This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Although there was media availability after BYU's spring football practice on Monday, head coach Bronco Mendenhall was not made available to talk to reporters. Instead, we got offensive coordinator Robert Anae for five minutes or so. Still, some newsy items emerged, several of which were mentioned in this notebook in today's Tribune. And two-sport participant Bronson Kaufusi practiced with the football team for the first time, as detailed here. While we're handing out links, here's one to a column by Gordon Monson about linebacker Kyle Van Noy which includes lots of interesting stuff, such as the fact that Van Noy's family has taken out an insurance policy to insure his future earnings should he get hurt this season and miss out on the NFL. A few more odds and ends that emerged from Monday's practice: * The career of offensive lineman Houston Reynolds, who tore an Achilles tendon in the Utah game last fall, is in serious jeopardy. I asked Anae about Reynolds after practice, and Anae said the injury was a career-ender "as far as I know." However, a BYU football spokesperson got some clarification from the training staff after Anae's remarks and said that while Reynolds will definitely not participate in spring camp, his status for next fall has yet to be determined. * There have been rumblings that Anae's son, OL Famika Anae, would give football another go after retiring from the sport midway through last season due to chronic and lingering injuries. Famika has been at practice, but working with the team as a student assistant. Robert Anae confirmed that Famika is finished with playing football, "but is very much involved in the team right now" as a student coach. * After serving as a student assistant coach last year, former BYU quarterback Max Hall is not with the team this spring. He was passed over in his bid to be the quarterbacks coach, a job that went to another former BYU QB, Jason Beck. "Max is not in school," Anae said. "Last I heard he had plans to go up to Canada and give professional football one more try. So we wish him well." * Former BYU tight end Andrew George, who seemingly had the talent to be one of the school's all-time best, but was stuck playing behind Super Bowl champion Dennis Pitta, is a graduate assistant now and is coaching the inside receivers and tight ends. "He coaches the Ys and the Hs and last go-round that's what I coached," Anae said. "But now I am working with the O-line. So Andrew George is our guy." Anae was asked if a G.A. has ever been given that much responsibility. "Yeah, I have on occasion had GAs coaching quarterbacks. You kind of find your talents and utilize your resources best you can. Sometimes, they work with the O-line. In this case, he is working with the tight ends. I feel very confident Andrew knows what we are looking for in a tight end, a Y, and in an inside receiver," Anae said. Former G.A. Kelly Bills likely would have gotten the job, but he took a position with Willamette University as that school's offensive coordinator.* Anae was asked about the apparent battle to be the primary ball-carrier between sophomore Jamaal Williams and Mike Alisa. He added that Adam Hine, who was injured for most of last season, is also in the mix with the first team. "I think that's a plus for the offense in terms of personnel. I really do. We are looking forward to trying a lot of offense with those guys on the field."