Deseret News | BYU took more than just a QB

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BYU took more than just a QB

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RE: tstu | 9:26 a.m. May 28, 2008

How many transfer quaterbacks ever play at ther new schools? Ummm, are you serious. I can think of two in the past two years. Max Hall and Tommy Grady.

USU..... | 9:26 a.m. May 28, 2008

Is to the state of Utah what Canada is to the USA. We barely know you're there and the only time we acknowledge you is when we need something from you. Have a nice day.

BCS Wave??? | 9:30 a.m. May 28, 2008

Since when did going to the Las Vegas Bowl become the BCS Wave???

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Well done zoobies.

Comments continue below

Non-beliver | 9:31 a.m. May 28, 2008

After this stunt by BYU, I hope they never break into the BIG TIME. Nelson is good. BYU was not interested in him when he graduated from Logan. They signed the kid from Southern Utah (St. George.) Interesting. Mendenhall is winning so he is insulated from any criticism from the Church or anywhere else. Don't kid yourself. For all his postering and talk of dedication to the Church, he has a streak of larceny just like everyone else. But now because he is winning no one cares and he is protected.

What? | 9:34 a.m. May 28, 2008

What about Max Hall? Isn't he a transfer from Arizona State?

c-money | 9:34 a.m. May 28, 2008

Hey tstu, I can think of another MAX HALL.

Concast-hater | 9:38 a.m. May 28, 2008

As a "True Aggie" I wish I could cheer for USU football. I cheer for both USU and BYU. Riley made a better choice. If he stayed at USU he will continue to struggle with a new coach or one that has a bad track record. He would have lousy recievers and linemen. He might not ever play again, but if he does he will have quality players and a team who knows how to win. If he starts for BYU, he will have a better chance of the making the NFL than at USU.

We have no idea what spiritual path he is one while on his mission. He might feel that BYU is the only true and living team to play on, who knows. Should

Nice to always be right | 9:37 a.m. May 28, 2008

Do you think that Mendenhall is ever going to admit to doing anything wrong. Not in a million years. He is perfect in his own mind and BYUs mind. No he did not approach Nelson, his assistants did. That gets Mendenhall off the hook. He can say that he was not involved with a straight face. I am a BYU fan but not a Mendenhall fan after this. I hope Nelson made the right choice. Do you think these other quarterbacks at BYU are just going to lay down and down for this kid. I doubt it.

Anonymous | 9:44 a.m. May 28, 2008

This whole thing is making me so excited for college football. I can't even wait until the Iowa Hawkeyes enter Provo to play our big Blue. Oh EXCUSE ME-I mean the other Iowa team-the North Iowa Buzzards. Raise the roof cougars!

Lefty | 9:46 a.m. May 28, 2008

Is this kid left-handed? He may beat out Max Hall if he is, because he will see the left side of the line crumble nearly every play and be able to run like the wind blows.

Re: tstu | 9:49 a.m. May 28, 2008

Max Hall is a transfer QB.

Gary | 9:51 a.m. May 28, 2008

How many transfer QBs ever play?
Off the top of my head, two pretty good QBs at BYU were transfers-
Max Hall transferred to BYU from ASU
Steve Sarkesian came to BYU as a JC transfer

ferg | 9:52 a.m. May 28, 2008

BYU always has and always will skirt the rules. BYU and its fans have always been a joke anywhere outside of Utah County. At least the FLDS arepen about their beliefs, at BYU they hide and and mislead about everything. Get a life there is more to living than cougar athletics. Their only claim to fame is a national title against the worst Michigan team in a century. BYU is average at best, and Plaisted will never make it in the NBA

BYU Creamery | 9:53 a.m. May 28, 2008

BYU doesn't need to steal Aggie Ice Cream; they already have BYU Creamery Ice Cream, which is far better.

Anyway, USU has never been a BYU rival in my book. BYU should feel no remorse in stealing colors or players.

Re: Non-Believer | 9:59 a.m. May 28, 2008

What do you mean you hope we don't break the BIG TIME!!! We are already there man! Didn't you see us last year in the Vegas Bowl as we dominated UCLA!!! You guys probably dream of Vegas Bowls. It is the best bowl game before Christmas!

