BYU football players frustrated, but sticking together and staying positive

BYU LB Fred Warner

The BYU Cougars returned from their first ever visit to North Carolina with their first seven-game losing streak since 1968. That has the players feeling very frustrated, but they are trying to stay positive.

Senior linebacker Grant Jones put it this way, "Everybody is pretty frustrated that we haven't played our best football yet."

"There's a lot of negativity out there," sophomore offensive lineman Thomas Shoaf said.

Senior, team captain Fred Warner stated simply, "It is very frustrating the way the season is going."

Adding to the frustration of losing, is the way BYU has been losing. There has also been the adversity of injury. A plague has struck the team, and 35 players have gone down with injury.

There have also been off the field issues that have cast a cloud over the program. It started during fall camp, and has popped up again after this latest loss.

Amidst all of this turmoil, the Cougars aren't throwing in the towel.

"We are very blessed to play football," Shoaf said. "We are playing for our seniors. ... At the end of the day, we get to play the game that we love. We are playing for the ones that love us and appreciate us, and for each other."

Jones added, "We need to focus on getting better and making sure we're staying together as a team and play our best football. ... We've just got to make sure that we stay with each other and lift each other up and do what we need to do."

"In regards to what I can do to contribute to this team," Warner commented, "I can continue to play at a high level and get better each and every day. There are little things I can work on every day regardless of how well I do."

Warner has played better than any other Cougar this season. He leads the team with 67 tackles--over 20 more than the next closest player. His 7.5 tackles for loss are also tops on the team.

Warner added, "And then continue to be a leader to this team and not just jump ship because of the situation we are in. Just to be able to savor these last few games of college football. ... I am enjoying the time I have left."

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