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PROVO — In the final moments of BYU's humiliating 31-0 loss at Michigan on Saturday afternoon in the Big House, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall had pulled out several key players with potential injury concerns as the battered Cougars limped to the finish line.
Running back Adam Hine was pulled with an ankle injury around halftime. Linebacker Harvey Langi missed significant portions of the second half, even as he has battled a significant elbow injury. Same with offensive linemen Kyle Johnson and Ryker Mathews, who were both pulled late, among others.
On Monday, only one official injury report came down from the BYU head coach: Phillip Amone would miss the remainder of the season with a tear in his anterior cruciate ligament. Amone previously tore his ACL during his senior year in high school, and the freshman was working his way back into the squad by earning time on special teams and figuring into the rotation at inside linebacker.
The rest, Mendenhall said, was still yet to be determined.
"There could be others as information and the week goes on," Mendenhall added. "We just got (Amone) back. He was on special teams, but he has torn his ACL and is out."
Meanwhile, the coach remains optimistic about Hine and fellow running back Algie Brown, who is coming off an MCL sprain, can return to the team. Whether this is an overly an optimistic hope or not will be the result of more tests later in the week.
"Both are possible, I've been told," Mendenhall said. "Somewhere between possible, doubtful and hopeful — I can't tell you what that means. But I've been told they are not out."
Nate Carter, who could slide from third to first on the running back depth chart depending on the extent of those injuries, expressed sorrow as the guys were taken off the field over the weekend.
"Those are some of my best friends," Carter said. "There's a lot of pride in our friendships. It's really hard to watch those guys go down because you love them.
"We're going to be fine moving forward, though. I believe that."
One of the few bright spots from Saturday's loss was the emergence of freshman fullback Francis Bernard to add to the run game. The Herriman High graduate ran for 30 yards on four carries in his first collegiate game Saturday, including a 13-yard run for a first down on his first touch.
His 7.5-yards-per-carry average will be tested if the Cougars (2-2) need more help carrying the ball as they prepare for UConn on Friday night at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
"I like him a lot. I think he's tough, I think he's physical. He can block, he can catch the ball out of the backfield and he can run it," Mendenhall said of the returned missionary freshman. "His role will increase. I liked him a lot in fall camp, and he was really impressive."
Carter agreed with his coach, speaking highly of Bernard.
"Francis Bernard is a phenomenal player. He brings a lot to the team," he said. "I think he's a hybrid like Algie. He'll go out and throw a block but then run the ball really well.
"He's a fullback that can really run the ball. he's a big, powerful guy. He's really done a good job."
Still, the loss sat raw with several players even as coaches spoke about moving on and focusing on "one day at a time" as the Cougars look to rebound Friday night against UConn.
"It was a tough loss, but you can't travel back in time and do it all over again," defensive lineman Graham Rowley said. "So we have to look forward and fight for every win we can get. We're not down. That's what Connecticut wants us to be, because then they can take advantage. But we're in the fight and we're going for it."
Bruised, battered and beaten badly, BYU (2-2) will try to fight off the mat and recover its season, which could include a bid to either the Hawaii or Las Vegas bowls.
"I feel like (the loss at UCLA) should've given us more urgency, but we obviously didn't get it done," wide receiver Terenn Houk said. "Now there's definitely a sense of urgency."
