've got Cameron Jensen. And then I've got Harvey Longi as my two middles. That
Josh Crowley: Okay.
Nate Crowley: second middle linebacker was pretty tough. and then I went with Fred Warner obviously as the opposite one which is funny because he played outside his whole time at BYU and then is
Josh Crowley: Right, right.
Nate Crowley: like the best middle linebacker in football so it's kind of funny that way but anyway so I went Fred Warner but then I mean I really was tempted to go 2009 Jordan Pendleton that guy was a freak.
Josh Crowley: I he was a freak, dude.
Nate Crowley: moving to the D line, which again, I went 3-4 instead of 4-3. Bronco has went three linemen.
Josh Crowley: Sure. Yeah, yeah.
Nate Crowley: This one was also insanely hard to narrow down to just three guys at the defensive line. But I'm going go Jan Jorgensen. I feel like you have to go with Jan. Like, he's all-time
Josh Crowley: Yeah. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: sack leader. OK, and then in the nose tackle, this is so tough. But I win. Ethan, Molly, Monomuna. Mostly, I just feel like he was big enough. But then in parentheses, I also have Romney Fuga. That was the other guy that I thought. I
Josh Crowley: Yeah. He when he was healthy, he was really good.
Nate Crowley: know. He was so good. Others that were thought of the no sackle, Russell T. Alivea is in there.
Josh Crowley: Mm-hmm.
Nate Crowley: Our relative, Ian Doolin. Shout out to Ian.
Josh Crowley: Right.
Nate Crowley: And then on the opposite end, I'm going Bronson Caffusi.
Josh Crowley: Okay. Yeah it's
Nate Crowley: So I thought that, you know, I think people are going to get mad at me for not putting Ziggy on there.
Josh Crowley: Yeah.
Nate Crowley: Ziggy is amazing. You look at his stats, at least at BYU, and his senior season was really good. But like, I was looking at, like, did you realize how good Bronson Kofusi was in 2015? Like, he only pulled his stats.
Josh Crowley: I'd have to go back.
Nate Crowley: He had 11 sacks.
Josh Crowley: I mean that's impressive. 'Cause Jack Kelly had ten last
Nate Crowley: Like,
Josh Crowley: year, right?
Nate Crowley: yeah, I think so. 45 solo tackles he had 20 TFL's and then he had 11
Josh Crowley: Wow.
Nate Crowley: of those were sacks he did have a pick and and force from three force fumbles in senior year I'm like
Josh Crowley: Yeah, that's amazing. Well and and the thing about Ziggy, right, because yeah, people may be upset about that, his story is what made it so incredible. Right? And
Nate Crowley: is what's yeah yeah
Josh Crowley: and certainly the measurables I think that just Bronson's overall production, football knowledge, like
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: I I you couldn't go wrong, like with either one of those guys. So I that's that's a s solid
Nate Crowley: Right. To compare, here's Ziggy. He's got 35 solo tackles. This isn't 2012. 35 solo tackles, 13 TFLs, 4 and 1 sacks. He had to pick for a negative 2 yard turn and a one force fumble. So again, when you're just comparing, yeah.
Josh Crowley: Which again, given like never playing football, is amazing. Like huge
Nate Crowley: Yeah, crazy.
Josh Crowley: props to Ziggy. But yeah, no, I totally see why why you leaned Bronson.
Nate Crowley: But yeah, so that defense, I feel pretty good about my answers. Again, that second corner spot, I don't know. I honestly don't know.
Josh Crowley: Yeah, that's tricky. And and it yeah, you do just wonder like how does the Bronco era change
Nate Crowley: I know.
Josh Crowley: if we just have better corners. I mean it it it would just be really interesting, but
Nate Crowley: Elite corners. Well, and again, the 10 yard cushion that our corners gave every play,
Josh Crowley: my gosh.
Nate Crowley: every play. Anyway, there you go, there's my defense.
Josh Crowley: Super solid. Okay. So the All Bronco offense. I know it's not sexy to talk about offensive line like it's super in
Nate Crowley: Right.
Josh Crowley: depth. I went through there's some really solid players. Ultimately here's where I landed. give
Nate Crowley: Okay.
Josh Crowley: me Tijon Karoma at center.
Nate Crowley: Okay.
Josh Crowley: then my other four offensive linemen, just give me the Reynolds boys. Dallas, Lance,
Nate Crowley: That's what I'm saying!
Josh Crowley: Matt, and Houston. I did have like Travis Bright, Jake Caressa, Tooney Kanooch,
Nate Crowley: Yeah, yeah.
Josh Crowley: Louis Lapuaho. So there's there's definitely other people that like if I was really digging into like stats and pass block versus run block and stuff that I might
Nate Crowley: Sure.
Josh Crowley: like I as I recall, I don't think Houston Reynolds had quite the career that like Lance and Matt and Dallas did. But
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: I thought that was just kind of fun, like to have four Reynolds points
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: across the front. Which again Going back to the conversation about how different is the Bronco era with corners if you just improve corners, there's
Nate Crowley: Mmm.
Josh Crowley: also the conversation of how different is the Bronco era if not for the Reynolds family? thank goodness for the Reynolds. Like, praises be to the Reynolds family because they carried
Nate Crowley: Seriously? Yeah.
Josh Crowley: us for a decade, man. Every
Nate Crowley: I know.
Josh Crowley: single one of Broncos teams had a Reynolds on it, I'm pretty sure. As I went through,
Nate Crowley: Whoa.
Josh Crowley: every single one had a Reynolds, which is like crazy to think about. So anyway, there's the O-line. So then QB, right? I I mean it's between Max and John. I think I start Max myself. I don't think you can go wrong.
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: I'm going 21 personnel, like primarily.
Nate Crowley: Okay.
Josh Crowley: so I'm I'm starting Jamal and Harvey in the backfield. Although huge
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: props to Curtis Brown and his versatility out of the backfield
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: does give me pause there. but I just don't know which of the other ones I would bench like.
Nate Crowley: That's it, yeah.
Josh Crowley: That's just really hard for me. So Jamalin Harvey, and then at White Out, Austin Collie, Cody Hoffman, was pretty clear for me. I don't
Nate Crowley: Yeah, yep.
Josh Crowley: I don't really feel like anybody in that era like made me really think hard about that.
Nate Crowley: Nate Mickle?
Josh Crowley: I know Nate Nichol was your boy.
Nate Crowley: You
Josh Crowley: and then tight end I had obviously the easier the easier job here. Tight end Dennis Pitta. You know, there's a case for Johnny Harleen there, possibly
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: but but I think overall production you gotta give it to Dennis Pitta. So there you go. There's my there's my starting eleven Okay, so I mean, that's a solid team. we're really
Nate Crowley: Really solid.
Josh Crowley: high on this 2026 squad who obviously we haven't seen play a game. I don't know, man. I think that our twenty twenty-six defense I like Austin Culley's getting open all the time. Cody Hoffman is a mismatch. I think
Nate Crowley: Mm-hmm.
Josh Crowley: that they hold a edge over like even our current corners who I love.
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: and who I don't think make their life easy, but I do think that like Max is still completing balls to those wide receivers. And you know, Dennis Pitta is a mismatch and and you have like super solid backfield. So I mean, I think that this all Bronco offense is scoring on our defense. Like I I think that that's clearly
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: the strength, but so I don't know, make your case about like this year's offense going up against your all Bronco D.
Nate Crowley: my bias towards the way that J-Hill has run his defense the last couple of years and that we anticipate K-Pop runs the defense this year is that that's the only way to stop the 2026 offense is what I'm trying to say, is
Josh Crowley: Mm. Okay.