And we won in the National Championship bowl game in 1984. Probably the most famous championship bowl game ever.

Re: Cougar Pride | 10:00 a.m. May 28, 2008

Beware of pride

So-Cal Aggie | 10:02 a.m. May 28, 2008

Yawn. No sour grapes here, he wanted to go to byu, let him. byu wants to contact people on their mission, then deny it, let em. Sure athelets like RN are hard to come by, the kid has heart. But I say have fun with your 5'11" 150LB "QB" *cough strong safety cough*.

MCKAY | 10:03 a.m. May 28, 2008

I've been here at Utah State for the past 4 years, and I didn't come here for the football. I'm sad to see Riley go, but in the long run he will have little to do with the success or continued failure of the football program.

And all this talk about stealing colors, and Utah State "losing it's spirit" is a heap of rubish. If our self worth as a school came from our football success we would have ceased to exist a long time ago. Utah State is a great place to get a good education, and learn who you are, and that is why the great majority of the students are here.

Football is not a religion at USU.
(and it's a good thing it's not:)

Bubba | 10:07 a.m. May 28, 2008

tstu. I can think of a few more: Max Hall, Ben Olson, Troy Aikman, that's just a few off the top of my head. Think before you display your ignorance for all to see.

Oh my | 10:07 a.m. May 28, 2008

Why are Cougar fans so boastful? Yeah, they got a decent football team, an average basketball team (that has a losing record to my Aggies over the last 5 games played) but the worst are the fans that think they are better than anyone else.
Take Riley, he is a great competitor, a kid that has heart and athletically he probably made the right decision. But geeh, show some class. You win with grace and you lose with grace. We lost a good player, you won a good player, just dont rub it in. Shows no class. Guess they dont teach humility at BYU.

Unfair advantage | 10:09 a.m. May 28, 2008

I don't think its a question of legality. Of course BYU can contact Nelson. The question is, is it right to. BYU being a school backed by the church has an unfair advantage on persuading young missionaries that "this is the place". They should not be recruiting kids on missions.

PRETTIER? | 10:10 a.m. May 28, 2008

Are there Aggies really arguing that their institution is better, even in part, because Cache Valley is PRETTIER? Be that as it may...

News flash! Both campuses are still in UTAH!!!

That's the biggest downside to BOTH of them!!!

Re: Re Non-believer | 10:11 a.m. May 28, 2008

Vegas Bowl? You kidding me. You are totally big time. NOT!!! If you want to be big time, you better bust into the BCS bowls. Until then, nobody in the nation cares about medium-size time. Still a small fish in a big pond.

Go Cougars | 10:33 a.m. May 28, 2008

BYU Athletics did steal the Aggies colors, but they figured that is was ok because USU wasn't doing anything with them...:)

cougy_monster | 10:40 a.m. May 28, 2008

Um tstu, you asked how many transfer quarterbacks play at their new schools? I can think of one off hand....Max Hall.

Re: Go Cougars | 10:50 a.m. May 28, 2008

Funny ... gotta give you that. But us not doing anything with the colors is only half truth. Football ... we have a football team? :) But basketball? We are at least at your level but probably a step above. Now, I know that is not going to sit will with a lot of Cougars. You can go on about your home winning streak, about going to the NCAA tourney this year (where you didnt do anything) but over the last five years, the Aggies have done more with their blue against your blue. So, I'll give you the football but we're still above ya'll in basketball. :)

Re: USC Fan | 10:59 a.m. May 28, 2008

I'll admit USC is a better athletic program but two things. O.J. Mayo and Reggie Bush. At least we don't pay our athletes.

Jonesy | 11:01 a.m. May 28, 2008

to Tstu:
Isn't Max Hall a transfer from Arizona State? He's doing pretty well.

Brian | 11:00 a.m. May 28, 2008

I think this is a knock and hopefully and "knockout blow" to Brent Guy. Three years in Logan and zero progress. Any Aggie web developers out there that can start the "firebrentguy.com" website?

In closing I'd like to bare my testimony...that BYU coaches and fans are jerks that do not show the integrity that their school professes to ooze. I know this with every fiber of my being.

Go Ags!

