SB Nation Bay Area: All Posts by Brett Hein

Vote for the 2013 BYU football game day shirt

2013-05-01T06:01:41Z

Sometimes making game-day t-shirts is difficult. We all cheer for a school who gave 10 good years of mocking to its rivals over a game-day shirt.

2012 saw the super-motivational "Every Day Is Gameday" t-shirt, marking the first time in five years I didn't spring for the official shirt.

This year, BYU wants your input and has rolled out four options on its Facebook page. First impression: BYU hit .750 with these offerings, but with one bad option in play, your vote is needed! Here are the shirts:

Full Speed Ahead? Yikes. Perhaps if we were rooting for the BYU Titanics or the BYU Locomotives, but even then .......

My preference lies with options B and C. Any school can have words on a shirt like design A. It looks more like a form shirt, a design with a ready-to-plug catchphrase. I like B because "Go Fast, Go Hard" became the unofficial slogan of this year's team, so "GO" incorporates that. In one word and a helmet, it kind of says "Go fast, go hard, go Cougars."

Something about the simplicity of C really speaks to me, though. No catchphrase needed.

According to the photo album description, votes will be counted until Wednesday, May 1 at 5 p.m. MT. Wherever your loyalties lie, hop into the comments and at least ensure that option D doesn't become a reality.

BYU volleyball falls short of NCAA title

2013-05-01T05:29:14Z

After finishing the regular season at 22-4, BYU is still ranked No. 1 in the nation and 25-4 after winning the MPSF tournament. UC-Irvine, Loyola-Chicago, and Penn State, join BYU in the volleyball Final Four in L.A.

March Madness is over, but let's not start the passage to baseball, spring sports and the end of the winter season on college campuses everywhere just yet.

It's volleyball time.

The BYU men's volleyball team opens up the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament Saturday, April 20 at 7 p.m. MT with a home match against Hawai'i. The Cougars (22-4, 21-3 MPSF) cruised through the regular season, wrapping up the title and No. 1 seed — not to mention, a No. 1 national ranking — a few weeks ago, and need only a solid showing to be regarded for a berth in the four-team NCAA tournament.

The Warriors (10-14, 11-16 MPSF) come into the match riding high, capping a dramatic rally to down UC San Diego and clinch the final spot in the MPSF postseason. Hawai'i also got help from Cal State Northridge, which lost its final five matches to bow out of playoff consideration. The Warriors' Brook Sedore was named MPSF player of the week for his 50-kill, 13-dig, nine-block effort in the sweep of the Tritons.

But don't expect BYU to take it easy on the Warriors (10-14, 11-16 MPSF). The Cougars are well aware of what it means to roll through the regular season, only to get knocked off early in the postseason and miss a shot at the national title early. Remember, this is the same team that lost to Jeff Menzel and UC Santa Barbara before the Gauchos made their improbable run to the title match in 2011.

This is also the team that swept Hawai'i during the regular season, though. The Cougars down the Warriors, 25-18, 25-22, 25-17 on Jan. 4 behind 14 kills from junior phenom Taylor Sander, then Sander helped complete the homestand with a 25-21, 25-21, 24-26, 25-20 with 18 kills on a .500 hitting percentage.

BYU hasn't won an MPSF tournament title since 2004, and a No. 1 seed has never fallen in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. Hawai'i has only won a match in the tourney once in the past decade. BYU, meanwhile, is 13-3 when it plays at home in a postseason match.

Fans can purchase tickets through BYUtickets.com. General admission is $10 for adults, and $5 for students.

The MPSF quarterfinals are as follows, as outlined by the MPSF's official website:

Quarterfinal No. 1

No. 8 Hawai'i (10-14) at No. 1 BYU (22-4). 7 p.m. MT

Quarterfinal No. 2

No. 5 Seed Pepperdine (14-11) at No. 4 Seed UCLA (20-10). 7 p.m. PT

Quarterfinal No. 3

No. 6 Seed Stanford (15-12) at No. 3 Seed Long Beach State (22-7). 7 p.m. PT

Quarterfinal No. 4

No. 7 Seed UC Santa Barbara (15-15) at No. 2 Seed UC Irvine (22-6; defending national champion). 7 p.m. PT

NFL Free Agent Signings: Kaveinga, Ogletree, Brown, Hansen all sign with NFL teams

2013-04-28T04:43:34Z

The annual post-draft flurry of NFL free-agent signings has begun, and BYU players have begun to find teams.

