From Deseret News archives:

BYU football: Team bids goodbye to 22 players in final home game

Published: Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008 12:11 a.m. MST
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PROVO — Prior to BYU's 41-12 victory over San Diego State on Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium, the Cougars honored 22 players who are seniors or who have completed their collegiate careers. After the game, those players received their traditional "Y" blanket on the field.

Among those recognized included four-year starter Dallas Reynolds, who has started 48 consecutive games, which is currently tied for second-most in the country. The school also said goodbye to four three-year starters: offensive linemen Travis Bright and Ray Feinga, linebacker David Nixon and wide receiver Michael Reed. Three two-year starters also played their final game at Edwards Stadium: safety Kellen Fowler, offensive lineman David Oswald and punter C.J. Santiago.

Others honored Saturday were walk-on wide receiver Collin Fanning; defensive lineman Mosese Foketi; wide receiver Saia Hafoka, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2006; running back Wayne Latu; wide receiver Bryce Mahuika, who has led the team in its pre-game "Haka" the past four years; deep-snapper Chris Muehlmann; defensive lineman Brock Richardson; offensive lineman Tom Sorensen, who lettered in 2007 and suffered an injury in fall camp; safety David Tafuna, a 2008 starter; running back Isaac Taylor; defensive back Tama Uyema; running back Fui Vakapuna; defensive back Chris Warner; and wide receiver Reed White.

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"I was proud of our seniors today," said coach Bronco Mendenhall. "For three straight years, we haven't lost a game at home, and I think we've accomplished a lot to set the foundation of our program. I think we represented ourselves very well today."

POINSETTIA BOWL REP IN PROVO: An official from the Poinsettia Bowl Committee, who also attended the TCU-Utah game Thursday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium, was in attendance Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium to see the Cougars take on the Aztecs.

"I'm really here to support the Mountain West Conference and let it know we have interest in some of its teams," said committee member Gary Rectenwald. "With three teams in the Top 15, it's obvious we're interested in each of those teams."

Beside keeping tabs on Utah, TCU and BYU, the Poinsettia Bowl isn't ignoring Air Force, which could jump into the bowl picture with wins over BYU and TCU the next two weeks. Still, Rectenwald acknowledged that BYU would certainly be a big draw for the Dec. 23 game in San Diego, and that any of the MWC teams would help draw a top opponent as well. Right now, because the Pac-10 doesn't have seven bowl eligible teams, it looks like a team from the WAC — either

Recent comments

That's what you said 18 games ago. Dur!!!

to Anon... | Nov. 9, 2008 at 5:21 p.m.

too bad it was their last win.

Anonymous | Nov. 9, 2008 at 3:31 p.m.

Let's hope it's not goodbye to certain Juniors after this year, too....

BlueBoy | Nov. 9, 2008 at 9:06 a.m.

Image

Running back Fui Vakapuna is lifted by Dallas Reynolds after scoring a first-quarter touchdown. They played their final BYU home game Saturday.

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