Texas Cougar | 11:06 a.m. May 28, 2008

Wow! It seems like everyone's getting a little worked up over this one. Rock, your insinuation that BYU will go after Old Main is ridiculous: BYU actually has plans to go after the Bluebird Restaurant next.

It really is unfortunate that this is getting so much negative publicity. Though I'm a BYU fan, I really like USU. I love the campus up there and yes, aggie ice cream is the best in the state.

That said, I get tired of the Aggie Inferiority Complex (especially because I don't see a need for them to feel inferior). My Aggie Family members despise all things BYU, and it seems that aggie fans never get enough of bad things happening to BYU. I guess that a part of me hoped that USU fans were a little more chill than BYU and Utah fans (who both blow things way out of proprotion and make the rivalry less enjoyable).

Oh, and Cloudy Eyes, I have a suggestion for you. If you're going to be sarcastic, make sure you are CLEAR in what you are saying (you're post name matched your comments). Collie was always at BYU, and Olsen left during the old coaching regime.

ASU FAN | 11:08 a.m. May 28, 2008

MAx Hall just lost his job. he's nothing but a subpar quarterback anyways. Anyone with talent will beat him out

USU fan+self righteousness | 11:15 a.m. May 28, 2008

Calling BYU fan self righteous is very judgemental and self righteous. Good luck.

To Re BYU-Logan | 11:33 a.m. May 28, 2008

Very interesting. I love how you all preach about Cache Valley, your very "prestigious" university, and even your ice cream, telling BYU students to get over themselves, when in fact you seem to suffer from little-man/little-brother syndrome. Live your own lives. Get out of ours. I don't care one bit about your international agricultural acclaim and your emphasis on academic excellence (as though that's something some universities don't focus on?).

Here's the deal: You like Logan, I like Provo. Riley chose Provo, you're not Riley. We don't really need, want, or care about him, but he had an opportunity and he took it. Stop being his little, whiny brother.

Finally, do you honestly, really, (again--honestly, really) believe that USU offers a better academic exp. than BYU? If so, put down your Cache-Valley glasses and do some comparative research. Take into account the quality of students who come to the respective campuses, the admissions requirements, graduate programs, departments and schools such as Business, Management, Accounting, Law, PR, English, History, etc.

It might be eye opening to those of who you judge which University to attend based on ice cream flavor!

Pick a little | 11:35 a.m. May 28, 2008

As with ANY story about BYU, the BYU-haters will find something to pick and complain about --

Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little, talk a little, Cheep cheep cheep, talk a lot, pick a little more

Bronco is a great coach and an honorable man. He was completely above board in expressing BYU's interest in Riley Nelson, first to Riley's coach and then, to his parents.

Riley's parents were the ones who thought this was an important enough decision to contact Riley while he was still serving his mission.

I don't think there was anything wrong with what Riley's parents, his high school coach or Coach Mendenhall did.

Just because a young man or woman is serving a mission, doesn't mean they shouldnt be making plans for after their mission. There is certainly time on P'day for missionaries to make plans for school, in fact, most missionaries who are returning to school right after their missions, have already applied for readmission before they get back home.

People who think that most missionaries don't make after-mission plans during their missions are simply naive.

Deth | 11:36 a.m. May 28, 2008

Riley was not highly recruited out of high school, and I am still wondering why this is a big deal. I think he is an good athlete, but its not like BYU is getting some 5 star recruit. USU does have an inferiority complex when compared to BYU, but BYU feels the same way when being compared to PAC-10 schools...No respect. But USU has to be the whiniest bunch of fools I've ever seen. After one season with USU, Riley probably realized that playing for his hometown team wasn't all its cracked up to be, and when he goes to BYU it will be a better situation for him...but not all its cracked up to be.

AggieMan | 11:45 a.m. May 28, 2008

The issue of who first intiated contact in these discussions is irrelevent. If BYU was indeed approached by Nelson, Donkey Mendenhall & Co. should've responded by thanking Nelson for his interest and said they would gladly pursue further discussions upon release from his full-time mission-period! Not that Nelson is going help BYU anyway. His game is not suited for BYU's offense and the competition for playing time will be intense. In the end, Nelson will have wished he stayed at USU.

michael | 11:45 a.m. May 28, 2008

Higgins - Doman- Logan Coach - Mr. Nelson - Mission President only then Riley Nelson. That is how the communication went according to the Father himself. BYU started the contact bottom line. Illegal- No different than Broncos stated believe - yes
We hold ourself to a higher standard????????????????