In a signing that will likely have the most crossover with BYU fans, given the team's proximity, is the signing of Uona Kaveinga by the Denver Broncos. The USC transfer tallied 106 tackles and four forced fumbles in his two seasons at BYU. Kaveinga didn't rack up as many tackles as Brandon Ogletree or chase people down like Kyle Van Noy, but when he hit someone everyone in the stadium knew it.

Speaking of Ogletree: the tacklemaster (102 just last season) signed with the Miami Dolphins. Ogletree was often overshadowed by more electric players, but bringing the proverbial lunch pail has at least earned him a shot at an NFL roster.

The first free-agent signing to come across the wire was of offensive lineman Braden Brown signing with the Saint Louis Rams, while fellow hoss Braden Hansen signed with the Oakland Raiders.

Players we hope to hear news about soon include Preston Hadley (DB), Romney Fuga (DL), Riley Stephenson (P), and Reed Hornung (DS).

UPDATE - 4/28

Romney Fuga tweeted Sunday he will be joining Kaveinga in Denver, while Preston Hadley received a minicamp invite with the Seattle Seahawks where he'll have an opportunity to earn a contract.

Detroit press, blogs react to Lions' selection of Ziggy Ansah at 5th overall

2013-04-26T18:09:43Z

Here are some of the reactions from last night and this morning to the Lions' selection of Ziggy Ansah:

Lions pick Ezekiel Ansah - Pride of Detroit
The addition of Ansah fills the Lions' biggest need, meaning they can turn their focus to the offensive line and other areas that need help going forward. While Ansah will need some time to develop and truly reach his potential, this pick instantly upgrades the Lions' defensive line.

Lions get Ziggy with it, take BYU DE No. 5 in draft - Fox Detroit
"He's the best player available," Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said ... The Lions' poor season put them in a position to coach a team at the Senior Bowl and they took advantage, getting to know an intriguing player in a way no other team in the league could've this offseason.

For Lions, 'phenomenal' Ziggy Ansah a risk worth taking - The Detroit News
"We didn't draft him as a project," Schwartz insisted. "We wouldn't take a project there." No offense, but they did. And that's fine, I guess, as long as Ansah ... [is] as quick a study as they seem to think he is.

Curious Pick For The Lions, Again - CBS 62 Detroit
This guy has a job writing and talking about sports.
Ansah racked up a freakish amount of tackles in 2012, with 62. How many tackles did he have in 2011? 7. It's impressive and it shows a certain level of commitment, but if he improved by 55 tackles through sheer grit and determination, wouldn't the converse be true? Did he not want to play particularly well in his junior season?

Don't let nickname fool you: Ziggy is all business - The Detroit News
"This is a production-based business, all that matters is how you play," he said in a teleconference Thursday. "It doesn't matter the experience I got. I know I have to produce. I know I have to work on my technique and I know the Detroit Lions are willing to work with me."

Lions believe Ziggy Ansah gives them another answer for Aaron Rodgers - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"We saw the way he can learn, how quickly he can pick things up," Mayhew said. "And we saw the impact he can have in the game, so we felt very comfortable in him."

Ziggy Ansah's lensless 3D glasses? New Lions DE just goofing around - Detroit Free Press
A native of Ghana whose mother came in from Africa for the draft, Ansah said he "had a lot of people dare me to wear" the glasses Thursday, including BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall. "I just did it so he could smile right now," Ansah said.

Ziggy Ansah selected 5th overall by the Detroit Lions

2013-04-26T01:18:00Z

Ziggy Ansah has become the unexpected face of BYU Football.

We all know the Ziggy story. No, seriously Rod Gilmore, we're good. Okay, just to review it real quick to the unknowing: Ezekiel Ansah arrived on the campus of Brigham Young University with thoughts of basketball and track stardom. He left with a pedigree in American Football and the very real prospect that he could end up a Top 10 NFL draft pick.