Nate Crowley: that style of defense. So I look at this Bronco defense that I've made and I'm like, I do feel really confident in that back end. Cause okay, so let's say Bronco is calling this defense, right? I mean, stopping Kyle Van Noy and Fred Warner off the edge is going to be really hard for that's I would say that our this defense, my Bronco defense is going to create some issues for Barrett on this offense. But I think where 2026 offense is just going to really tip, tip the needle. to their side is I just think that interior run game, like I think Cameron Jensen's great at filling in holes and same with Harvey Longhi, but I just think that once our offensive linemen get to that second level, I think that create enough holes in the run game that LJ and Sione are gonna get yards. I think that like kind of softens up the defense a little bit. then, but again, Yeah, so sorry, let's address the elephant in the room. They don't need to do anything but just pass the ball to wherever Brian Logan's covering. Like, just, that's what I'm saying. That's what
Josh Crowley: Well, especially with our size at wide receiver. He's in
Nate Crowley: I'm saying. Like, we're just gonna high-low him with 6'6' Kyler Casper and one of our tight ends or whoever we want and he won't be able to stop them. So I think that that's where the 2026 offense is going to just completely destroy my defense. But. I still think that that defense is going to be very Bronco in the sense of bend don't break. They are earn every single yard. And I think between Daniel Sorensen and Kai Nakua, they're both good at getting the ball. it's like, think you're probably not thrown down the middle as much, probably thrown to the outside. Any offense that becomes one dimensional or too predictable is an easier offense to defend. anyway, but yeah, I still think the 2026 offense is gonna move the ball on him, mostly because Brian Logan's such a liability,
Josh Crowley: I mean that's an insane amount of talent. You got Kyle Van Noy, Fred Warner, Danny Sorensen,
Nate Crowley: I know.
Josh Crowley: and Kainakua, like they're gonna be creating turnovers. So in a sense it's like, yeah, the that defense definitely gives us headaches. that's a really phenomenal defense. So and and likewise,
Nate Crowley: Yep.
Josh Crowley: our our defense is giving some fits, I think, to this all Bronco offense too. But man, I think I it seems
Nate Crowley: Yeah, for sure.
Josh Crowley: like we are we are leaning towards the twenty twenty-six team being able to beat the all Bronco.
Nate Crowley: It is. I know.
Josh Crowley: Team, which just shows how high we are. which is crazy. anyway, man, crazy to think that maybe we're we're calling a
Nate Crowley: I know.
Josh Crowley: a narrow victory for the twenty twenty six squad. I hope I just hope that we're right. I hope that what we're hearing is
Nate Crowley: I know.
Josh Crowley: real. It's hype season. We're drinking the Kool-Aid extremely deeply.
Nate Crowley: to the max. Yeah.
Josh Crowley: and but it's fun time to be a BYU fan all right. So for segment segment number two, it's just a a snake style draft.
Nate Crowley: Okay.
Josh Crowley: I have a quarter to determine who gets to decide whether you want to draft first or if you want the second and third
Nate Crowley: Gotcha.
Josh Crowley: picks. So you wanna call it in the air? All right, here we go. Three, two.
Nate Crowley: Okay. Yeah, I'll call it. Tales.
Josh Crowley: And it's heads. So it's my call.
Nate Crowley: Okay.
Josh Crowley: and I should introduce better. So we are drafting our starting five BYU talking heads, media members, you know, podcasters, the guys that we consume an insane amount of their content.
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: Who are our go-tos? Who do we who do we really like to to listen to? Okay, so it's my go on either taking my top pick or taking my two and three. Golly, this is tough. But I think that we're gonna be different enough that
Nate Crowley: Okay?
Josh Crowley: I think I think going number one is the move here. And so the one one off my big board and it's not close. Gimme Greg. Give me Greg Rebel.
Nate Crowley: Yeah, he's the GOAT. He was the obvious 1-1. Like there's just no version of
Josh Crowley: He's the goat, he's the best. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: Greg not being the GOAT. Good pick.
Josh Crowley: he's the best. I mean, he is he is so balanced in analysis and striving to be unbiased, but obviously always being very high on every BYU team, even to the point that he was very high on the 2017 team, which I haven't fully
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: forgiven him for. but regardless, Gregor Bell, I could listen to his calls all day. He's He's the goat. So give me Gregor Bell. Let's hear your first two picks.
Nate Crowley: There was a massive gap after one for me. So
Josh Crowley: Okay.
Nate Crowley: I'll give my reasoning for both of these. OK, I'm going Jake Hatch, and then
Josh Crowley: Okay.
Nate Crowley: I'm going Spencer Linton. So
Josh Crowley: Okay. Really solid.
Nate Crowley: I'm going, so I kind of made this list based off of. I had to be honest with myself of who I consume the most. Because I can't really say that these other guys are better when I actually choose to listen to these other guys. So
Josh Crowley: Yeah, no, that's totally fair. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: I listen to Jake Hatch pretty much every day.
Josh Crowley: Right.
Nate Crowley: I'd say for the past 18 months-ish, I listened to Locked On. I really like Jake. I think he's great. I think that he... has good interview questions. think that he's he is like he for me he's he's Cody Hoffman the way that we describe Cody Hoffman like he's going to get you yards like every like I'm never yeah
Josh Crowley: Mm. Just versatile, yeah.
Nate Crowley: I'm just like I'm never going to watch an interview like a locked on like podcast and be like That was dumb. That was like a waste of my time. Like I've never actually
Josh Crowley: Right.
Nate Crowley: felt that way. I will say that there's other guys on my list that I feel like there are higher highs than him, but like I feel like he's got
Josh Crowley: Sure. Okay.
Nate Crowley: and then Spencer I think is second for me only to Greg Rebell in his interview abilities. I think that Spencer asks
Josh Crowley: Okay, totally. Yeah, I hear that.
Nate Crowley: great questions and keeps conversations light, but it's like but still insightful. Like I think that he is by far my favorite person to like hear somebody interview. Like yeah, for sure. So.
Josh Crowley: Nice. I like it. so I get I get two picks here, my two and three. man. This is this is tough because you're right. Like Greg, and then it's like a lot of people that I can make arguments for. you took Jake and Spencer. All right. So I'm I'm gonna take Mitch Harper
Nate Crowley: Okay.
Josh Crowley: with my second pick and Man, this is crazy. And I mean, they're kind of a duo now. Give me Nate Slack as part of
Nate Crowley: Whoa.
Josh Crowley: part of the Cougar Sports Saturday, right? Mitch Harper and Nate Slack are are running the Cougar Sports Saturday on KSL these days. I feel like Nate Slack is would chat with me and you and have the
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: same types of takes he's about my age, may or he might be in between our ages.
Nate Crowley: Yeah. Yeah.
Josh Crowley: and but like his like deep knowledge of like BYU history that predates him, Mitch Harper, Nate Slack, I think they're a great duo.
Nate Crowley: Okay.
Josh Crowley: I really enjoy them. Obviously Nate's like really new on the scene. And the only
Nate Crowley: Sure.
Josh Crowley: place I know where to get him is Cougar Sports Saturday. So I'm not consuming a ton of Nate Slack, but what I get I I really enjoy. So Greg,
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: Mitch, Nate so far are my my top three, so
Nate Crowley: Nate's been a good follow on Twitter for a long time. Because he was like
Josh Crowley: Yeah.
Nate Crowley: Greg Rebell's intern back in the day. So,
Josh Crowley: Correct. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: okay. You didn't take either of my guys. I did have Mitch Harper later, but I didn't have Nate Slack on my list. So I'm gonna go Hans Olson and Jerem Jordan as my next two. So,
Josh Crowley: Whoa. Okay. That's crazy.
Nate Crowley: I... It's I have to put hands on here because I am a pretty dang loyal 1280 the zone listener from AM to PM like I listen to 1280 a lot now hands left 1280 like a year issue go
Josh Crowley: Right.
Nate Crowley: but he is still Greg's color commentator so I'm considering him still eligible.
Josh Crowley: yeah yeah yeah. Totally.
Nate Crowley: And I will say this, prior to him being Greg's color commentator, which is only a couple years ago, we've talked about this, that we kind of feel like he's kind of low key cheering for Utah. And it's like,
Josh Crowley: Yes.
Nate Crowley: what the heck is going on? Like you played for BYU. And I think in the last two years, I think he's realized, and it's funny because he's not on the radio anymore, but I feel like he's realized that It's okay for him to lean BYU and just be okay leaning BYU.
Josh Crowley: Mm-hmm.
