BYU QB Bear Bachmeier Tells Story Of His Unique Name, Number
Aug 6, 2025, 3:07 PM
PROVO, Utah – All eyes are on the quarterback battle at BYU Football fall camp, one of the players competing for the job is transfer QB Bear Bachmeier.
Bachmeier is a transfer from Stanford. The freshman quarterback enrolled with Stanford early for spring practices, but soon after entered the transfer portal and ended up with BYU.
Out of high school, Bachmeier had offers from Georgia, Arkansas, Notre Dame, Alabama, Utah, Oregon and plenty of other schools with notable football programs.
The Story Of Bear Bachmeier’s Name
College Football is no stranger to unique names, so much so that every season media outlets put out rankings of the best and most unique names in the sport.
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Bear Bachmeier (and his brother Tiger) might have the best names at BYU, but where did they come from?
“Tiger’s real name is James … Tiger is the fourth .. James Bachmeir I is my dad’s grandpa and he was a fighter pilot, he smoked those unfiltered Camels … when my dad was growing up… James I would always tell my dad, ‘get over here Tiger,’ and my dad always thought that was cool so he named James IIII Tiger and then he said ‘the best one’s gotta be named Bear,” Bachmeier told reporters with a chuckle.
Tiger Bachmeier plays wide receiver for the Cougars, he also joined the BYU Football squad as a transfer from Stanford.
Bear Bachmeier told reporters he enjoys being at BYU with his brother; it’s like they are “living the glory days” together. He said they quiz each other on the playbook… and threw in that his brother is smart, but he is smarter.
A Quarterback Wearing No. 47?
It’s not often you see a quarterback rock no. 47. Bachmeier explained that decision.
“I used to play running back when I was younger … and when I made the transition to quarterback, I just kept the number,” he explained, “I don’t know, I like the number and it kind of brings you back to your primitive nature when you’re playing.”
Bachmeier, an athletic quarterback, also used to play middle linebacker until about 8th grade, he told reporters.
Who Will Be BYU Football’s Starting Quarterback?
The big question facing BYU at fall camp is who will end up with the starting quarterback job after Jake Retzlaff’s exit from the program?
Bachmeier is in competition with McCae Hillstead and Treyson Bourguet for the job.
Last week, KSL Sports BYU insider Mitch Harper observed practice, noting that Bourguet and Bachmeier were the quarterbacks with the first team offensive line.
KSL Sports asked Sitake if that meant Bourguet and Bachmeier were the top two quarterbacks. Sitake quickly noted that all three were getting first-team reps on the opening day.
In a follow-up, Sitake was asked if he would give equal first-team reps in camp to true freshman Bachmeier as Bourguet and Hillstead.
The veteran coach emphasized the importance of balancing out the snaps with the quarterbacks. He even tossed in a mention of walk-on true freshman Emerson Geilman from Bountiful High.
“Yeah, I thought we balanced it out really, even with Emerson (Geilman) in there,” said Sitake. “We balanced it out and gave everybody reps. You still have to put them on a pitch count. Just because you have a competition, you can’t expect the quarterbacks to just throw their arms out trying to win the spot. So it’s all within reason with the right timing, using our sports scientists and seeing them gauging their fitness and also the status of their arms, will be key.”
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.
