Dick Harmon: BYU football: Jake Heaps makes the most of his opportunity after Riley Nelson is sidelined

Generally speaking, Bronco Mendenhall has never taken a starter's job away due to injury. If a guy gets back, he gets the work.

I'd expect that to be the case.

So BYU's quarterback job the rest of the season very well may end up on the call by the team doctor and trainer. Days? Weeks? Diagnosed with a broken rib and hospitalized overnight, Nelson could make it back if not threatened with a punctured lung. Heaps played in a bowl game with a cracked rib last December.

Regardless, it was a big deal for Heaps to get back on the field and throw.

It was good for his psyche, his development, his relationship with his teammates and the coach who brought him to Provo and then benched him — Brandon Doman.

Changing QBs at BYU is a big deal, whether by performance or injury.

The issue definitely spiced up a cold night game that tested many a BYU fan to leave the comfort of their living rooms and TV and be in LaVell Edwards Stadium to watch the Cougars play 2-8 Idaho.

Suddenly, BYU's season got a little more interesting in November.

email: dharmon@desnews.com