No Yo For Nine Games; No Hard Feelings For BYU Star
Oct 10, 2019, 10:09 PM | Updated: Jun 3, 2020, 1:58 pm
PROVO, Utah – BYU forward Yoeli Childs has every right to be angry with the NCAA. After all, the association did take the first nine games of his senior season away all because of an oversight.
But as Childs gets ready for his last run with the Cougars he holds no bitter feelings.
“I can’t be anything but happy right now,” Childs told KSL sports anchor Sam Farnsworth on Wednesday. “I’m so excited to play with these guys and play for this staff and represent this university.”
Even new head coach Mark Pope is putting a positive spin on the absence of his best player to start the season.
#BYUHoops coach @CoachMarkPope has been singing the praises of his senior leadership on this team. He says seniors can do “magical things” and have a calming influence on the younger players. #KSLSports pic.twitter.com/CnImhajaAA
— Sam Farnsworth (@SFarnsworthKSL) October 9, 2019
“We love drama,” Pope said at BYU basketball media day. “I think this game is such an extraordinary teacher. When you listen to the game and you listen to where it takes you it kind of gives you the answers to the test. So right now we’re trying to listen really hard and figure out what this game is trying to teach us.”
Childs had a difficult decision to make whether or not to pursue the NBA or return for his senior season in a new system under a new head coach. Pope convinced him to stay. And even with the early season obstacles, they are facing, Childs feels this is the exact place he needs to be.
— Yoeli Childs (@yochilds22) May 30, 2019
“It’s been incredible, honestly,” Childs said. “Pope and his coaching staff have done more for me and this team than promised.”
The coaching staff wants nothing more than for each player on the team to take one step forward every single day. Get better in everything they do, according to Childs.
“They do a great job at instilling positive habits with this team and they communicate very clearly what needs to be done and what they expect from each guy. They expect nothing but excellence and it has been awesome,” Childs said.
Childs first game back with the Cougars will be on December 4 when the next installment of the BYU vs Utah rivalry takes place at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City.
