BYU backfield: 'Pops' and Brown

PROVO — BYU running back Curtis Brown has bestowed the nickname "Pops" on fellow ball carrier Fahu Tahi. And with good reason.

Tahi turns 23 in October and has been around the Cougar program a while. "It's because I look so old," the junior from West Valley City said with a smile. "(Brown) gives me a hard time about it."

Tahi arrived on campus in 1999 and was paired with another freshman, Luke Staley, in the Cougar backfield. The youngsters wowed BYU fans with their skills, and Tahi wound up leading the team in rushing.

BYU is hoping for similar success from this year's running back tandem of "Pops" and Brown.

While Brown's nickname for Tahi is a good-natured joke, it's also a sign of respect.

"It's impressive to see his strength and size — to be as big as he is and move as well as he does," Brown said of Tahi, who rushed 34 times for 77 yards and a touchdown and caught 14 passes for 144 yards and two TDs in 2003. "He is a great running back. As a leader, he works with you. The best thing about a leader is that everybody can respect him. Everybody on this team respects Fahu. I'm glad to have him as our leader."

Meanwhile, Tahi has nothing but good things to say about Brown, a sophomore who redshirted last season. "He's a hard worker. He gets me going," Tahi said. "Every day he motivates me, and we motivate each other. Curtis is quicker than I am and has a little bit more speed than I do. He's a slash type of guy. I don't have the moves I had in high school. I just try to pound guys and run them over."

"People always ask me if I'm going to be the starter," Brown said. "I say, 'We're in this together.' Everybody's going to contribute. It's not about who gets the most reps, as long as BYU's ahead. That's all that matters."

For months, everybody has been asking running backs coach Lance Reynolds how the offense is going to cope with the loss of two of its top rushers from a year ago — Rey Brathwaite (812 yards) and Marcus Whalen (139 yards) — to honor-code violations.

"Really, we lost five of our top seven running backs from last year," Reynolds said, explaining that gone, too, are Tafui Vakapuna (LDS mission), Thomas Stancil (left school) and Kyle Wilson (graduation).

Fortunately for Reynolds and the Cougars, they still have Tahi and Brown, who figure to carry the rushing load this season. Both players are every-down backs who complement each other, according to Reynolds.