Robert Anae energized, liberated by fresh faces on offense

PROVO — This is the 25th year Robert Anae has gone through the ritual of spring football practice as a player or coach, his fifth as the offensive coordinator at BYU. He's experiencing a regeneration at his core.

Anae uses the word "liberation" to describe it. But it could be said he feels a little emancipation or enfranchisement, a kind of being let loose after four seasons of subtle comfort, the kind that leads to complacency of mind and spirit.

You see, in the past few seasons, he's been painting with numbers, massaging instead of lifting.

He's had John Beck and Max Hall and Dennis Pitta and Andrew George to work with. Sprinkle in a little Jonny Harline and Dan Coats, and a guy can start to take things for granted. He's had plenty of on-field help, athletes/coaches, stalwart leaders who don't need tending, nurturing or coaxing to rise to the task.

Now, this spring, he's finding himself needing to press.

Anae's coaching acumen has been put on edge and challenged. He has to worry about getting new faces prepared and ready. He's got to take blocks of granite and knock off chips here and there and come up with some sort of piece of art. Unlike with the other guys listed above, he can't deploy a nail file; instead, he's got to take out a chisel and hammer and sweat a little.

He loves it.

"It's very exciting because there's an element of surprise. They work hard, they try hard, but because there is youth, there is an element there that you aren't sure of," said Anae.

"That's refreshing. It's liberating. Not having guys like Andrew, Dennis and Max, who know what they're doing, well, it's liberating. Those guys would end up coaching a lot by themselves."

Anae's now got the Three Amigos — quarterbacks Riley Nelson, James Lark and Jake Heaps. They're energetic, motivated and hungry to prove themselves. He's got new tight ends, like freshman Mike Muehlmann and Devin Mahina, with Richard Wilson and Marcus Matthews and LaVell Edwards' grandson, Matthew Edwards. They all want to be the next Pitta and George.

"I feel like a brand new coach. It's the same with other coaches on staff," Anae said. "Coach (Mark) Weber, well, his offensive line guys have been hurt. It's liberating."

What's that mean.

"You get nervous," said Anae. "You get nervous before a meeting, just like you did when you were a brand new coach."