BYU Football: QBs feel Doman's presence
Just for them: In past years, BYU quarterbacks have had to share their position coach

Patrick Kinahan
The Salt Lake Tribune

PROVO - A position coach in football is a player's confidant, wrapped into the role of a parent, friend and foe.
Among the assistant's responsibilities, serving as head coach isn't one of them. Just ask Brigham Young's quarterbacks.
Last season, BYU's signal-callers often were alone during practices and games, as Gary Crowton carried out several assignments. Besides being head coach, Crowton was the offensive coordinator and supervised the quarterbacks.
Stretching himself thin, Crowton's offense struggled the last two years.
New coach Bronco Mendenhall corrected the problem, hiring Brandon Doman to direct the quarterbacks. In and around his work as anNFL quarterback last season, Doman saw several BYU games.
"In a game I watched these guys
come off the field," Doman said. "Who did they go to? They didn't have anybody to go to. So they'd sit on the bench. Coach Crowton had so much going on, there was no one for them to interact with."
"To have someone who can be with them the whole time is a big deal, because there's some tough times during a game when you need someone. It was huge for me to have Robbie Bosco there."
Bosco served as Doman's coach all four years. The two endured a few battles, but Bosco was a great resource for Doman during the 16 games he started.
When Bosco left the program two years ago, Crowton served as his own quarterbacks coach. As head coach, his attention during games naturally was divided among several areas.
"It was too hard for him to monitor the quarterbacks on every play," junior starter John Beck said. "But Coach Doman's main job is us. It's great. After each pass - after everything - he's right there to talk to us. We come off the field, boom, he's talking to us."
Even in practice, Crowton couldn't allocate all of his time to the quarterbacks. Before most practices, he fulfilled his obligations with reporters for more than 15 minutes.
The other position coaches always would be on the field to meet their groups as the players exited the locker room.
"It's great to have one quarterback coach, because there were times last year where we'd be standing around," senior Matt Berry said.
Doman has made a difference since joining the staff in January. From the first spring practice, he has critiqued every move the quarterbacks make.
The interaction continued into fall camp. As soon as Mendenhall concluded his address to the team after practice, the quarterbacks immediately adjourned to a meeting with Doman.
After getting a drink, the quarterbacks usually would go back on the field to run. Leading the way on each sprint was Doman.
"To have their own coach gives them more non-distracted time," offensive coordinator Robert Anae said. "When the coach is not the head coach or the coordinator, it gives them individual attention."
Only four years removed from college, Doman had no trouble gaining the quarterbacks' respect. They all know he directed BYU's last winning season, passing for 3,542 yards in 2001.
A former fifth-round draft choice of the San Francisco 49ers, Doman also has professional credibility. The quarterbacks see his youth as an asset, realizing his training comes fresh from theNFL.
"He pushes us pretty hard, not only physically but mentally as well," Berry said. "Meetings are great with him. It just all goes to his knowledge of the game."
l Mendenhall said after Monday's practice that tight end/long snapper Philip Niu suffered a stress fracture in his foot and is likely out for the season. Niu sat out last season with a knee injury. Justin Luettgerodt will take over Niu's duties as long snapper.

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