Bronson Kaufusi, Basketball, and the 800 pound Gorilla in the room

Brigham Young Cougars freshman defensive lineman Bronson Kaufusi confirmed this week the rumors that started leaking this weekend about him and the BYU basketball team. BYU basketball head coach Dave Rose contacted Kaufusi about playing basketball after the football season ended. Kaufusi says he is interest in exploring Coach Rose’s offer.

Two members of the BYU basketball team were recently forced into retirement due to leg injuries. That has left Coach Rose scrambling. Kaufusi played basketball in high school, and he played it well. At 6-foot-7, Kaufusi is almost the same height as the injured players.

I can only imagine how flattering this is for Kaufusi. He hasn't been home from his two-year church mission for six months, but he is already a wanted man. Kaufusi has surprised many people by making 12 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery, 1 quarterback hurry, and 1 pass break up through the first nine games. It is understandable that his confidence would be at an all-time high, which could make him think he can be one of those rare talents that can excel at two sports on the collegiate level. 

Timeout.

Joining the basketball team might make a nice movie script, but it is far from a slam dunk. Am I the only one who sees the 800 pound Gorilla in the room?

Kaufusi is being asked to join the basketball team because two players have suffered career ending leg injuries. This should be a huge red flag for Kaufusi. I don’t mean to imply anything bad about Coach Rose and the program that he is running, but it looks like Kaufusi would be walking into a trap. If I were Kaufusi, I would be very suspicious. If these guys are getting their knees and ankles hurt to a point they can't play a "non-contact" sport like basketball anymore, what might happen to Kaufusi?

It is still early in his football career, but the way he has played this year the NFL seem like a legitimate possibility. He shouldn't do anything to jeopardize that. Joining a basketball team that is suffering a severe injury epidemic would be doing the exact opposite. 

With so little to gain and so much to lose, I would kindly say, "Thanks, but no thanks" to Coach Rose. This appears to have all the makings of a good guy with a bright future suffering a tragic ending because he, rather innocently, happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com

Comments

  1. Ummm...I have no idea why you would suggest that its BYU's program that is causing leg injuries to their players. In case you didn't know, career ending injuries can be attributed to freak accidents and not a program. If something internal were causing BYU's big men to get injured, wouldn't something be changed? Wouldn't players speak out about it? The fact that you suggest playing for the BYU basketball team is a trap is appalling.

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    1. Freak accidents don't happen twice in the same year.

      I am not saying one way or the other what the cause is.

      The point is for someone who is a lock to start on the defensive line next year and eventually collect millions of dollars playing in the NFL you take notice of these things and take extra precautions.

      Delete
  2. Dumb article - I think the leg injuries are due to the WCC logo.

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  3. Its the elephant in the room. The 800 pound gorilla is the impediment to your success. Mixed metaphors are the highlight of this article. Can't believe I read the whole thing. Worse, I was so appalled by the lack of logic and general intelligence, that I am actually wasting more time writing a comment!

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    1. "800 pound gorilla" is an American English expression for a person or organization so powerful that it can act without regard to the rights of others or the law.
      --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/800_lb_gorilla

      Mixed metaphor or subtle message?

      Health, football/NFL are "800 lb. gorillas" in their own right.

      Delete
  4. As I drove to work this morning in the rain-turning to-snow there were cars driving 15mph on a main street that is posted as 45mph. They were being ridiculously overly cautious. That is what this article sounds like. You guys are better than this. You don't need to write an article just to write an article.

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    1. Overly cautious?

      See my comment below.

      Plus, was the Manning family being overly cautious when they refused to let Eli sign with the San Diego Chargers?

      They knew Eli had a rare opportunity, and they saw something they didn't like about the Chargers. Most people might have thought their concern were petty, but it looks like they knew what they were doing.

      Eli/NY Giants 2 Super Bowls
      Rivers/Chargers 0 Super Bowls

      The mentality that elite athletes have and the decisions they make are not the same as the other 99.9% of us.

      Delete
  5. How soon we forget Taysom Hill.

    As long as Hill wasn't getting hurt running the ball, everybody was content. Once he does get hurt, everyone is criticizing the coaches and calling for their jobs.

    The exact same thing will happen if Kaufusi gets hurt playing basketball.

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