“Life in the Fast Lane” is more than just a chart topper for the Eagles — it is the anthem that beats the drum for college football teams, especially in September. The new season starts like the thoroughbreds at the Kentucky Derby when the gate drops and the TV announcer proclaims, “They’re off!”
Everything is fast and furious as teams burn rubber trying to solidify rosters while at the same time attempting to win games and sell tickets. This, while pollsters and fans leap to early conclusions. At BYU this week, “They’re off!” means something completely different — but still impactful.
The Cougars (2-0) have their earliest bye in a dozen years — meaning on Saturday when thousands of college kids are colliding into each other, BYU will be sitting on the couch with one hand on the TV remote and the other in a bowl of popcorn.
Taking a pit stop, even this early in a 12-game race, is healthy, both physically and mentally. Unlike a race car, these kids aren’t machines. Both their bodies and their psyche are in a constant state of vulnerability.
A break, not a vacation, after two games is also a perfect scenario for a team adjusting to an imperfect circumstance — starting a true freshman quarterback.
Bear Bachmeier spent the week at practice trying to get a better grasp of the offense. He threw a lot of passes. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound teenager also studied game film from BYU’s two previous wins.
This weekend, Bachmeier will get a rare early chance to watch and learn from other quarterbacks in action, including next week’s opponent, East Carolina, when the Pirates play at Coastal on Saturday night (5:30 p.m. MDT ESPN+).
Fans hoping the freshman can hurry up and play like a junior or senior are certain to be disappointed. The development process is a process of learning from highs and lows and while Bachmeier has played two games without a turnover, mistakes are certain to come. Fortunately for BYU, he has a defense that is good enough to provide some room for error.
Linebackers Jack Kelly, Isaiah Glasker and the other hard hitters will also benefit from Saturday’s pit stop by not having to hit anybody. The Cougars have been relentless against the run and stingy on the scoreboard, allowing just 16 rushing yards and 17 points over the last three games, including the Alamo Bowl against Colorado.
The weekend off also allows for those players who are dinged up to heal up. It also bought extra time for Weylin Lapuaho (elbow) and Justin Kirkland (knee) to get closer to their season debuts, which will greatly bolster the offensive and defensive lines, respectively.
After Saturday, the Cougars will play on six consecutive weekends before their second bye arrives. Four of those six games will be on the road and five of them are in the Big 12, where their physicality and mentality will surely be tested.
The college football season takes forever to get here, but just like the Kentucky Derby, it’s over in a flash. Ferris Bueller figured it out long before any of the current Cougars were born — “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
This is the time for BYU to stop and look around and soak in a September weekend out of the fast lane. In the wake of Wednesday’s heartbreaking events at Utah Valley University in Orem, it’s not a bad idea to get out of our own fast lanes, declare a bye weekend and shut down the engine for a few days.
Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com and is the author of the children’s book “C is for Cougar,” available at deseretbook.com.