From not understanding how to put on his pads to playing professional football and providing an exceptional living to his future family. The Lord works in mysterious ways sometimes. It's great to see someone beginning to fulfill the measure of his athletic ability. And what we've seen from Ziggy is just the tip of the iceberg.

An African-American football player wearing the BYU uniform is among my favorite sights in life. Mostly, because it happens less here than any other FBS school. Omarr Morgan, Tim McTyer, Ronney Jenkins, Larry Moore, Brian Mitchell, Michael Reed, Todd Watkins, Jenaro Gilford, Brian McKenzie, Margin Hooks, Rey Braithwaite, Daniel Coats, Brian Logan, Brian Kehl, and Jamaal Williams, among others, have added a much needed racial diversity to the football squad and to the locality of Utah County in general. Not to mention playing some great football.

Just how white is Utah County, home of BYU? According to 2010 census data, just 0.5% of the population is African-American. Keith Jackson, while calling the BYU-USC game in 2003 remarked, "if you are 5 foot 9 and live in Orem, Utah, it looks like you play for BYU." Humor has a great way at showing the truth.

This piece is not designed for a greater discussion of race and Mormonism. I'll leave that to others. I mention it to illustrate just how unique the current Ziggy Phenomenon is to the culture and history of BYU athletics. Dan Smith, BYU? Try Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah, BYU.

America, when thinking of a BYU Football player, does not imagine a 6-6, 270-pound black man from Accra, Ghana with insane athletic ability. And considering the immense growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on the continent of Africa and in Latin America, the idea of Mormonism being stocked with white people is a conception with a USA-centric bias. In this sense, Ziggy has the ability to change perceptions to better align with reality.

I remember noticing Ziggy Ansah during the 2010 campaign. Even then, he looked the part. His appearance and physical stature was the kind of thing I only saw from the teams that played against BYU. (I still have nightmares about Jerry Hughes.) I read up on his roster notes and became a fan. (Yes, I'm a Ziggy Hipster. Deal with it.) During that first year of play, he mostly covered kickoffs and ran around with no sense of direction, just pure, God-given speed.

More fans and media-types caught wind of his story as his junior season approached. Still, the product on the field was not up to the level of the hype. Then 2012 came to pass. Ansah kept getting better and better as the season wore on, until eventually, he, along with Kyle Van Noy, became the face of the unit. The BYU defense has simply never seen a player with this kind of raw athletic ability.

In the warm embrace of Bronco Mendenhall's defensive scheme, Ezekiel Ansah burst on the scene. Ziggy finished the season with 62 tackles, 35 of those solo, 13 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and an immeasurably bright future. He is still learning the game. It's scary just how great this guy could be.

NFL draft scouts and team personnel are in awe of his measurables and some have even surmised that Ansah should be the first player drafted. It is an amazing ride for the man from the sub-Saharan Gold Coast of Ghana. The word Ghana means "Warrior King" and Ezekiel Ansah is on a path to be crowned a pioneer in more than one aspect.

Get em, Zeke.

Ezekiel Ansah a Lion: Ziggy drafted 5th overall by Detroit

2013-04-26T01:16:39Z

Ezekiel Ansah will be heading to Detroit to play professional football, as the Lions drafted Ziggy fifth overall in the 2013 NFL Draft.

From Ghana to Detroit, welcome my African brother! Lets do work! #Lions
— Ndamukong Suh (@ndamukong_suh) April 26, 2013

Ansah is the highest-drafted player in BYU history, tying Jim McMahon's fifth overall selection by the Chicago Bears in 1982. The defensive lineman was introduced by all-time football great Barry Sanders as the Lions' draft choice.

In his time at BYU, Ansah appeared in 31 games, totaling 72 tackles. In his senior season, Ansah tallied 13 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, nine pass breakups, one interception, and one forced fumble while spending time at defensive end, outside linebacker, and nose tackle.

His story from Ghana to basketball cut list to track team to football has been well-told as Ansah shot up draft boards after displaying transcendent athleticism and a knack for learning the game.

2012's fifth-overall selection, Justin Blackmon, signed a contract for four years, $18.5 million.

