Young Cougs must maintain composure

Jake Kuresa and Eddie Keele have been through the refiner's fire.

As Cougar freshmen, they were tossed in against Southern Cal and at Notre Dame in South Bend. Kuresa started all 12 games in 2003 right out of Mountain Crest High. Keele redshirted before going on an LDS mission to the Dominican Republic. Upon his return, he started at tackle six games.

"We've gone against some of the best, and there's no better way to measure yourself and improve than playing against USC and the like," Kuresa said.

Four months out of surgery, Kuresa is expected to start at right tackle Saturday against Boston College. Keele will be on the other side, protecting quarterback John Beck's back.

They'll speak from experience when they give advice to two freshmen Cougar linemen who will also start against the Eagles. Dallas Reynolds, fresh off a mission to Washington in May, will man the left guard spot alongside his older brother, center Lance Reynolds Jr., and Terrance Brown, a redshirt freshman who will leave for a mission after this season, will be the right guard.

BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae expects the rookies will have their moments, but in order to perform, if there's one duty they'll have to tie down, it is composure.

"Any offense that is executing, players have to keep their composure. And you have to think quickly. I really believe if your mind is clouded, your legs are slow. But if your mind is clear you play with fast legs. I think the key to offensive football is execution and fast thinking."

Are the rookies, the vets and this new and retooled Cougar offense ready?

"No doubt in my mind," Anae said.

Why?

"I'm not telling," he said.

When asked about going against nationally ranked Boston College, Kuresa said, "We're anxious to play with our new toy."

This opening week is full of drama for MWC teams. But none is more interesting than the Cougars and Utes with new regimes taking over.

The MWC is 27-21 in season openers since its inception in 1999. The Cougars and Utes have the best record at 5-1. The Falcons are the only MWC team to have played all six games at home, but open the 2005 season at Qwest Field in Seattle vs. Washington. Ironically, Colorado State is the only league team to not have a true home game to open a season since the MWC was formed.

MWC teams will play 28 non-conference games during the 2005 season. Twelve of the opponents participated in postseason play in 2004, while four of those were ranked in the final top 25. The MWC will face 12 teams from automatic-qualifying BCS conferences, including Big 12 champion Oklahoma and Big East co-champ Boston College, a member of the ACC in 2005.