Nate Crowley: And then I'll say, I do really like him as Greg's color commentator. I still have my beef with him sometimes because he just wants to give all the credit to the offense and defensive line. And so a
Josh Crowley: Mm-hmm.
Nate Crowley: huge play will happen and he'll be like, and everything is because of Wayland Lapuahou. And you're just like.
Josh Crowley: Right.
Nate Crowley: No, bro, like that was a one handed catch. Yeah. Like
Josh Crowley: Like, yes, we appreciate Wayland, but come on. Yeah, yeah.
Nate Crowley: the reason why I pick them here is because it's almost the Stephen A Smith effect where it's like, you kind of disagree with him. And so it keeps you listening to him. So I think that there's like a little
Josh Crowley: Yeah, yeah, okay.
Nate Crowley: bit of that element for me that I'm like, I choose to listen to him because I like a lot of his takes and I Dislike a handful. Okay, and I put Jerem Jordan on here kind of the similar reasons for Spencer Linton because I consume I'm pretty loyal to be a sports nation I will
Josh Crowley: Yeah. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: say in comparison to these other guys that we have listed here They just get the best interviews right they have access to the players and the coaches
Josh Crowley: Yeah, the access, right.
Nate Crowley: You know Trevor Maddich, you know some of the ESPN guys They just have so much better access than anybody else on the list that maybe that they kind of get lumped into bumped up in a category for me. So, okay, there you go. Jerem and Hans Olsen.
Josh Crowley: all right, so I'm finishing out my roster and then you'll have one one more right that that's where we're at.
Nate Crowley: I should have one pick, yeah.
Josh Crowley: So all right. I I feel pretty good about this. I'm gonna take with my fourth pick, Mark Durant. to
Nate Crowley: Nice.
Josh Crowley: me he is the opposite of everything you said about Hans Olson.
Nate Crowley: Okay.
Josh Crowley: in the sense that he is like so in the moment when you're listening to him call a game that it only serves to amplify Greg's amazing call. He does have valuable insight, but it is like He the the combination of those two pull me into the game in a way where like every time I watch BY basketball, I'm trying to figure out how I can watch the game but listen
Nate Crowley: Yes.
Josh Crowley: to the call. I just don't think that Mark Durant gets nearly the flowers that that he deserves. I think he is phenomenal. even when he gives an interview that's not related to like the game day podcast, like that dude just loves BYU. He's actually
Nate Crowley: True.
Josh Crowley: low key way knowledgeable about the football team. Like I think he follows the football team. as closely as he does the basketball
Nate Crowley: yeah.
Josh Crowley: team. so I I love me some mark durant. So give me give me Mark at my four and then I'm gonna round it out. This is this is like I know gonna kinda shock you probably. Give me Tosh McIntosh from
Nate Crowley: I thought you might go there.
Josh Crowley: from the Loyal Cougars. I As as two guys that are not in journalism of any kind, have no training, like he just is a refreshing take for me of like an informed fan, a lot of times he has really valuable insight. I think he has more connections than he lets on, which is kind of a fun angle, but I think he's still pretty professional about it.
Nate Crowley: Yeah, yeah.
Josh Crowley: Like in contrast to the Couge Connect, kind of like very unprofessional angle. yeah,
Nate Crowley: Too casual, yeah.
Josh Crowley: too casual. that rounds out my five. Tosh McIntosh at the five for me, so let's let's hear your last pick.
Nate Crowley: Okay, so I'm going to give my last pick but I'm going to give my last two other alternates that I'm not picking.
Josh Crowley: Sure. I've I've got a couple on my the my alternates, but go ahead.
Nate Crowley: Riley Nelson.
Josh Crowley: Yes. That's amazing.
Nate Crowley: I will say it for one reason. There is nothing better than the Tennessee game in 2019. Zach Wilson's miracle finds Micah Simon running down the sideline in the middle of the play. Riley goes, go baby, go! Like he's just like ultimate, yeah. Just ultimate fan
Josh Crowley: Just cheering. Just straight up cheering. I love it.
Nate Crowley: boy, go baby! And it's just like, kills me when I hear him say that. So you have to go back and listen to that. And then this is
Josh Crowley: I'm gonna have to go back and listen to that call. That's awesome.
Nate Crowley: also kind of a hilarious not pick Austin Colley because when he gets on the
Josh Crowley: Okay, well he
Nate Crowley: BYU sports station game day, like this is how I feel about Austin as like a media person. I feel like he left BYU kind of on weird terms, BYU got the big 12 invite and he's like, bro, I'm the biggest BYU fan that's ever been BYU fanned. And you're just like,
Josh Crowley: Right.
Nate Crowley: I believe you. Like Austin just has like that
Josh Crowley: Yes.
Nate Crowley: aura about him that you're just like, you're right. I'm wrong. Like I believe everything you say. There's nothing you could
Josh Crowley: Ooh.
Nate Crowley: say. That's how I feel when I listen to him. And so that's why I put him on my list. But I'm gonna put, I'm actually gonna pick, so there's my two non picks. I'm actually gonna pick Ben Criddle as my last
Josh Crowley: Okay.
Nate Crowley: pick. And I was a huge Ben Criddle guy, to like 2023, probably. And I listened to him more than anybody can like. combined like a lot. My biggest gripes with Ben, he has so many advertisements in his show. It's, it's,
Josh Crowley: It's it's become almost unlistenable.
Nate Crowley: yeah, it's so bad. And that's why I really don't listen to Ben. But what I will give Ben his flowers. He is a very good interviewer, especially during fall camp. He will pull guys
Josh Crowley: Yeah. I agree.
Nate Crowley: aside that he's like, hey, this will be a fun interview. And I think he asks questions that are a little bit Like it's a good marriage of like ball knowledge. Like let me ask you about your tech X's
Josh Crowley: Mm-hmm. X's and O's, yeah.
Nate Crowley: and O's and then he'll ask you about like your personal life and where things are at. Like what, what things do you like to do outside of football kind of questions
Josh Crowley: Other honorable mentions that I had on my list. quick shout out to Adam and Matt Mangum from the Rise and Shout podcast back in the day. Still miss those guys. Hope they come back on. Jake Edmonds, who's the the co-host
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: with Tosh Macintosh, he I I really like his refreshing perspective. Occasionally he just fumbles on his like BYU history in a way that just has me like wanting to shout at the podcast and like call in and be like, whoa, whoa, whoa, you just said what?
Nate Crowley: Yeah, you're wrong.
Josh Crowley: which honestly, even just doing this for the first time, I I feel like I have a lot more grace for that because I'm like
Nate Crowley: appreciation, yeah.
Josh Crowley: I feel like I'm having brain farts left and right. So anyway, Jake Edmonds is is honestly really great. And I think he'll be in the space for a long time. And I hope he is, because I never miss an episode of Loyal Cougars. And then I also threw in here, which I think it's kind of a separate category, but Drake Toll. I mean, he's kind of become like a a figure in this space.
Nate Crowley: interesting. Yeah, pseudo. Yeah.
Josh Crowley: Like he he has a lot of love for the Cougars. as a whole, I think he does a really awesome job. And let's just be honest, he he won't say it, but he doesn't like Utah, which is just a huge pro to me. And he really likes the Cougars and has loved his visits
Nate Crowley: awesome. Yep, absolutely awesome. Yeah.
Josh Crowley: to Provo. So I think he's shined a light on BYU in a big way. So shout out to Drake Toll. He was never gonna be in my starting five, but I had to I had to
Nate Crowley: Yeah, sure.
Josh Crowley: Give him a little bit of credit there. So okay.
Nate Crowley: Nice.
Josh Crowley: Nate, I I
Nate Crowley: I know.
Josh Crowley: know, I know that you will be awesome at what we were planning to do for segment three. So I'm gonna go ahead and sit this one out. But I want you to tell us your scripted first drive plays. If you could sit in Arod's seat against Utah Tech.
Nate Crowley: Yes.
Josh Crowley: Given what we know about this offense, given the way that you wish the offense was called, hit us with it.
Nate Crowley: Okay, there is nothing more deflating than opening up a season with a two yard run up the middle. It is literally the most...
