BYU/Coastal Carolina: Five Things To Know About The Chanticleers

PROVO, Utah – BYU and Coastal Carolina is officially on. The Cougars get an opportunity to play a Top 25 team in the Chanticleers, undefeated and ranked No. 18 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings.

Schedule Change: No. 14 Coastal to Host No. 8 BYU this Saturday https://t.co/lxYbEZftce

— Coastal Football (@CoastalFootball) December 3, 2020

Coastal Carolina is a fairly new team to FBS football. So here are some things you should know about Coastal Carolina.

#1 What is a Chanticleer?

Coastal Carolina’s nickname is one of the more unique ones in all of college sports, Chanticleers. What is it? According to Coastal Carolina’s official website:

To help you get ready for the #SunBeltFB first ever appearance on @CollegeGameDay this Saturday, we answer the burning questions: what is a Chanticleer and how do you pronounce it.https://t.co/AZgsV3TIUq pic.twitter.com/tIh4M4XHpy

— Sun Belt (@SunBelt) December 1, 2020

“A proud and fierce rooster – is the unique moniker/mascot for Coastal Carolina University’s mascot and athletics teams. The Chanticleer is derived from the crafty, quick-thinking rooster in Geoffrey Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales,” specifically, “The Nun’s Priest Tale.”

Pronounced SHON-ti-clear, Chanticleer was chosen as the school nickname back in 1993, and they introduced a live mascot during the 2011 home football season.

#2 Coastal Carolina connection to BYU

Coastal Carolina’s president-elect is Michael T. Benson. Benson was born in Salt Lake City and Benson earned his bachelor’s degree Cum Laude from BYU. Benson is the grandson of the former President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Ezra Taft Benson.

So in January the new President of Coastal Carolina (Michael T. Benson) is a BYU grad (played JV basketball), returned missionary, and was formerly President at Snow, Southern Utah and is the grandson of Ezra Taft Benson. The potential matchup makes more sense now, right?

— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) December 3, 2020

Benson will begin his role as Coastal Carolina’s President in January 2021.

#3 Coastal Carolina’s resume to this point

Like BYU, Coastal Carolina is undefeated this season. This is the Chanticleers’ fourth season playing at the FBS level and it has been a historical one. The Chanticleers are 9-0 with wins over Kansas, Louisiana, and Appalachian State as their best victories.

3:30 p.m. on ESPNU. #BYU and Coastal Carolina.#BYUFootball @kslsports https://t.co/j6LcPQPfQ9

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 3, 2020

Coastal is averaging 38.7 points per game and is giving up only 16.8, a 21.9 point differential. The Chants average 448.3 yards and only give up 322.2 per contest, good for 15th nationally.

#4 Grayson McCall

Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Zach Wilson leads BYU. Redshirt freshman Grayson McCall leads coastal Carolina. McCall has passed for 1,747 yards, 20 touchdowns, and only one interception this season. McCall was a three-star recruit out of Indian Trail, North Carolina; he redshirted last season before winning CCU’s job in fall camp.

#5 Brooks Stadium

Coastal Carolina’s stadium is Brooks Stadium. An on-campus facility that holds 21,000-seats in Conway. For each of their home games this season, Coastal has had 5,000 fans in attendance. Brooks Stadium has a teal field. Giving BYU the chance to win games on green, blue, and team-colored turf this season.

Spotted outside of Springs Brooks Stadium pic.twitter.com/xLQtGWeV8L

— #14 Fifth Quarter CCU 🌊🌴 (@FifthquarterCCU) December 2, 2020

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper and the KSL Sports app.