OREM, Utah — Brandon Doman, aka "The Domanator" during his BYU and NFL quarterbacking years, stepped to the sidelines to become a quarterback coach back at BYU. He told the audience at the Multistake Singles Conference Friday, June 25, that they can achieve what they believe.
Doman said he had great role models growing up in a family of brothers who all played football well. His father consistently told him, "If the mind can conceive it and your heart can believe it, you can achieve it."
He used that mantra to reach his goal — set when he was still a child — to become a starting quarterback at BYU.
It took longer than he planned. He was third-string quarterback for two years and didn't get to play until after three other quarterbacks were pulled out for injuries in a game where the score was 41-0 at halftime. But then the day came when coach LaVell Edwards called him into the game.
He helped turn things around that year, ending the season that started with a 4-6 record with a 6-6.
"It was my turn," Doman said. "That has changed the course of my life significantly."
He became the unanimous All-Mountain West Conference selection and Heisman Trophy candidate in 2001 and led the Cougars to a 12-2 season finish as a senior.
He was drafted in 2002 by the San Francisco 49rs and played for the Buffalo Bills and the Washington Redskins before he was tapped by Bronco Mendenhall to return to BYU.
Six years into his coaching under Mendenhall now, Doman said he wouldn't trade what he's doing for anything.
"The young men I work with, the men on the staff, the campus. I will never be able to give back all I've received," he said.
Doman said he can now look back and see points where listening to the Spirit made the difference when it came time to make choices.
"Sometimes we choose not to do what the Holy Ghost says. You decide how to handle it. If you don't believe it's the Holy Ghost (telling you what to do), you're wrong!" he said.
"Whatever you do, follow the Spirit. If you're not getting the Spirit, then change your life so you can hear it."
Doman said Satan will try to poison our souls by degrees and convince us to come down off the spiritual mountain.
He'll try to use discouragement to stop progress. He can make the possible look impossible.
"Stay on top of the mountain. If you fall, get back up," he said.
e-mail: haddoc@desnews.com