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PROVO — The 2019 BYU football schedule doesn't leave a lot of time to sulk after a loss, pump chests after a win, or just simply take a breath in between an opening month that includes No. 14 Utah, Tennessee, USC and No. 12 Washington.
But after Thursday's 30-12 loss to the Utes — a ninth-straight defeat in the rivalry series that dates back 94 meetings (or 100, according to the Utes) — the Cougars had a rare opportunity.
The sun came up Friday morning in Provo, just hours after the Cougars' latest loss, and BYU players were back to work. Sure, they didn't have a normal practice session — but they were watching film, working out, and trying to key in on what went wrong in their opener at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
It's an opportunity BYU won't get often this season, with Saturday games the rest of the way.
"Since we played on Thursday, it left us a whole weekend to watch film and lock in on what we can do better as a team, and even for me personally," BYU defensive lineman Trajan Pili said. "On Friday, we had a practice, went over the whole game, what we can work on — and now that game is in the past. We’ve pushed it to the back, and we’re focused on Tennessee this week."
The Cougars (0-1) needed it, too.
"We made way too many mistakes," BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. "We got an early start last weekend, and had a really good practice right now. We’re looking forward to the Tennessee game."
It was a long weekend for the program, and made even longer by Monday's Labor Day, when students did not report to classes. But the team was back on the field Monday morning for a full-pad practice, and eager to move on to the Vols and a trip to Neyland Stadium this weekend (5 p.m. MDT, ESPN).
"There were a lot of execution issues from the game Thursday. We looked at it," BYU center James Empey said, before channeling his inner-Bill Bellichick. "We're getting it right, and we’re moving on to Tennessee this week."
Moving on was a common theme between players and the media Monday — and not just in game prep, either. Zach Wilson spoke to the press for the first time since completing 21-of-33 passes for 208 yards and two interceptions — both returned for touchdowns — against the Utes.
And he, too, would like to move on — to the next play, in particular, he admitted.
"I've worked (as a quarterback) my whole life; picks happen," Wilson said. "It happens to the best of us.
"You can't let it faze you. … I honestly think we did a great job of that."
Wilson had a strong outing in his second game against Utah, the school where his dad Mike was a star defensive lineman in the 90s and his family had season tickets throughout his youth. His completion percentage, overall poise and scrambling ability should be lauded, offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes said.
But — and there was definitely a "but" — that all takes a back seat to turnovers.
"Any time you're the quarterback and throw two pick sixes, it can't be a good night. Those two things overwrite anything else," Grimes said during his weekly Coordinators' Corner show on BYU Radio. "If you give the team turnovers, that overrules anything else — and I'm sure Zach would say the same thing."
Poo poo playful
After Thursday's game, Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley made a zinger at the Cougars' expense, calling the team "so poo poo" and saying that the Utes "ain't never gonna lose to them."
His own teammate Britain Covey quickly tried to walk back the line, remarking that the junior "still (has) to play them." But Sitake didn't read much disrespect into the comments that have caused a minor uproar on social media.
"I heard it. But I don’t listen to it," Sitake said. "He's a kid; it seems like he was being playful and being silly. He’s a good kid, and I hope people aren’t being too hard on him.
"I looked at it when I was at Utah, and Max Hall made those comments. I wasn’t upset or crazy over it. Some fans made T-shirts of it. We’ll see what kind of T-shirts come out of this one. But I think he was being playful, silly and goofing around. There was nothing mean-spirit of that."
Wilson responded more succinctly.
"It has nothing to do with us. Nothing to do with us," he repeated, for emphasis. "That's his own personal choice."
Depth chart notes
The Cougars only released a handful of changes to their weekly depth chart, with none on offense, between Week 1 and Week 2.
Rush end Devin Kaufusi, the younger brother of former BYU standout Corbin Kaufusi has been moved to defensive end, where he is listed as the co-starter with Zac Dawe. That leaves Trajan Pili as the lone starter at rush end in the Cougars' 4-3 defensive scheme.
Payton Wilgar will back up Isaiah Kaufusi at will linebacker, in addition to his role at inside linebacker in occasional 3-4 alignments, and Sawyer Powell had the "or" taken off the depth chart as lone starter at free safety.
On special teams, Bingham High product Dax Milne is the No. 1 kick returner, with redshirt freshman Tyler Allgeier listed as the off returner. That leaves Aleva Hifo and Dayan Ghanwoloku to focus on their roles on punt returns and punt coverage.
