BYU football: Lewis' tutelage has aided Pitta's progress

PROVO — BYU senior tight end Dennis Pitta says he was too young to remember Chad Lewis when he starred for the Cougars in the mid-1990s. But he did follow Lewis' National Football League career as a Pro Bowl performer with the Philadelphia Eagles.

This year, Pitta's connection with Lewis has become much more personal.

During the summer, BYU players organized players-only practices a few times a week. Coach Bronco Mendenhall allowed Lewis to attend these sessions to work with Pitta and the Cougars' other standout senior tight end, Andrew George — running individual drills that involve blocking techniques and running routes.

Lewis also has been on the sidelines for many games this season, lending support and serving as an unofficial coach.

"Chad Lewis has been a great example to me in my time here. He's come back and worked with us, especially this offseason," Pitta said. "He's done with his playing career and is able to come and give us some pointers and work with us throughout the summer.

"It's great to see him on the sidelines in a lot of our games. He's always encouraging us. He's a great guy to look up to and someone we've learned a lot from."

Lewis has been more than happy to do what he can to help the Cougars. To him, it's a way to carry on BYU's stellar tight end tradition.

"We have a good bond. BYU, over the years, has always been known as Quarterback U. It's also become known as Tight End University," Lewis said. "A lot of guys have gone on to the pros because they had great careers at BYU. When you look at the line of tight ends that have played at BYU, it's really impressive.

"So when I see (Pitta and George) dominating the tight end position, I'm so happy for them. It makes me grateful that I was part of that tight end tradition at BYU."

Pitta and Lewis have quite a bit in common. Both arrived at BYU as walk-ons and ended up becoming two of the best at that position in school history — which is saying a lot considering the Cougars have produced 12 All-America tight end selections.

On Saturday, when BYU visits San Diego State (4 p.m., The mtn.), Pitta, who has 2,471 career receiving yards, could become the Cougars' all-time receiving yardage leader among tight ends, needing only 14 more yards to surpass Gordon Hudson, who will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this year.

That tight end receiving record could be broken at the same stadium, Qualcomm (formerly Jack Murphy) where former Cougar tight end Clay Brown made one of the most famous catches in school history to win the 1980 "Miracle" Bowl against SMU.

Pitta's next touchdown catch would vault him past Brown and Jonny Harline for the most career TD catches by a BYU tight end.