BYU: Anae questions the media's questions


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PROVO — Coaches coach. Players play. Media members ask questions that neither particularly want to answer. And sometimes the combination is combustible.

“Why do you want to know,” responded BYU offensive coordinator/assistant head coach Robert Anae to a simple question from a reporter Monday after another spring practice. He was asked if the offense was crisper during the hour and 50 minutes the media was not allowed to view practice. At BYU, you are only allowed to watch the final 10 minutes, and apparently during that time the offense wasn’t quite clicking on all cylinders. That most likely put Anae in a foul mood that carried over to the media session.

Offensive coordinator Robert Anae talks with lineman Ryan Reynolds, center, and Parker Dawe on the first day of BYU football's spring camp. (Tom Smart/Deseret News)
Offensive coordinator Robert Anae talks with lineman Ryan Reynolds, center, and Parker Dawe on the first day of BYU football's spring camp. (Tom Smart/Deseret News)

Later another reporter referred to the headsets coaches were wearing during practice and if he knew which assistant coaches were going to be in the press box during games and who would be on the field. Simple enough question right? Well not to Anae.

“Let me find out the purpose of your question. What’s the purpose of your question?” The reporter tried to further explain which led to another strange reaction.

“Well maybe you’re inferring that whether they’re up or whether they’re down will affect the outcome of the game. Is that what you’re referring too?”

No. I’m pretty sure he just wanted to know if he had any idea which coaches would be up and who would be down on the field.

“No. The headsets are for practice communication,” said Anae. “That’s what their there for. We have not decided who is up or who is down.”

So was it really that difficult? If Anae would have just answered that at the beginning it wouldn’t have been so awkward.

Anae is clearly not media savvy. In his first stint as offensive coordinator at BYU he rarely talked to the media, and when he did the result was somewhat the same — awkward. This time around so far he’s more accessible. During spring ball he’s been made available for interviews every Monday while head coach Bronco Mendenhall addresses the media usually on Wednesdays.

This is a positive step and one I believe is calculated. You see, I am under the theory that Anae is being groomed to be the next head coach. Mendenhall has said multiple times that he doesn’t see himself being another LaVell Edwards — a lifer. Too much stress, too many other things to do and accomplish.

I also believe that Anae being hired back to BYU was pushed by athletic director Tom Holmoe. Before the football season even ended, Holmoe suggested changes were going to be made among the offensive coaching staff. So in my opinion Holmoe essentially hand-selected Anae as Mendenhall’s heir apparent. Add the fact that he was given the assistant head coaching title a few weeks after being named OC and clearly it all makes sense, right?

Now of course for all this to happen Anae’s offense ultimately has to be successful on the field and the program has to win games. Time will tell. In the meantime it might be best for Anae to work just a bit on his media and public relations skills. That means just answer the questions and don’t be all paranoid that we’re trying to create some agenda that wearing headsets is some kind of evil ploy to undermine his coaching and offensive success.

Offensive coordinator Robert Anae at BYU football practice
Offensive coordinator Robert Anae at BYU football practice

Typically we media members are not that dubious — or even that smart. We’re just trying to get the information that we can report back to our listeners, readers or viewers so the fans can feel up to date on their program. It really isn’t brain surgery. Yes, sometimes we will take that information and draw our own conclusions and opinions, but that is our right to do so. It’s the wonderful thing about living in a country where freedom of speech is a rite of passage.

Anae has proven in his career to be an excellent offensive line coach and a good offensive coordinator. He has the football experience and skill set to possibly be a solid head coach one day as well. But it’s not all about football. A head coach is the face of a program. He must be able to translate his vision and message to his fan base, potential recruits and yes, deal with the media in good times and in bad.

The funny thing is it’s just spring ball, so there really is no bad. And if Anae was annoyed by this week’s questioning, I can only imagine how he will handle things after his offense actually plays poorly in a real game.

Now that could be really awkward.

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Kevin Graham

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