Josh Crowley: Could not agree more. And I really quick before you get going, I want to say what A-Rod did last year with Bear Bachmeyer to me covers an absolute world of frustration. I think it's unreal what he was able
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: to do. I am not I think I am more pro-A-Rod than you. I think he's awesome, but I could not agree more that you set the freaking tone, not just with the first play of a game, but the first play of a season. If it's a handoff
Nate Crowley: Yes.
Josh Crowley: to LJ up the middle, who is our best player, he is our best player, and he could break it off for 80. But for heaven's
Nate Crowley: Yes.
Josh Crowley: sake, no. Like, let Bear let it rip anyway. Sorry I cut you off. Go ahead.
Nate Crowley: Yes, yes. No, no, it's great. it just, for the sake of mentality against
Josh Crowley: Yes.
Nate Crowley: Utah Tech, it just, like, you're going to get a first down. You're not going to go three now against these guys. So it's like, if you burn the play, so opening play, it's four verts. You're just opening it up and you're just
Josh Crowley: I love it.
Nate Crowley: letting. All of your receivers go, I don't care if it's the legend, Jojo, one of the tight ends. don't, Casper, I could not care less who gets the ball thrown to. I don't even quite frankly care if it's caught. I do care if it's a pick, that would suck. It's
Josh Crowley: It's just a mentality Well, yeah, that would suck, but
Nate Crowley: just a mentality thing that you're just like, we are so much better than you.
Josh Crowley: Yes. This is how the game is about to go for you. Yes.
Nate Crowley: you know what I mean? You just, yeah. So I don't care. so then the next play I'm actually I want LLJ to get the ball but I don't want to be a run still so we're doing like a little screen right we're doing a little little play action
Josh Crowley: Love it. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: little or one of those ones where he like motions out and then kind of jogs and then just turns around we just kind of sling it to him and he
Josh Crowley: Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Nate Crowley: runs up he's going to get a first down that's great basically from there till the end till the 10 yard line. It just needs to be dink and dunk. It can have some runs in there and that's fine. I just, it just needs to be like, I need to see a five yard out from Walker Lions. I need to see, you know, some high low stuff. I, know, you know, a post corner with a, you know, stuff underneath that's just easy. And then probably the most crucial part for me is We absolutely need a tiger and bear touchdown. It's kind of mind-blowing that we went... right.
Josh Crowley: We do. And it needs to be Utah Tech because you just you just mark it off the list. We have no idea what Tiger's gonna become in the rotation. Is he gonna
Nate Crowley: Right.
Josh Crowley: be the number two wide receiver? Is he gonna be buried on the depth chart? Get him his T D, then that's out of the way. I totally agree. End this drive with a yep.
Nate Crowley: It just needs to be, yeah, it has to be an ending drive with a tiger touchdown. something to the corner or something that like gets
Josh Crowley: Post route. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: him out, you know, a little whip route, something that like gets him open, but like. this needs to end with Tiger and Bear hooking up for a touchdown. like that, so that's my thing. Just don't give me zone read up the middle on the first play of the game. I love LJ and I want LJ to be our guy, but like it just
Josh Crowley: Please. Of course. Of course. Well
Nate Crowley: needs to be a pass. I just, that being said,
Josh Crowley: Well and
Nate Crowley: do you remember how the 2022 season opened? It was...
Josh Crowley: Of course.
Nate Crowley: The fly sweep, Pooka taking off.
Josh Crowley: Puka fly sweep for t a touchdown. Yeah, yeah. That's fine. It can it could ultimately go down as a rush. I want LJ to get some yards. I mean we need him to just get a hundred yards
Nate Crowley: yeah.
Josh Crowley: so that he's on pace to break the record. That would be awesome. I do just want to hear as we head out, which would be more satisfying to you? Michigan sucking all year let's say losing record maybe four wins or the Aggies going into Rice Eccles and beating the
Nate Crowley: So...
Josh Crowley: Utes
Nate Crowley: I would say what's the more satisfying is Utah State beating Utah for two main reasons. Number one, I still love Jay Hill. Coach G, when I watch them, I will not be cheering for them, but I will be.
Josh Crowley: Cheering for their defense a little bit, yeah.
Nate Crowley: I don't even know if I'd go as far as say that, but yeah, like I do love them. I will end my sentence there. Then watching Bronco and Bobby and I beat Utah and Rice Eccles, I would cry. I would cry tears of happiness. My heart
Josh Crowley: With the so legendary. my gosh.
Nate Crowley: soars with the eagle's nest, as Michael.
Josh Crowley: Yes.
Nate Crowley: Scott would say, Nothing would be better, honestly.
Josh Crowley: That's the right answer, and I totally agree. completely demolish the hopes of Utah
Nate Crowley: yeah.
Josh Crowley: fans. we'll rag on the youths plenty
Nate Crowley: yeah.
Josh Crowley: as the weeks come along. I'll I'll leave it there. I I'm not in any way, shape or form cheering for the Aggies ever. But on that day, g go blue. Well, this is a blast. Hope that somebody else thinks it's a blast, but even if they don't, let's do it again next week, bro. I love it.
Nate Crowley: Yeah, this is, that's great. Okay, sounds good. Go Cougs.
Josh Crowley: Go, Kooks, baby.
Josh Crowley: All right, welcome in, brutally honest BYU Pod, Maiden Voyage pilot episode. super stoked. I'm Josh.
Nate Crowley: I'm Nate.
Josh Crowley: we are brothers, if you can't see the the resemblance.
Nate Crowley: you
Josh Crowley: huge BYU fans, been talking about doing a podcast for super long time. brutally honest, as the name implies, we've got strong opinions, and would love to to just I mean, we talk about these things anyway, so might as well hit record
Nate Crowley: Mm-hmm.
Josh Crowley: and see if anybody wants to listen to two
Nate Crowley: For sure.
Josh Crowley: passionate BYU fans chit chat for an hour. So if you're here, glad to have ya.
Nate Crowley: Yeah. Welcome.
Josh Crowley: all right, so first segment how good is this team really? Nate, you wanna you wanna explain kinda what we're gonna do with this this segment?
Nate Crowley: Yeah, yeah, so we just thought it would be fun to go back in time a little bit and go through some of the best players that we've seen in the Bronco Mendenhall era. And so I was assigned to come up with the best starting 11. of the Bronco Mendenhall era for the defense. So and
Josh Crowley: And I did the same for the offense. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: Josh did the same for the offense. we come to this conglomerate team from 2005 to 2015. We will debate whether that created team is better than the 2026 BYU football team.
Josh Crowley: Yeah. not to bury the lead, but we're pretty high on the twenty twenty six team. So that's why I thought independent
Nate Crowley: Right.
Josh Crowley: slash mountain west era all bronco team. Is that better? And I I I haven't obviously heard your starting eleven, you haven't heard mine, so
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: it'll be interesting to see what what our conclusion is when we hear it. But yeah, so hit us with your all bronco defense.
Nate Crowley: OK, so let's just say as going through some of these teams, our corners, like, peace be upon them, were not power 5, power 4 level corners at any point during the Bronco. Always
Josh Crowley: No. Always the weak point. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: the weak point. But OK, I'll start at the back end. Daniel Sorensen is my free safety. Feels pretty obvious. Others that were in consideration, Quinn Gooch, Scott Johnson.
Josh Crowley: Okay.
Nate Crowley: Those guys were good. Travis Uale, they were all good. But I think Daniel Sorensen is pretty clearly the best.
Josh Crowley: Yeah, dirty den, yeah.
Nate Crowley: Yeah. Then at my strong safety, might be a little bit bending the rules here. I with Kai Nakua. I was like, you know.
Josh Crowley: yeah, no, that's yeah. If he played under Bronco at any point, I think it's on the table. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: He's he played I think more for Yeah Okay So he was again 2015 version of kai nakuha Might be better than 2016. I don't know. Maybe that's a hot take I feel like kai was pretty elite in that his junior year. Also. He was
Josh Crowley: yeah.