Ziggy Ansah is going to be so rich he can pay guys to put his pads on before practice.
— Paul Myerberg (@PaulMyerberg) April 26, 2013

Next we await the possible drafting (or later, free-agent signings) for players like Braden Hansen, Braden Brown, Uona Kaveinga, Brandon Ogletree, Romney Fuga, Riley Stephenson, and Reed Hornung.

Thanks, Ziggy, for sticking with football and putting BYU on such a big stage. Go get 'em.

Ziggy Links: Mock Draft edition

2013-04-25T15:49:02Z

It's draft day!

After a busy draft eve for Ziggy Ansah, it's time to check on the last mock drafts before the draft begins tonight at 6 p.m. on ESPN and the NFL Network.

First, let's enjoy a picture of Ziggy having a blast at the NFL's Play 60 event on Wednesday:

#Ziggy #NFLDraft #BYUfootball #BYU twitter.com/BYUcougars/sta…
— BYUcougars.com (@BYUcougars) April 24, 2013

On to the mock drafts, starting from highest-rated. The highest-drafted player in BYU history was Jim McMahon, selected 5th overall by the Chicago Bears in 1982.

More: Full Ziggy scouting report

#2 - JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS, from SI.com's Peter King.
If they stick where they are, new coach Gus Bradley goes for a D presence who he hopes has instant pass-rush impact.

#3 - OAKLAND RAIDERS, from Pete Prisco of CBS

#5 - DETROIT LIONS, from Dane Brugler and Pat Kirwan of CBS Sports

#6 - CLEVELAND BROWNS, from Peter Schrager of Fox Sports
This selection could put Ansah and Paul Kruger at each end of the Browns pass rush.
He's raw, he's young, and he's a naturally gifted athlete. I love Ansah's story ... Two years after the first sight of American football in his life, Ansah's a top-10 prospect.

#7 - ARIZONA CARDINALS, from NFL.com's Josh Norris (also by CBS's Rob Rang)
With Darnell Dockett on the decline, the Cardinals could groom Ansah as his replacement. The team did very well with another inexperienced prospect in Calais Campbell.

#10 - TENNESSEE TITANS, from SBNation's Dan Kadar
A cornerback makes sense, as does another piece for the offensive line. A pass rusher like Ansah, though, will be difficult to pass up.

* * * * *
Wherever he lands, all I can hope for is a solid set of coaches to help Ziggy to his max potential. Happy draft day!

Ziggy Links: April 22

2013-04-22T18:19:26Z

One writer ranks Ansah the #1 defensive end in the draft. Atlanta GM Thomas Dimitroff: "The combination of size, athleticism, natural skills to get up field and turn the corner is off the charts." ... Phil Savage, the executive director of the Senior Bowl: "If the game is too fast for him he could be a little lost soul out there." - Milwaukee Journal Sentinal

The much-written story about Ansah's relative inexperience comes again from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Chronicle-Telegram in Ohio.

Of the oft-made comparison to Jason Pierre-Paul, New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese: "I hate to compare players, but he is a long, tall, big athlete, probably a little bit raw, but you want to coach those kind of guys."

"His upside is out the freaking roof," BYU linebackers coach Kelly Poppinga told the Chronicle-Telegram. "There's still tons of things he can learn - gaps, different defenses. You can draft the dude just off potential. "The kid's a hard worker. He loves to learn, loves to work."

"Of all the prospects in this year's NFL draft, BYU pass-rusher Ezekiel Ansah has experienced the most meteoric rise," writes Mike Jones of the Washington Post. "[Ansah] says he sits up late at night, watching NFL Network, trying to educate himself on the game. 'I see some things, I have no idea [what] they are. This is going to be my life so I just try to suck it all in.'

Yahoo's Shutdown Corner ranks Ziggy the #13 prospect of this year's draft. "For all the talk about Ansah's athleticism, perhaps the most intriguing (and most immediately NFL-transferable) aspect of his play is his power inline when he wins the leverage battle, and sometimes when he doesn't -- there's enough pure upper-body strength to push through technique flaws at times."

Lastly, MLive.com has targeted Ziggy as a likely target of the Detroit Lions.