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the latest from the BYU Football offices today:
PROVO, Utah (September 28, 2007) -- BYU head football coach Bronco Mendenhall today announced freshman receiver Ryan Kessman has announced his intentions to transfer.
"Ryan has expressed his desire to leave BYU," Mendenhall said. "We have granted his release and wish him well."
Kessman is a true freshman from San Jacinto, Calif.
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The word out of the Kessman camp is that Ryan feels he was unfairly grouped with the five other suspended players, and that Ryan needed a "fresh start," with a different coach. As to Ryan's infractions and the attendant rumors surrounding their severity, unless Bronco were to choose to detail the rules violations (which is unlikely), the only available truth of the matter will rest with the Kessman family and what they choose to divulge in whichever light they choose to portray it.
Thus brings to an end the potential success story of the talented Jewish athlete from Southern California who chose to attend the LDS school in Utah, committing early to Bronco and then deflecting any and all recruiting attention during his senior season of high school.
Indeed, Kessman and J.J. DiLuigi were two of the jewels of last season's recruiting class, in part because they were accomplished non-LDS athletes who chose to commit to BYU and embrace Bronco's vision for the program.
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Meantime, there are other personnel concerns to keep an eye on ahead of tomorrow night's game, and I'll have the latest news during the Cougar Countdown Show and the Cougar Pregame Coach's Show, after Bronco Mendenhall has updated me during our pregame get-together. Tune in then to find out who's playing, and who's not, as BYU takes on New Mexico. Pregame coverage on the air at 4:30, kickoff at 6:30.
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