Nate Crowley: pretty amazing that 2016 year, but so yeah, the others that were consideration craig bills andrew rich Those were some good run stopper, hard hitting guys. you just, you just, right,
Josh Crowley: Both really good, yeah. But the ball hawking of Kainakua is you can't sit him. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: that's what I'm saying. You got to go with Kai. OK, and then we'll stay in the back end and we'll go with our corners. I feel like you have to go with Michael Davis, right? I mean, that guy played in the NFL. That's what I'm saying.
Josh Crowley: for sure. Yeah. Not that the college version of Michael Davis was particularly great, but yeah, we'll just assume that all these guys were taking not necessarily at the best of their whole career, but like the best
Nate Crowley: That's it. Yeah.
Josh Crowley: that they were at BYU, they're playing
Nate Crowley: Okay.
Josh Crowley: well. I think that's a fair way to do this.
Nate Crowley: Yeah, because again, I think he had one career interception. And in
Josh Crowley: That's crazy.
Nate Crowley: 2016, he gets benched for Diane Lake or Diane Gonwallekoo, whichever one you want him to go by. So
Josh Crowley: Right.
Nate Crowley: that's pretty crazy, to be honest. I feel like that being said, feel like he was pretty tall. He was really fast. I feel like he's probably the better corner. And then this second corner option, which is crazy that this is over the course of 11 years that I couldn't go, for sure. That guy
Josh Crowley: clearly, yeah.
Nate Crowley: like, so I'm going with Brian Logan.
Josh Crowley: I I thought that you because Diane never played for Bronco, is that correct?
Nate Crowley: Correct.
Josh Crowley: Okay, 'cause he'd be clearly, clearly the
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: next one up to me. But I was like, yeah, I'm pretty sure he didn't ever play for Bronco. Ben Critdle? I mean, like maybe
Nate Crowley: I know. You know what I have in parentheses here?
Josh Crowley: Yeah, yeah, hit me.
Nate Crowley: 2013 Mike Hague. Because, yeah, I do.
Josh Crowley: no you don't That's amazing bro
Nate Crowley: I don't know. who do I really trust to cover some Power 4 receivers? And I'm like,
Josh Crowley: Yeah.
Nate Crowley: Man, guess Mike Hague had some speed, but that guy, I feel like was held together by duct tape and arm sleeves by the end of his career.
Josh Crowley: Right. Shout out Mike Higg.
Nate Crowley: I think I'm sticking with Brian Logan, even though he's,
Josh Crowley: Yeah.
Nate Crowley: taller, I'm taller than him, but still. I'm not tall. Not tall at all. Okay,
Josh Crowley: Yeah. And you're not you're not tall, yeah.
Nate Crowley: so then this is the hardest probably, but funnest part is the linebacking core, but. You gotta go Kyle Van Noy, obviously.
Josh Crowley: Course.
Nate Crowley: Then I've got Cameron Jensen. And then I've got Harvey Longi as my two middles. That
Josh Crowley: Okay.
Nate Crowley: second middle linebacker was pretty tough. and then I went with Fred Warner obviously as the opposite one which is funny because he played outside his whole time at BYU and then is
Josh Crowley: Right, right.
Nate Crowley: like the best middle linebacker in football so it's kind of funny that way but anyway so I went Fred Warner but then I mean I really was tempted to go 2009 Jordan Pendleton that guy was a freak.
Josh Crowley: I he was a freak, dude.
Nate Crowley: moving to the D line, which again, I went 3-4 instead of 4-3. Bronco has went three linemen.
Josh Crowley: Sure. Yeah, yeah.
Nate Crowley: This one was also insanely hard to narrow down to just three guys at the defensive line. But I'm going go Jan Jorgensen. I feel like you have to go with Jan. Like, he's all-time
Josh Crowley: Yeah. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: sack leader. OK, and then in the nose tackle, this is so tough. But I win. Ethan, Molly, Monomuna. Mostly, I just feel like he was big enough. But then in parentheses, I also have Romney Fuga. That was the other guy that I thought. I
Josh Crowley: Yeah. He when he was healthy, he was really good.
Nate Crowley: know. He was so good. Others that were thought of the no sackle, Russell T. Alivea is in there.
Josh Crowley: Mm-hmm.
Nate Crowley: Our relative, Ian Doolin. Shout out to Ian.
Josh Crowley: Right.
Nate Crowley: And then on the opposite end, I'm going Bronson Caffusi.
Josh Crowley: Okay. Yeah it's
Nate Crowley: So I thought that, you know, I think people are going to get mad at me for not putting Ziggy on there.
Josh Crowley: Yeah.
Nate Crowley: Ziggy is amazing. You look at his stats, at least at BYU, and his senior season was really good. But like, I was looking at, like, did you realize how good Bronson Kofusi was in 2015? Like, he only pulled his stats.
Josh Crowley: I'd have to go back.
Nate Crowley: He had 11 sacks.
Josh Crowley: I mean that's impressive. 'Cause Jack Kelly had ten last
Nate Crowley: Like,
Josh Crowley: year, right?
Nate Crowley: yeah, I think so. 45 solo tackles he had 20 TFL's and then he had 11
Josh Crowley: Wow.
Nate Crowley: of those were sacks he did have a pick and and force from three force fumbles in senior year I'm like
Josh Crowley: Yeah, that's amazing. Well and and the thing about Ziggy, right, because yeah, people may be upset about that, his story is what made it so incredible. Right? And
Nate Crowley: is what's yeah yeah
Josh Crowley: and certainly the measurables I think that just Bronson's overall production, football knowledge, like
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: I I you couldn't go wrong, like with either one of those guys. So I that's that's a s solid
Nate Crowley: Right. To compare, here's Ziggy. He's got 35 solo tackles. This isn't 2012. 35 solo tackles, 13 TFLs, 4 and 1 sacks. He had to pick for a negative 2 yard turn and a one force fumble. So again, when you're just comparing, yeah.
Josh Crowley: Which again, given like never playing football, is amazing. Like huge
Nate Crowley: Yeah, crazy.
Josh Crowley: props to Ziggy. But yeah, no, I totally see why why you leaned Bronson.
Nate Crowley: But yeah, so that defense, I feel pretty good about my answers. Again, that second corner spot, I don't know. I honestly don't know.
Josh Crowley: Yeah, that's tricky. And and it yeah, you do just wonder like how does the Bronco era change
Nate Crowley: I know.
Josh Crowley: if we just have better corners. I mean it it it would just be really interesting, but
Nate Crowley: Elite corners. Well, and again, the 10 yard cushion that our corners gave every play,
Josh Crowley: my gosh.
Nate Crowley: every play. Anyway, there you go, there's my defense.
Josh Crowley: Super solid. Okay. So the All Bronco offense. I know it's not sexy to talk about offensive line like it's super in
Nate Crowley: Right.
Josh Crowley: depth. I went through there's some really solid players. Ultimately here's where I landed. give
Nate Crowley: Okay.
Josh Crowley: me Tijon Karoma at center.
Nate Crowley: Okay.
Josh Crowley: then my other four offensive linemen, just give me the Reynolds boys. Dallas, Lance,
Nate Crowley: That's what I'm saying!
Josh Crowley: Matt, and Houston. I did have like Travis Bright, Jake Caressa, Tooney Kanooch,
Nate Crowley: Yeah, yeah.
Josh Crowley: Louis Lapuaho. So there's there's definitely other people that like if I was really digging into like stats and pass block versus run block and stuff that I might
Nate Crowley: Sure.
Josh Crowley: like I as I recall, I don't think Houston Reynolds had quite the career that like Lance and Matt and Dallas did. But
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: I thought that was just kind of fun, like to have four Reynolds points
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: across the front. Which again Going back to the conversation about how different is the Bronco era with corners if you just improve corners, there's
Nate Crowley: Mmm.
Josh Crowley: also the conversation of how different is the Bronco era if not for the Reynolds family? thank goodness for the Reynolds. Like, praises be to the Reynolds family because they carried
Nate Crowley: Seriously? Yeah.
Josh Crowley: us for a decade, man. Every
Nate Crowley: I know.
