Cougars to Start Fall Camp
PROVO -- With the start of the 2002 football season less than four weeks away, BYU, the defending Mountain West Conference champions, will report to fall camp on Monday, Aug. 5.
The incoming freshman and junior college transfers who make up one of the top recruiting classes in the west will report to campus on Monday to begin orientation, undergo physicals, receive equipment and participate in their first practice sessions. The newcomers will practice twice on Monday, beginning at 10 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. (MDT).
Those incoming junior college transfers expected to report on Monday include James Allen (DB; LA Southwest JC), Reynaldo Brathwaite (RB; Grossmont JC), Chad Barney (DB; Dixie State JC), Shaun Nua (DL; Eastern Arizona JC) and Scott Tidwell (OL; Ricks JC). Defensive back Walt Williams, a junior college transfer from Eastern Arizona JC is expected to join the team in approximately 10 days. Jonny Harline, a tight end from Ricks JC, along with Jonathan Fanene, a transfer from College of the Canyons, have elected to serve two-year missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Incoming freshmen expected to report include Curtis Brown (RB; Palmdale, Calif.), Daniel Coats (WR; Layton, Utah), Kellen Fowler (DB; Kaysville, Utah), Korby Hodgkiss (S; Plano, Texas), Jake Kuresa (DL; Millville, Utah), Bryan Kehl (LB; Salt Lake City), Travonne Jackson (DB; Los Angeles, Calif.), Ben Olson (QB; Thousand Oaks, Calif.) and Justin Williams (LB; Riverside, Calif.). Ferron Fonoimoana (WR; Kahuku, Hawaii), William Tukuafu (DL; Salt Lake City) and Aaron Singh (DB; Carlsbad, Calif.) have each elected to serve church missions prior to enrolling at BYU. Andrew George (TE; Englewood, Colo.), Nate Hutchinson (DB; St. George, Utah) will not enroll until January, 2003. Taufui Vakapuna (RB; Salt Lake City) and Thomas Stancil (RB; Bakersfield, Calif.) will not participate in fall camp, but are expected to participate once classes begin. Vakapuna and Stancil will redshirt the 2002 season. Paulo Fuaalii (LB, Kearns, Utah) and Mulivai Pula (RB; Kahuku, Hawaii) have not qualified to participate in fall camp.
Veteran players, including 40 returning lettermen, will report to campus on Tuesday, Aug. 6. On Wednesday, Aug. 7, the team will finish up physicals and hold their first official team meeting, followed by the player's annual kick-off dinner.
On Thursday, beginning at 10 a.m. at LaVell Edwards Stadium, the team will gather for media day until noon. After photos and interviews with local media, the team will participate in its first official practice of the season. Thursday's practice will be held at 4:50 p.m. at the practice field. All practices will be closed to the public.
Friday, Aug. 9 will begin the first day of two-a-day practices. The team will practice daily from 9:45 a.m. until noon, followed by an afternoon session which is scheduled to begin at 4:50 p.m.
On Saturday, Aug. 17, beginning at noon, Cougar fans will get their first chance to meet the team at the Cougar Club's annual "Watermelon Bust".
The 2002 season will get underway on Thursday, Aug. 29 against Syracuse, beginning at 5:30 p.m. (MDT). The game will be broadcast to a national television audience on ESPN.
