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SALT LAKE CITY — This week, two former BYU Cougars took their talents south to Southern Utah University. If they are successful, it will propel SUU but could be a nightmare for BYU.
SUU hired former BYU head coach Gary Crowton to be its offensive coordinator on Monday. The following day, Crowton got his quarterback for the next two years as Ammon Olsen transferred back to the Thunderbirds. Both situations could spell bad news for BYU.
Crowton stepped down as BYU's head coach in 2004, and SUU hired Crowton as its offensive coordinator after being fired from his duties in the same capacity from the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He has served as offensive coordinator for Oregon, LSU and Maryland since his stint at BYU.
BYU shuffled offensive coordinators over the past few years between Robert Anae, Brandon Doman and back to Anae. The Cougars have struggled on offense since 2010. The play-calling and quarterback play caused struggles overall for the offense.
Of course BYU and fans have no wish to see Crowton return, but the real hurt could come in the loss of Olsen. Since Olsen is transferring to an FCS team, he is immediately available to play, and BYU fans will get to see what the junior has to offer, just not in Provo.
The 2009 Alta graduate started his college career at SUU before his LDS mission and then transferred to BYU two years ago. He redshirted his first year back, then spent last year behind Taysom Hill. He threw three passes in the reserve role.
Last season, the only Utah quarterback selected in the NFL Draft was Brad Sorensen from SUU. He went in the seventh round to the San Diego Chargers. Sorensen spent a redshirt year at BYU before transferring to SUU in 2010.
Sorensen was a sophomore when he left BYU. He spent three years as the quarterback for SUU while BYU waffled between Jake Heaps, Riley Nelson, Taysom Hill and James Lark as its starting quarterback. Meanwhile, Sorensen threw for 9,445 yards and 61 touchdowns, both school records.
The Sorensen event was mostly caused by Heaps, who at that time was the prized freshman, and Nelson, the veteran transfer whom the coaches believed in. Sorenson flourished in FCS while BYU suffered through three years of mediocre quarterback play.
Now a very similar situation is going to play itself out. The future seems brighter for SUU while BYU will wish it the best, but might secretly be hoping for the worst.
For SUU, this is a victory either way. Olsen was a big recruit who will have a chance to play right away and play under Crowton, who has produced high-octane and national championship offenses.
Now BYU will have to hope that Hill can solidify the quarterback position and work with Anae to create a prolific offense for the Cougars. BYU fans were clamoring for Olsen after the first two weeks of the season. Eventually the go-fast go-hard offense started to work. Now the greatest question will be whether Hill can stay healthy through the season.
Last year, Hill threw for 438 attempts and rushed the ball 246 times, which is 684 plays with potential hits. Now the only quarterbacks BYU has on scholarship is Hill and Billy Green, with Christian Stewart as a walk-on. One big hit could turn the season around for BYU, and the loss of Olsen could prove monumental.