Josh Crowley: single one of Broncos teams had a Reynolds on it, I'm pretty sure. As I went through,
Nate Crowley: Whoa.
Josh Crowley: every single one had a Reynolds, which is like crazy to think about. So anyway, there's the O-line. So then QB, right? I I mean it's between Max and John. I think I start Max myself. I don't think you can go wrong.
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: I'm going 21 personnel, like primarily.
Nate Crowley: Okay.
Josh Crowley: so I'm I'm starting Jamal and Harvey in the backfield. Although huge
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: props to Curtis Brown and his versatility out of the backfield
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: does give me pause there. but I just don't know which of the other ones I would bench like.
Nate Crowley: That's it, yeah.
Josh Crowley: That's just really hard for me. So Jamalin Harvey, and then at White Out, Austin Collie, Cody Hoffman, was pretty clear for me. I don't
Nate Crowley: Yeah, yep.
Josh Crowley: I don't really feel like anybody in that era like made me really think hard about that.
Nate Crowley: Nate Mickle?
Josh Crowley: I know Nate Nichol was your boy.
Nate Crowley: You
Josh Crowley: and then tight end I had obviously the easier the easier job here. Tight end Dennis Pitta. You know, there's a case for Johnny Harleen there, possibly
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: but but I think overall production you gotta give it to Dennis Pitta. So there you go. There's my there's my starting eleven Okay, so I mean, that's a solid team. we're really
Nate Crowley: Really solid.
Josh Crowley: high on this 2026 squad who obviously we haven't seen play a game. I don't know, man. I think that our twenty twenty-six defense I like Austin Culley's getting open all the time. Cody Hoffman is a mismatch. I think
Nate Crowley: Mm-hmm.
Josh Crowley: that they hold a edge over like even our current corners who I love.
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: and who I don't think make their life easy, but I do think that like Max is still completing balls to those wide receivers. And you know, Dennis Pitta is a mismatch and and you have like super solid backfield. So I mean, I think that this all Bronco offense is scoring on our defense. Like I I think that that's clearly
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: the strength, but so I don't know, make your case about like this year's offense going up against your all Bronco D.
Nate Crowley: my bias towards the way that J-Hill has run his defense the last couple of years and that we anticipate K-Pop runs the defense this year is that that's the only way to stop the 2026 offense is what I'm trying to say, is
Josh Crowley: Mm. Okay.
Nate Crowley: that style of defense. So I look at this Bronco defense that I've made and I'm like, I do feel really confident in that back end. Cause okay, so let's say Bronco is calling this defense, right? I mean, stopping Kyle Van Noy and Fred Warner off the edge is going to be really hard for that's I would say that our this defense, my Bronco defense is going to create some issues for Barrett on this offense. But I think where 2026 offense is just going to really tip, tip the needle. to their side is I just think that interior run game, like I think Cameron Jensen's great at filling in holes and same with Harvey Longhi, but I just think that once our offensive linemen get to that second level, I think that create enough holes in the run game that LJ and Sione are gonna get yards. I think that like kind of softens up the defense a little bit. then, but again, Yeah, so sorry, let's address the elephant in the room. They don't need to do anything but just pass the ball to wherever Brian Logan's covering. Like, just, that's what I'm saying. That's what
Josh Crowley: Well, especially with our size at wide receiver. He's in
Nate Crowley: I'm saying. Like, we're just gonna high-low him with 6'6' Kyler Casper and one of our tight ends or whoever we want and he won't be able to stop them. So I think that that's where the 2026 offense is going to just completely destroy my defense. But. I still think that that defense is going to be very Bronco in the sense of bend don't break. They are earn every single yard. And I think between Daniel Sorensen and Kai Nakua, they're both good at getting the ball. it's like, think you're probably not thrown down the middle as much, probably thrown to the outside. Any offense that becomes one dimensional or too predictable is an easier offense to defend. anyway, but yeah, I still think the 2026 offense is gonna move the ball on him, mostly because Brian Logan's such a liability,
Josh Crowley: I mean that's an insane amount of talent. You got Kyle Van Noy, Fred Warner, Danny Sorensen,
Nate Crowley: I know.
Josh Crowley: and Kainakua, like they're gonna be creating turnovers. So in a sense it's like, yeah, the that defense definitely gives us headaches. that's a really phenomenal defense. So and and likewise,
Nate Crowley: Yep.
Josh Crowley: our our defense is giving some fits, I think, to this all Bronco offense too. But man, I think I it seems
Nate Crowley: Yeah, for sure.
Josh Crowley: like we are we are leaning towards the twenty twenty-six team being able to beat the all Bronco.
Nate Crowley: It is. I know.
Josh Crowley: Team, which just shows how high we are. which is crazy. anyway, man, crazy to think that maybe we're we're calling a
Nate Crowley: I know.
Josh Crowley: a narrow victory for the twenty twenty six squad. I hope I just hope that we're right. I hope that what we're hearing is
Nate Crowley: I know.
Josh Crowley: real. It's hype season. We're drinking the Kool-Aid extremely deeply.
Nate Crowley: to the max. Yeah.
Josh Crowley: and but it's fun time to be a BYU fan all right. So for segment segment number two, it's just a a snake style draft.
Nate Crowley: Okay.
Josh Crowley: I have a quarter to determine who gets to decide whether you want to draft first or if you want the second and third
Nate Crowley: Gotcha.
Josh Crowley: picks. So you wanna call it in the air? All right, here we go. Three, two.
Nate Crowley: Okay. Yeah, I'll call it. Tales.
Josh Crowley: And it's heads. So it's my call.
Nate Crowley: Okay.
Josh Crowley: and I should introduce better. So we are drafting our starting five BYU talking heads, media members, you know, podcasters, the guys that we consume an insane amount of their content.
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: Who are our go-tos? Who do we who do we really like to to listen to? Okay, so it's my go on either taking my top pick or taking my two and three. Golly, this is tough. But I think that we're gonna be different enough that
Nate Crowley: Okay?
Josh Crowley: I think I think going number one is the move here. And so the one one off my big board and it's not close. Gimme Greg. Give me Greg Rebel.
Nate Crowley: Yeah, he's the GOAT. He was the obvious 1-1. Like there's just no version of
Josh Crowley: He's the goat, he's the best. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: Greg not being the GOAT. Good pick.
Josh Crowley: he's the best. I mean, he is he is so balanced in analysis and striving to be unbiased, but obviously always being very high on every BYU team, even to the point that he was very high on the 2017 team, which I haven't fully
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: forgiven him for. but regardless, Gregor Bell, I could listen to his calls all day. He's He's the goat. So give me Gregor Bell. Let's hear your first two picks.
Nate Crowley: There was a massive gap after one for me. So
Josh Crowley: Okay.
Nate Crowley: I'll give my reasoning for both of these. OK, I'm going Jake Hatch, and then
Josh Crowley: Okay.
Nate Crowley: I'm going Spencer Linton. So
Josh Crowley: Okay. Really solid.
Nate Crowley: I'm going, so I kind of made this list based off of. I had to be honest with myself of who I consume the most. Because I can't really say that these other guys are better when I actually choose to listen to these other guys. So
Josh Crowley: Yeah, no, that's totally fair. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: I listen to Jake Hatch pretty much every day.
Josh Crowley: Right.
Nate Crowley: I'd say for the past 18 months-ish, I listened to Locked On. I really like Jake. I think he's great. I think that he... has good interview questions. think that he's he is like he for me he's he's Cody Hoffman the way that we describe Cody Hoffman like he's going to get you yards like every like I'm never yeah
Josh Crowley: Mm. Just versatile, yeah.
Nate Crowley: I'm just like I'm never going to watch an interview like a locked on like podcast and be like That was dumb. That was like a waste of my time. Like I've never actually
Josh Crowley: Right.
Nate Crowley: felt that way. I will say that there's other guys on my list that I feel like there are higher highs than him, but like I feel like he's got
Josh Crowley: Sure. Okay.
Nate Crowley: and then Spencer I think is second for me only to Greg Rebell in his interview abilities. I think that Spencer asks
Josh Crowley: Okay, totally. Yeah, I hear that.