Re:To Re BYU | 11:47 a.m. May 28, 2008

I think that the first day of BYU introductions they must teach, "No matter what the argument is, just say that they have an inferiority complex. The logic is flawless. There is no base for the argument, and there is really nothing the person can say. It is pure gold. If you are backed into a corner with what the outside world calls logic, just tell them they have an inferiority complex. And if that doesn't work, just tell them that BYU is unique and other people just don't understand it because they aren't spiritual enough. Now go out into the world and produce baseless, illogical argument, with absolutely no merrit and have a clear conscious because you have made it into this school, meaning you are set for life."
Sorry, no inferiority complex. Some people just don't like you for a lot of different reasons.

Brad | 11:48 a.m. May 28, 2008

What is all the FUSS? If he is so good why didn't the Y recruit him out of high school? Besides, he is no Brian Johnson! Go Utes!

Haters | 12:06 p.m. May 28, 2008

What all of the BYU-haters conveniently want to ignore was that Riley's parents were the first ones to contact Riley about BYU's interest in him, and it was Riley who made the decision to pursue the opportunity while he was still serving his mission.

I have no doubt about Riley's commitment to his missionary service, nor about his desire to make sound decisions about life after his mission.

What I do doubt is the naysaying know-it-alls who somehow think it's any of their business how and when Riley can make decisions based on what he thinks is best for him.

Re: If your from Utah | 12:07 p.m. May 28, 2008

So who are you the fan police, a person can be a fan of any team they want. Regardless of what you say, I'm an SC fan and a Laker fan so what, live with it.

Did BYU contact Riley? | 12:10 p.m. May 28, 2008

Lets use the tried and true test: If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck it's a duck!.

Re:RE:USC fan | 12:22 p.m. May 28, 2008

You'll admit USC is better, we don't need you to admit anything 107 NCAA Championships is all you need to know. You wish you had a back like Reggie. You don't pay your athletes? where do you think that 10% goes every month!.

This just in.... | 12:25 p.m. May 28, 2008

Brad Rock forgot to mention BYU is changing its name to the Aggies.

These things usually work out in the end and who knows maybe USU will have its greatest ever QB show up because Nelson bolted to BYU. The next Brett Favre might have just got the break they needed in Logan.

Priorities | 12:27 p.m. May 28, 2008

Wow, what a big fiasco over someone who is suppossed to be focusing on a mission. It's really messed up how the line between right and wrong gets trampled on when it comes to stupid sports in the church. Another missed opportunity for BYU and the church to stand for things that should really matter. Nice one, it gets harder to cheer for these guys every year.

"COUUU-GAaaSS!" | 12:36 p.m. May 28, 2008

People! Its Ok! Everyone at USU actually wants to be a BYU student anyway. So in a strange way, they all secretly want BYU to win.

By the way, BYU DOES have a better version of USU Ice Cream: its called Lavell's Vanilla.

We have cuter girls, too.

Go Cougars

To USC fan | 12:38 p.m. May 28, 2008

"I'm an SC fan and a Laker fan so what"

The first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem...

Gus | 12:44 p.m. May 28, 2008

Well, I don't believe that one player is going to make or break a football program, maybe basketball, but not football. As a loyal Aggie, I'm sorry to see Riley transfer, but it's his choice. A few years back, when Shawn Bradley announced he wasn't returning to BYU after his mission, many of the BYU faithful had a knee-jerk reaction. But in the long run, what difference did it make? Probably not much! Riley's departure, in the long run, won't make much difference in USU's football fortunes either.

I'm going on a mission | 12:47 p.m. May 28, 2008

So I can assume I can call, converse and plan for my future just as much as a football player looking for a place to go to school. On my P days I can spend time on the phone negotiating where and what I'm going to do when I get home. Thanks BYU this is going to be much better than I thought. I was under the impression I had to fully concentrate on my mission!.

Ekim | 12:50 p.m. May 28, 2008

I just finished reading all this trash-talking about Nelson.

No one knows exactly what happened. Too much hearsay, which is not admissible anywhere.

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