It’s ‘Friday Night Lights.’ So don’t just be thinking spring scrimmage … I think it will be a really fun event. Not a typical spring game. Part-football, part-fanfest, part-fan appreciation. – BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall
PROVO — When it comes to the spring game, BYU football coach Bronco Mendenhall is breaking from tradition.
This year's scrimmage at LaVell Edwards Stadium is being staged Friday night (6 p.m.) rather than on a Saturday afternoon.
“It’s ‘Friday Night Lights,’” Mendenhall explained. “So don’t just be thinking spring scrimmage … I think it will be a really fun event. Not a typical spring game. Part-football, part-fanfest, part-fan appreciation.”
Then, Mendenhall joked, “If there was a band coming for a rock concert, that would be good, too. But we couldn’t get one scheduled in time. That’s the idea.”
The “Friday Night Lights” festivities begin at 4:30 p.m., with a football clinic for kids and an autograph signing session at the stadium. Other fan challenges and prize giveaways start at 5:30, just prior to the scrimmage.
When asked why the scrimmage was moved to a Friday, Mendenhall explained, “Just for change, to make it unique and different.”
As for the scrimmage itself, the first-team offense will be quarterbacked by Christian Stewart, who has been helping the shorthanded Cougars this spring but has exhausted his eligibility. The second-team offense will be led by sophomore walk-on Hunter Moore.
Projected starting quarterback Taysom Hill, who is recovering from a leg injury suffered last fall, has not been cleared for contact drills.
BYU players are looking forward to stepping on the field at Edwards Stadium.
“That’s why spring ball is such a grind, at least for me — you never get a reward to play,” said senior defensive lineman Remington Peck. “You never get that chance. With how it’s going to work this year, it’s more of a game. That will be fun for everybody.”
It’s also a chance for players battling for starting jobs to showcase their abilities.
“The spring game’s a great opportunity to go all-out,” said safety Chris Badger. “It gives me an opportunity to show my physical presence.”
BYU’s spring practices wrap up on April 3.
Friday morning, meanwhile, BYU will hold Pro Day, which is closed to the public. A number of graduating seniors will perform sprints, drills and other tests in front of NFL scouts and coaches.
Among those scheduled to participate include linebacker Alani Fua, wide receiver Jordan Leslie, defensive back Craig Bills, running back Paul Lasike, offensive lineman De’Ondre Wesley and tight end Devin Mahina.
“I miss them and hopefully they do well,” Mendenhall said of the graduating seniors. “They’ve been training hard and hopefully they get a chance to play.”
“It’s fun,” Peck said of watching former teammates on Pro Day. “It brings back memories you have of playing with those guys and times in the locker room, hanging out and stuff. You’re just excited for them, and hope they get a chance and do the best they can.”
Mendenhall said helping players reach their NFL dreams is important to him.
“There’s no one that wants them to make it more than I do,” he said. “There’s also no one that wants to have them be more prepared to make it or be in the NFL once they’re there than I do, for all the unique challenges. I love watching the guys play. The games that I do watch during the season are usually not college games, they’re NFL games and it’s with the teams that we have players on their teams. I love watching those guys.”