Nate Crowley: great questions and keeps conversations light, but it's like but still insightful. Like I think that he is by far my favorite person to like hear somebody interview. Like yeah, for sure. So.
Josh Crowley: Nice. I like it. so I get I get two picks here, my two and three. man. This is this is tough because you're right. Like Greg, and then it's like a lot of people that I can make arguments for. you took Jake and Spencer. All right. So I'm I'm gonna take Mitch Harper
Nate Crowley: Okay.
Josh Crowley: with my second pick and Man, this is crazy. And I mean, they're kind of a duo now. Give me Nate Slack as part of
Nate Crowley: Whoa.
Josh Crowley: part of the Cougar Sports Saturday, right? Mitch Harper and Nate Slack are are running the Cougar Sports Saturday on KSL these days. I feel like Nate Slack is would chat with me and you and have the
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: same types of takes he's about my age, may or he might be in between our ages.
Nate Crowley: Yeah. Yeah.
Josh Crowley: and but like his like deep knowledge of like BYU history that predates him, Mitch Harper, Nate Slack, I think they're a great duo.
Nate Crowley: Okay.
Josh Crowley: I really enjoy them. Obviously Nate's like really new on the scene. And the only
Nate Crowley: Sure.
Josh Crowley: place I know where to get him is Cougar Sports Saturday. So I'm not consuming a ton of Nate Slack, but what I get I I really enjoy. So Greg,
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: Mitch, Nate so far are my my top three, so
Nate Crowley: Nate's been a good follow on Twitter for a long time. Because he was like
Josh Crowley: Yeah.
Nate Crowley: Greg Rebell's intern back in the day. So,
Josh Crowley: Correct. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: okay. You didn't take either of my guys. I did have Mitch Harper later, but I didn't have Nate Slack on my list. So I'm gonna go Hans Olson and Jerem Jordan as my next two. So,
Josh Crowley: Whoa. Okay. That's crazy.
Nate Crowley: I... It's I have to put hands on here because I am a pretty dang loyal 1280 the zone listener from AM to PM like I listen to 1280 a lot now hands left 1280 like a year issue go
Josh Crowley: Right.
Nate Crowley: but he is still Greg's color commentator so I'm considering him still eligible.
Josh Crowley: yeah yeah yeah. Totally.
Nate Crowley: And I will say this, prior to him being Greg's color commentator, which is only a couple years ago, we've talked about this, that we kind of feel like he's kind of low key cheering for Utah. And it's like,
Josh Crowley: Yes.
Nate Crowley: what the heck is going on? Like you played for BYU. And I think in the last two years, I think he's realized, and it's funny because he's not on the radio anymore, but I feel like he's realized that It's okay for him to lean BYU and just be okay leaning BYU.
Josh Crowley: Mm-hmm.
Nate Crowley: And then I'll say, I do really like him as Greg's color commentator. I still have my beef with him sometimes because he just wants to give all the credit to the offense and defensive line. And so a
Josh Crowley: Mm-hmm.
Nate Crowley: huge play will happen and he'll be like, and everything is because of Wayland Lapuahou. And you're just like.
Josh Crowley: Right.
Nate Crowley: No, bro, like that was a one handed catch. Yeah. Like
Josh Crowley: Like, yes, we appreciate Wayland, but come on. Yeah, yeah.
Nate Crowley: the reason why I pick them here is because it's almost the Stephen A Smith effect where it's like, you kind of disagree with him. And so it keeps you listening to him. So I think that there's like a little
Josh Crowley: Yeah, yeah, okay.
Nate Crowley: bit of that element for me that I'm like, I choose to listen to him because I like a lot of his takes and I Dislike a handful. Okay, and I put Jerem Jordan on here kind of the similar reasons for Spencer Linton because I consume I'm pretty loyal to be a sports nation I will
Josh Crowley: Yeah. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: say in comparison to these other guys that we have listed here They just get the best interviews right they have access to the players and the coaches
Josh Crowley: Yeah, the access, right.
Nate Crowley: You know Trevor Maddich, you know some of the ESPN guys They just have so much better access than anybody else on the list that maybe that they kind of get lumped into bumped up in a category for me. So, okay, there you go. Jerem and Hans Olsen.
Josh Crowley: all right, so I'm finishing out my roster and then you'll have one one more right that that's where we're at.
Nate Crowley: I should have one pick, yeah.
Josh Crowley: So all right. I I feel pretty good about this. I'm gonna take with my fourth pick, Mark Durant. to
Nate Crowley: Nice.
Josh Crowley: me he is the opposite of everything you said about Hans Olson.
Nate Crowley: Okay.
Josh Crowley: in the sense that he is like so in the moment when you're listening to him call a game that it only serves to amplify Greg's amazing call. He does have valuable insight, but it is like He the the combination of those two pull me into the game in a way where like every time I watch BY basketball, I'm trying to figure out how I can watch the game but listen
Nate Crowley: Yes.
Josh Crowley: to the call. I just don't think that Mark Durant gets nearly the flowers that that he deserves. I think he is phenomenal. even when he gives an interview that's not related to like the game day podcast, like that dude just loves BYU. He's actually
Nate Crowley: True.
Josh Crowley: low key way knowledgeable about the football team. Like I think he follows the football team. as closely as he does the basketball
Nate Crowley: yeah.
Josh Crowley: team. so I I love me some mark durant. So give me give me Mark at my four and then I'm gonna round it out. This is this is like I know gonna kinda shock you probably. Give me Tosh McIntosh from
Nate Crowley: I thought you might go there.
Josh Crowley: from the Loyal Cougars. I As as two guys that are not in journalism of any kind, have no training, like he just is a refreshing take for me of like an informed fan, a lot of times he has really valuable insight. I think he has more connections than he lets on, which is kind of a fun angle, but I think he's still pretty professional about it.
Nate Crowley: Yeah, yeah.
Josh Crowley: Like in contrast to the Couge Connect, kind of like very unprofessional angle. yeah,
Nate Crowley: Too casual, yeah.
Josh Crowley: too casual. that rounds out my five. Tosh McIntosh at the five for me, so let's let's hear your last pick.
Nate Crowley: Okay, so I'm going to give my last pick but I'm going to give my last two other alternates that I'm not picking.
Josh Crowley: Sure. I've I've got a couple on my the my alternates, but go ahead.
Nate Crowley: Riley Nelson.
Josh Crowley: Yes. That's amazing.
Nate Crowley: I will say it for one reason. There is nothing better than the Tennessee game in 2019. Zach Wilson's miracle finds Micah Simon running down the sideline in the middle of the play. Riley goes, go baby, go! Like he's just like ultimate, yeah. Just ultimate fan
Josh Crowley: Just cheering. Just straight up cheering. I love it.
Nate Crowley: boy, go baby! And it's just like, kills me when I hear him say that. So you have to go back and listen to that. And then this is
Josh Crowley: I'm gonna have to go back and listen to that call. That's awesome.
Nate Crowley: also kind of a hilarious not pick Austin Colley because when he gets on the
Josh Crowley: Okay, well he
Nate Crowley: BYU sports station game day, like this is how I feel about Austin as like a media person. I feel like he left BYU kind of on weird terms, BYU got the big 12 invite and he's like, bro, I'm the biggest BYU fan that's ever been BYU fanned. And you're just like,
Josh Crowley: Right.
Nate Crowley: I believe you. Like Austin just has like that
Josh Crowley: Yes.
Nate Crowley: aura about him that you're just like, you're right. I'm wrong. Like I believe everything you say. There's nothing you could
Josh Crowley: Ooh.
Nate Crowley: say. That's how I feel when I listen to him. And so that's why I put him on my list. But I'm gonna put, I'm actually gonna pick, so there's my two non picks. I'm actually gonna pick Ben Criddle as my last
Josh Crowley: Okay.
Nate Crowley: pick. And I was a huge Ben Criddle guy, to like 2023, probably. And I listened to him more than anybody can like. combined like a lot. My biggest gripes with Ben, he has so many advertisements in his show. It's, it's,
Josh Crowley: It's it's become almost unlistenable.
