In yet another typical, down-to-the-last-second, heart-wrenching, call-out-the-CPR-unit BYU-Utah game last night in the Huntsman Center, this time it was Robbie Reid, the only non-scholarship player on the floor, who played the part of Indiana Jones.
His Cougars down by two points with 16 second to play, and just three seconds left on the shot clock, Reid cast off with a 24-foot length-of-the-driveway shot he said he's been practicing "for the last 19 years." Oblivious to the venue - smack in the heart of Utedom, where Cougars are supposed to go to die - the 19-year-old's shot was dead-center perfect, just like in the driveway, and BYU had its improbable 64-62 win.The three-point basket not only ensured the victory, but also earned Reid a few bonus points on the homefront. Which can't hurt. He still lives at home in Springville, under the roof of his father, Roger, who doubles as the BYU basketball coach. Since Roger is the man who pays Robbie's tuition as well as decides his playing time and sets his curfew, this is not a person Robbie wants to get on the bad side of.
Not that he appears concerned about that, or about much of anything for that matter. As his last-minute shot attested, he plays with the verve and obliviousness of a freshman who does term papers on No-Doz the night before they're due.
"He'd have probably yelled at me if I hadn't made it," smiled Robbie, referring to his old man. "But I'll take that shot every time. I like that shot."
Robbie could have gotten a scholarship on athletic merit, but his father/coach decided not to give him one since the Reid family already has one son - starting guard Randy - on the BYU payroll. There was enough local debate whether it was wise for the coach to have both of his sons on the team that Roger didn't need any undue pressure or criticism.
"I just decided I'd pay for his schooling and he'd be a walk-on," said Roger. "I didn't want people complaining."
"He's a pretty good walk-on."
All in all, the Reids had a very good night against the Utes last night - no matter what BYU is paying them. Randy had eight points and a game-high four assists, Robbie had 13 points, two steals and of course the game-winner, and Roger ended his year-long coaching drought against Utah after losing both games against the dreaded arch-rivals last season.
When Roger saw Robbie set up for his fateful three-pointer, he did what any father/coach would do in that situation. "I started praying it would go in," he said. "And I guess I was thinking `I'm not sure that's the shot we want to take.' "
"But it was a good shot for Robbie," he said. "He's the kind of person who's thinking, `I can make this.' Even if he misses he thinks he could have make it. He's always been like that."
Which is why Roger recruited him so hard?
Roger laughs at that notion, as does Robbie. When it came down to decision time this past summer, neither father nor son lobbied the other with much pressure.
"I'd say he probably had less to do with my decision than a typical father in that situation," said Robbie. "There was a time last summer when I was sure I was going to go somewhere else, either to Arizona or North Carolina. And that would have been fine with everyone. But I don't know, I guess in the end my loyalty to BYU was the deciding factor. And I always wanted to play with Randy. I think he's improved this year and maybe I've had something to do with that. I think he needed to be a little feistier, and maybe I bring that out in him."
Certainly the younger Reid was neither unaware, or afraid of, the nepotism taunts he knew he would get from opposing fans. Being the coaches' son, and having your older brother on the team, is like painting a bulls-eye on your jersey. Especially when you go 50 miles north to play at Utah.
"I love Utah's fans and if I was in their shoes I'd be saying the same things," he said. "But to tell you the truth I was a little disappointed tonight by what they said. It was mostly just the usual daddy-boy stuff. I expected something more original. They let me down a little."
All that, and the game-winning shot as well. Scholarship or not, Robbie Reid has wasted no time in setting himself square in the middle of the BYU-Utah rivalry.