Monson: Zach Wilson takes off and Tanner Mangum lights up

Provo • Zach Wilson was on the field following BYU's Hawaii victory at BYU 27, sweating and beaming as his team mates walked past him, patting his head, recognizing his first start, his first quarter victory. university.

In the distance, Tanner Mangum, senior quarterback Wilson, replaced, sighed, got all-in, accepted some greetings and went into BYU's locker room. He was happy for the victory of the Cougars, happy for Wilson, but, personally, deep in him, was suffering, at least a little. It did not allow any outside reference to this.

"There will be ups and downs," he said. "One thing I've learned is that you can not define yourself by what's happening on the football field."

What happened Saturday night was Wilson, who made 16 passes for 194 yards, in a touchdown race, throwing in for three, picking a pick. Mangum watched.

It is remarkable the amount of effort that college athletes are spending on their pursuit of football, the way they go about it. In the case of Mangum, he went through the whole cycle, and more.

Hot Shot Rookie, Elite-11 co-MVP with Jameis Winston, waiting quarterback at BYU, first-year star after his mission in the church, then defending in favor of a rebuilt Taysom Hill, temporarily confronted with bouts of anxiety and depression, seeking clinical help, suffering from childhood at an early age, when he struggled as a tendon and blew his tendon Achilles, the temptation to give up, the pain of a solitary rehabilitation, the battle to physically recover together, the fight for the starting position with a talented freshman, then another bench.

It is an extraordinary journey.

"I have experienced a little bit of everything," he said. "And that taught me things I can take away for the rest of my life."

You want to cross a wall of fear by trying to inform coaches that you are dealing with mental health issues in a football world, an environment of what Mangum described as "hyper-masculinity", a place where any type of mental condition is considered by some to be a weakness.

Mangum simply told these Neanderthals, "There is nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed. That's my story. "

He managed that. It's up to others to understand it too.

Mangum went ahead of this season to lead a BYU conservative attack that overtook Arizona, Wisconsin and the McNeese State, as well as defeats against Cal, Washington and the United States. 39; Utah.

Now he will watch and cheer the boy, hurt for the loss of his place, but hoping that Wilson will go up even higher than he did on Saturday night.

It's the prospect of a 25-year-old QB who, as he said, has seen and felt everything an athlete can see and feel. As a freshman, he won huge games, he was an imposing man on campus, he filled himself up and was then knocked to the ground in a way that made him feel good. bitter or wise man. A few years ago, he could have felt sorry for himself and complained softly.

Now he gets it. And by that, I mean life.

Wilson will continue and do what he wants. He has his promising football future.

Mangum will continue to grasp its reality, which is most important, hoping that BYU will win, that Wilson will succeed and that he will also play well if called again.

"I've been on both sides," he said, "as a starter and as a backup. Anyway, I want to be me. I want to be the best teammate I can. I want to help Zach. I know what he is facing. But I am a competitor. I want to play. I think I can help this team win. I will not give up. I will help Zach and use this experience as a growing experience. "

During the demotion of Mangum, a former teammate told him: "When you look back, you will judge yourself favorably not to give up, not your quality."

"I learned," said Mangum, "to keep a positive state of mind, to look ahead and to keep your head up. If hard times come, they will not last. You fight through them. Life is not limited to football. "

It turns out that being BMOC has a totally different connotation with Tanner Mangum. He knows that being a great man involves more than just throwing touchdowns. It's about absorbing the blows of life, lighting up and, with a little luck, helping others to do the same.

GORDON MONSON hosts "The Big Show" with Jake Scott on weekdays from 3pm to 7pm. on 97.5 FM and 1280 AM The Zone.