Luke Staley Finds Team-Issued BYU Helmet At D.I., Searches For Player Who Wore It

SALT LAKE CITY – One of the slogans for new players that join the BYU Football program is “Welcome to the Family!” Over the years BYU head coaches such as LaVell Edwards, Gary Crowton, Bronco Mendenhall, and Kalani Sitake have made it a point of emphasis to make the Cougar football program one big family.

When someone in your family loses something you want to help that family member out, right?

One of the more recognizable names in the BYU Football family is former Doak Walker Award-winning running back Luke Staley. Staley came in possession of a game-worn BYU helmet courtesy of his boss who found the lid at a Sacramento, California D.I. (Deseret Industries) of all places for $25.

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A few weeks ago my boss was looking for some vintage ties and came across this byu football helmet at the Sacramento DI. I asked her to buy it because I became very curious about the story behind the helmet, how it ended up at a thrift store, and does the player want it back? @byufootball @byucougars anyone have any info?

A post shared by Staley (@lukestaley.6) on Apr 8, 2020 at 11:48am PDT

Staley’s boss purchased the helmet and gave it to the former BYU running back who then wanted to find its rightful owner.

So Staley turned to social media asking for help to learn the story behind this mysterious BYU helmet found at a California D.I.

Let the search begin

Media members never want to become part of a story, but in this lighthearted story, we can make a one-time exception. Along with asking his followers for assistance, Luke Staley tagged a bunch of media members who cover BYU including myself in the post.

When I checked my Instagram notifications, I saw the post and like Staley, I was immediately intrigued by the story behind the helmet. Sizing up Staley’s pictures, I knew it was a helmet from either the 2005 or 2006 seasons based on the helmet stickers. So I knew there was a chance we could locate the player that this helmet belonged to.

Photo Courtesy of BYU Athletics

For a handful of seasons, Bronco Mendenhall brought back the helmet stickers. Blue ones were for great performances on the field individually and as a team while gold ones were for community service.

I pulled out my old media guides from the 2006 and 2007 seasons because that would contain photos from the 2005 and 2006 seasons respectively. In the 2006 media guide, there was a picture of former BYU defensive lineman Kyle Luekenga who was wearing a similar helmet to the one in Staley’s pictures.

I sent the photo to Staley and he then reached out to Luekenga on LinkedIn to see if it was his helmet.

Mystery solved

Staley’s attempt to get in touch with Luekenga on LinkedIn was successful. The former BYU defensive lineman Luekenga replied to Luke Staley on LinkedIn, “Yes, that is my helmet. I have not seen that thing for years. I did not play my senior year at BYU because of injury and never got to keep my jersey or helmet, unfortunately … I can’t believe it ended up at a thrift store.”

In four years at BYU, Luekenga a native of West Valley City finished his career with the Cougars recording seven tackles and was part of the Cougars successful run from 2005 to 2008.

Now Staley and Luekenga are coordinating a time the two can meet to get the helmet back to the rightful member of the BYU Football family.

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 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.