Rocking Royal

Ep. 4: David Smoak from Sic Em 365 explains what makes BYU-Baylor series different

Baylor reporter David Smoak from Sic Em 365 joined ESPN 960 in Utah County to discuss the "new rivalry" that may be forming between BYU and Baylor, the two biggest private religious institutions in the new Big 12.
 
The series is in just its fourth game, with Baylor holding a 2-1 lead. But it's already produced a few classics, such as the Bears' four-point win in Provo in 1983 when Steve Young threw for 351 yards and ran for 113 more but couldn't overcome Alfred Anderson's 144 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. That, of course, preceded BYU's 47-13 win in Waco in the historic 1984 season.
 
"There's already a little bit of (history)," Smoak said. "You talk about private schools, Brigham Young with its great history for what they've done under LaVell Edwards and all the great quarterbacks. But it's just two programs in quality places, and it's refreshing.
 
"Sometimes a rivalry can come from playing for 100 years or competing for national titles. That's not the case here, but there is a little bit of history from what happened nearly 40 years ago. And I think, for some reason, it makes sense ... It just seems to fit. Sometimes things happen for a reason, and Brigham Young and Baylor decided to start playing each other — and now they're going to be in the same conference."
 
Smoak also talked about the Baylor run game, which helped the Bears roll by BYU a year ago in Waco, as well as former East High standout Apu Ika, who now dominates the middle of Baylor's defensive line and is a likely NFL draft pick.
 
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Ep. 3: Gabe Jeudy-Lally, Ethan Erickson look back at season-opener at USF, home opener vs.No. 9 Baylor

BYU cornerback Gabe Jeudy-Lally and tight end Ethan Erickson look back on the Cougars' 50-21 win over South Florida to open the 2022 season, and ahead to a Week 2 showdown with No. 9 Baylor at LaVell Edwards Stadium — one of just three top-25 matchups in Week 2 of the college football season.
 
The Vanderbilt transfer can't wait to see what the home crowd brings Saturday, especially with the No. 21 Cougars hosting the Bears in one of just three all-top-25 games in college football nationally. Right now, that's a mystery to him.
 
"I genuinely don't have a single idea," said Jeudy-Lally, who admitted he rarely played in front of a sellout crowd of 40,000 at Vanderbilt's FirstBank Stadium. "We probably had as many fans (at Raymond James Stadium) as I did when I was at Vanderbilt."
 
The guys also broke some news about the Cougars' all-royal blue uniform combination, which includes a unique silver face mask; bond over their loves of dogs; and share Erickson's story involving a snake and his neighbor (that he may or may not have dreamed).
 
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Episode 2: BYU confronts a racist incident on campus; did the Cougars handle it well?

KSL.com's Sean Walker is joined by former BYU linebacker and basketball standout Danny Frazier (1977-79) and BYU rugby rising senior Ronald Weaver III ('23) to discuss the racially charged incident alleged between the BYU women's volleyball team and Duke last Friday night.As two Black athletes and former athletes at BYU — and returned Latter-day Saint missionaries — Danny and Ronald bring a unique perspective to a conversation about racism at BYU, how it continues to fester in today's world, and what can be done to follow President Russell M. Nelson's exhortation to "root out racism." 
 
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Episode 1: BYU opens the 2022 season at USF; Will Gunner Romney and Puka Nacua be there?

Cougar Beat podcast host Sean Walker is joined by KSL.com's Caleb Turner, the emeritus sports editor of The Universe at BYU, to wrap up fall camp and look ahead to BYU football's season opener Sept. 3 at South Florida (2 p.m. MDT, ESPNU). Is the strength of this year's BYU team in the offensive line? Will wide receivers Puka Nacua and Gunner Romney be on the plane for Tampa? What are your expectations for this year's Cougar football team? 
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Episode Zero: Get to know new BYU DB Mory Bamba

Welcome to the Cougar Beat podcast, the weekly (or more) podcast dedicated to BYU and BYU athletics, with news, analysis, insights, interviews and more from BYU beat writer Sean Walker and coaches, players, administrators, fans, supporters and media around Brigham Young University and its athletic department. 
 
In Episode Zero: The One That doesn't Really Count, Sean and BYU defensive back Gabe Jeudy-Lally sit down with incoming JUCO transfer Mory Bamba to discuss the Tyler Junior College transfers path to Provo, why he opted to leave ASA College in Miami, and how he made it to Utah -- specifically Provo, and not a certain rival to the north in Logan. 
 
Listen to Episode Zero of the Cougar Beat podcast, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or where ever your listen to podcasts. 
 
Intro music: "Rockin' Royal" by Kody Epps, Malik Moore, Carter Wheat and Coug Connect studios. 

Introducing the CougarBeat podcast on the KSL.com Podcast Network

The CougarBeat podcast brings you everything you need from BYU athletics — news, analysis, insights, interviews and more with Cougar players, coaches, administrators, fans and those connected to the university, both inside and out. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts from the KSL.com Podcast Network.Theme music: "Rockin' Royal" by Kody Epps, Malik Moore and Carter Wheat, in conjunction with CougConnect.