Nate Crowley: yeah, it's so bad. And that's why I really don't listen to Ben. But what I will give Ben his flowers. He is a very good interviewer, especially during fall camp. He will pull guys
Josh Crowley: Yeah. I agree.
Nate Crowley: aside that he's like, hey, this will be a fun interview. And I think he asks questions that are a little bit Like it's a good marriage of like ball knowledge. Like let me ask you about your tech X's
Josh Crowley: Mm-hmm. X's and O's, yeah.
Nate Crowley: and O's and then he'll ask you about like your personal life and where things are at. Like what, what things do you like to do outside of football kind of questions
Josh Crowley: Other honorable mentions that I had on my list. quick shout out to Adam and Matt Mangum from the Rise and Shout podcast back in the day. Still miss those guys. Hope they come back on. Jake Edmonds, who's the the co-host
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: with Tosh Macintosh, he I I really like his refreshing perspective. Occasionally he just fumbles on his like BYU history in a way that just has me like wanting to shout at the podcast and like call in and be like, whoa, whoa, whoa, you just said what?
Nate Crowley: Yeah, you're wrong.
Josh Crowley: which honestly, even just doing this for the first time, I I feel like I have a lot more grace for that because I'm like
Nate Crowley: appreciation, yeah.
Josh Crowley: I feel like I'm having brain farts left and right. So anyway, Jake Edmonds is is honestly really great. And I think he'll be in the space for a long time. And I hope he is, because I never miss an episode of Loyal Cougars. And then I also threw in here, which I think it's kind of a separate category, but Drake Toll. I mean, he's kind of become like a a figure in this space.
Nate Crowley: interesting. Yeah, pseudo. Yeah.
Josh Crowley: Like he he has a lot of love for the Cougars. as a whole, I think he does a really awesome job. And let's just be honest, he he won't say it, but he doesn't like Utah, which is just a huge pro to me. And he really likes the Cougars and has loved his visits
Nate Crowley: awesome. Yep, absolutely awesome. Yeah.
Josh Crowley: to Provo. So I think he's shined a light on BYU in a big way. So shout out to Drake Toll. He was never gonna be in my starting five, but I had to I had to
Nate Crowley: Yeah, sure.
Josh Crowley: Give him a little bit of credit there. So okay.
Nate Crowley: Nice.
Josh Crowley: Nate, I I
Nate Crowley: I know.
Josh Crowley: know, I know that you will be awesome at what we were planning to do for segment three. So I'm gonna go ahead and sit this one out. But I want you to tell us your scripted first drive plays. If you could sit in Arod's seat against Utah Tech.
Nate Crowley: Yes.
Josh Crowley: Given what we know about this offense, given the way that you wish the offense was called, hit us with it.
Nate Crowley: Okay, there is nothing more deflating than opening up a season with a two yard run up the middle. It is literally the most...
Josh Crowley: Could not agree more. And I really quick before you get going, I want to say what A-Rod did last year with Bear Bachmeyer to me covers an absolute world of frustration. I think it's unreal what he was able
Nate Crowley: Yeah.
Josh Crowley: to do. I am not I think I am more pro-A-Rod than you. I think he's awesome, but I could not agree more that you set the freaking tone, not just with the first play of a game, but the first play of a season. If it's a handoff
Nate Crowley: Yes.
Josh Crowley: to LJ up the middle, who is our best player, he is our best player, and he could break it off for 80. But for heaven's
Nate Crowley: Yes.
Josh Crowley: sake, no. Like, let Bear let it rip anyway. Sorry I cut you off. Go ahead.
Nate Crowley: Yes, yes. No, no, it's great. it just, for the sake of mentality against
Josh Crowley: Yes.
Nate Crowley: Utah Tech, it just, like, you're going to get a first down. You're not going to go three now against these guys. So it's like, if you burn the play, so opening play, it's four verts. You're just opening it up and you're just
Josh Crowley: I love it.
Nate Crowley: letting. All of your receivers go, I don't care if it's the legend, Jojo, one of the tight ends. don't, Casper, I could not care less who gets the ball thrown to. I don't even quite frankly care if it's caught. I do care if it's a pick, that would suck. It's
Josh Crowley: It's just a mentality Well, yeah, that would suck, but
Nate Crowley: just a mentality thing that you're just like, we are so much better than you.
Josh Crowley: Yes. This is how the game is about to go for you. Yes.
Nate Crowley: you know what I mean? You just, yeah. So I don't care. so then the next play I'm actually I want LLJ to get the ball but I don't want to be a run still so we're doing like a little screen right we're doing a little little play action
Josh Crowley: Love it. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: little or one of those ones where he like motions out and then kind of jogs and then just turns around we just kind of sling it to him and he
Josh Crowley: Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Nate Crowley: runs up he's going to get a first down that's great basically from there till the end till the 10 yard line. It just needs to be dink and dunk. It can have some runs in there and that's fine. I just, it just needs to be like, I need to see a five yard out from Walker Lions. I need to see, you know, some high low stuff. I, know, you know, a post corner with a, you know, stuff underneath that's just easy. And then probably the most crucial part for me is We absolutely need a tiger and bear touchdown. It's kind of mind-blowing that we went... right.
Josh Crowley: We do. And it needs to be Utah Tech because you just you just mark it off the list. We have no idea what Tiger's gonna become in the rotation. Is he gonna
Nate Crowley: Right.
Josh Crowley: be the number two wide receiver? Is he gonna be buried on the depth chart? Get him his T D, then that's out of the way. I totally agree. End this drive with a yep.
Nate Crowley: It just needs to be, yeah, it has to be an ending drive with a tiger touchdown. something to the corner or something that like gets
Josh Crowley: Post route. Yeah.
Nate Crowley: him out, you know, a little whip route, something that like gets him open, but like. this needs to end with Tiger and Bear hooking up for a touchdown. like that, so that's my thing. Just don't give me zone read up the middle on the first play of the game. I love LJ and I want LJ to be our guy, but like it just
Josh Crowley: Please. Of course. Of course. Well
Nate Crowley: needs to be a pass. I just, that being said,
Josh Crowley: Well and
Nate Crowley: do you remember how the 2022 season opened? It was...
Josh Crowley: Of course.
Nate Crowley: The fly sweep, Pooka taking off.
Josh Crowley: Puka fly sweep for t a touchdown. Yeah, yeah. That's fine. It can it could ultimately go down as a rush. I want LJ to get some yards. I mean we need him to just get a hundred yards
Nate Crowley: yeah.
Josh Crowley: so that he's on pace to break the record. That would be awesome. I do just want to hear as we head out, which would be more satisfying to you? Michigan sucking all year let's say losing record maybe four wins or the Aggies going into Rice Eccles and beating the
Nate Crowley: So...
Josh Crowley: Utes
Nate Crowley: I would say what's the more satisfying is Utah State beating Utah for two main reasons. Number one, I still love Jay Hill. Coach G, when I watch them, I will not be cheering for them, but I will be.
Josh Crowley: Cheering for their defense a little bit, yeah.
Nate Crowley: I don't even know if I'd go as far as say that, but yeah, like I do love them. I will end my sentence there. Then watching Bronco and Bobby and I beat Utah and Rice Eccles, I would cry. I would cry tears of happiness. My heart
Josh Crowley: With the so legendary. my gosh.
Nate Crowley: soars with the eagle's nest, as Michael.
Josh Crowley: Yes.
Nate Crowley: Scott would say, Nothing would be better, honestly.
Josh Crowley: That's the right answer, and I totally agree. completely demolish the hopes of Utah
Nate Crowley: yeah.
Josh Crowley: fans. we'll rag on the youths plenty
Nate Crowley: yeah.
Josh Crowley: as the weeks come along. I'll I'll leave it there. I I'm not in any way, shape or form cheering for the Aggies ever. But on that day, g go blue. Well, this is a blast. Hope that somebody else thinks it's a blast, but even if they don't, let's do it again next week, bro. I love it.
Nate Crowley: Yeah, this is, that's great. Okay, sounds good. Go Cougs.
Josh Crowley: Go, Kooks, baby.
