Detmer Discusses Emotional Return To BYU After Termination As OC

SALT LAKE CITY – Former BYU great Ty Detmer is making his first return to LaVell Edwards Stadium this Saturday when the Cougars take on the No. 22 Washington Huskies. Detmer will be carrying out the alumni flag for the Cougars as part of BYU’s throwback game festivities.

Saturday’s appearance at LES will be Detmer’s first since he was BYU’s offensive coordinator in 2017. His last game in Provo as the Cougars OC was the historic loss to UMass.

How’s this for an alumni lineup? Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer, Outland Trophy winners Mo Elewonibi and Jason Buck as well as Cougar great DB Derwin Gray will be carrying the alumni flags on Saturday for @BYUfootball. Love seeing that Detmer will be back. #KSLSports

— Sam Farnsworth (@SFarnsworthKSL) September 18, 2019

Detmer coached one more game the following week in BYU’s win over Hawaii, but then he was relieved of his duties as the Cougars play-caller. For Detmer, he holds no hard feelings and he’s looking forward to Saturday afternoon.

“It’s a special place (LES),” said Detmer on KSL’s UnRivaled. “Had a great opportunity to go there and coach as well as play and I’ll have my grandson, who’s an 11-month old so it’ll be his first time in the stadium and he won’t remember a bit of it. It’ll be neat to get a few pictures with him, my daughter and son-in-law, and another opportunity just to share some old memories and great experiences I had there.”

Ty Detmer is an iconic figure when it comes to BYU football. When he was relieved of his duties as offensive coordinator, many in the Cougar fan base were concerned that the strong relationship between BYU and their lone Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback would be fractured. Detmer doesn’t feel that way at all.

Detmer had this to say in regards to his relationship with head coach Kalani Sitake and BYU.

Ty Detmer on his relationship with BYU head coach Kalani Sitake: "I still root for those guys and wish nothing but the best for the program … it's still a good relationship."

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 20, 2019

“We share texts from time to time. I still root for those guys and pull for them and hope nothing but the best for them and the program. You get pretty close with guys when you’re working together every day for a couple of years. It’s still a good relationship and I know it’s a busy time for him during the season, so I’ll just shoot a text here and there and vice-versa from him. Looking forward to seeing those guys, seeing the players, some of them we recruited and have a chance to see them now they are off missions and have a chance to catch up with them a bit. It will be a neat experience.”

It will be a neat experience for Detmer and all of Cougar Nation to see one of the iconic faces of BYU football back in the stadium where he created many memorable experiences for everyone associated with the Cougars.

Ty Detmer said on @KSLunrivaled that BYU AD Tom Holmoe reached out to him awhile ago to carry out the alumni flag this Saturday against Washington.

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 20, 2019

Along with Detmer, former BYU greats Jason Buck, Mo Elewonibi, and Dewey Gray will also be in attendance for Saturday’s game against Washington. The four will also lead the team through Cougar Canyon during the Cougar Walk when the BYU football team arrives at the stadium.

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