Mark
09-27-2007, 06:24 AM
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Cougars RB Rolls Again
http://www.abqjournal.com/sports/597610sports09-27-07.htm
By Greg Archuleta (http://www.abqjournal.com/cgi-bin/email_reporter.pl)
Journal Staff Writer
Harvey Unga plays football the same way he approaches life.
He tries to steer away from trouble, and when defenders or adversity try to tackle him for a loss, they usually just bounce off and he keeps going forward.
"I just kind of like to roll with things," Unga said in a phone interview from Provo, Utah. "Whatever they throw at me, I'm going to catch it and run with it."
Unga, a 6-foot, 221-pound redshirt freshman running back for Brigham Young, should have a considerable impact when the Cougars (2-2, 1-0 Mountain West Conference) face the University of New Mexico (3-1, 0-0) on Saturday at University Stadium.
"A big part of our success on defense will be how well we can defend against the run," UNM coach Rocky Long said. "If they can run the ball on us, it could be a long day for our defense."
In BYU's first two games, Unga averaged 47.5 rushing yards, and the offense scored a total of 37 points. Unga has rushed for 100 or more yards in each of the Cougars' past two games. Their offense has averaged 43 points.
"We had seen enough early on that we knew he was going to be a special player," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said, "and then through fall camp, our defensive coaches and players could tell you that we had a very difficult time tackling him and covering him out of the backfield."
Unga leads BYU with 305 rushing yards, is second on the team with 254 receiving yards and is tied for the lead with four touchdowns scored.
Not bad for a kid who suffered a broken hip about a year ago.
Unga was playing his second game as a true freshman when he was blocking for a punt return. As he was engaged with one player, his foot got caught in the turf. Then another defender hit him in the hip.
The bone cracked in the socket and he dislocated his hip.
"I was frustrated at first, but at the same time I really believe things happen for a reason," Unga said. "I don't know why this happened, but I could either make the best of the situation or pout and say 'Why me?' ''
Choosing the former, Unga built upper-body strength while waiting for the bone to heal in the offseason, and now he has become a physical-style of runner.
"Both BYU backs (Unga and senior Manase Tonga), they're big and strong, and they have a little ability to make you miss, too," Long said. "But most of the time, you're the one taking the lick when you get them to the ground. They attack you with the ball in their hand."
Much like BYU's entire offense. When asked what kind of problems UNM's defense might pose for him Saturday, he gave the we're-more-focused-on-ourselves answer.
"Our offense is one of those where there's key players all around," he said. "UNM's defense, in a sense, kind of has its hands full."
Whether the Lobos bounce off or hang on will go far in determining Saturday's outcome.
HATTEN ON LEAVE: Starting left tackle Sylvester Hatten is on an indefinite leave of absence from the team to deal with personal issues, coach Rocky Long said Wednesday. Hatten, a junior, missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday.
Sophomore Erik Cook will start in his place. If the Lobos suffer an injury during the game, Cook would slide over to that spot and true freshman Byron Bell would play tackle.
U.S. SENATE ASKS FOR TV RESOLUTION: Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., has joined a number of lawmakers in a letter asking that representatives of The Mtn. network and satellite carries DirecTV and Dish Network to resolve their dispute that has restricted the broadcast of Mountain West Conference games offered by The Mtn. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, authored the letter.
Up next
Saturday: BYU at New Mexico, 6:30 p.m. TV: CSTV Radio: KKOB-AM (770)
Cougars RB Rolls Again
http://www.abqjournal.com/sports/597610sports09-27-07.htm
By Greg Archuleta (http://www.abqjournal.com/cgi-bin/email_reporter.pl)
Journal Staff Writer
Harvey Unga plays football the same way he approaches life.
He tries to steer away from trouble, and when defenders or adversity try to tackle him for a loss, they usually just bounce off and he keeps going forward.
"I just kind of like to roll with things," Unga said in a phone interview from Provo, Utah. "Whatever they throw at me, I'm going to catch it and run with it."
Unga, a 6-foot, 221-pound redshirt freshman running back for Brigham Young, should have a considerable impact when the Cougars (2-2, 1-0 Mountain West Conference) face the University of New Mexico (3-1, 0-0) on Saturday at University Stadium.
"A big part of our success on defense will be how well we can defend against the run," UNM coach Rocky Long said. "If they can run the ball on us, it could be a long day for our defense."
In BYU's first two games, Unga averaged 47.5 rushing yards, and the offense scored a total of 37 points. Unga has rushed for 100 or more yards in each of the Cougars' past two games. Their offense has averaged 43 points.
"We had seen enough early on that we knew he was going to be a special player," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said, "and then through fall camp, our defensive coaches and players could tell you that we had a very difficult time tackling him and covering him out of the backfield."
Unga leads BYU with 305 rushing yards, is second on the team with 254 receiving yards and is tied for the lead with four touchdowns scored.
Not bad for a kid who suffered a broken hip about a year ago.
Unga was playing his second game as a true freshman when he was blocking for a punt return. As he was engaged with one player, his foot got caught in the turf. Then another defender hit him in the hip.
The bone cracked in the socket and he dislocated his hip.
"I was frustrated at first, but at the same time I really believe things happen for a reason," Unga said. "I don't know why this happened, but I could either make the best of the situation or pout and say 'Why me?' ''
Choosing the former, Unga built upper-body strength while waiting for the bone to heal in the offseason, and now he has become a physical-style of runner.
"Both BYU backs (Unga and senior Manase Tonga), they're big and strong, and they have a little ability to make you miss, too," Long said. "But most of the time, you're the one taking the lick when you get them to the ground. They attack you with the ball in their hand."
Much like BYU's entire offense. When asked what kind of problems UNM's defense might pose for him Saturday, he gave the we're-more-focused-on-ourselves answer.
"Our offense is one of those where there's key players all around," he said. "UNM's defense, in a sense, kind of has its hands full."
Whether the Lobos bounce off or hang on will go far in determining Saturday's outcome.
HATTEN ON LEAVE: Starting left tackle Sylvester Hatten is on an indefinite leave of absence from the team to deal with personal issues, coach Rocky Long said Wednesday. Hatten, a junior, missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday.
Sophomore Erik Cook will start in his place. If the Lobos suffer an injury during the game, Cook would slide over to that spot and true freshman Byron Bell would play tackle.
U.S. SENATE ASKS FOR TV RESOLUTION: Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., has joined a number of lawmakers in a letter asking that representatives of The Mtn. network and satellite carries DirecTV and Dish Network to resolve their dispute that has restricted the broadcast of Mountain West Conference games offered by The Mtn. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, authored the letter.
Up next
Saturday: BYU at New Mexico, 6:30 p.m. TV: CSTV Radio: KKOB-AM (770)