Tyler Batty and Connor Pay are a testament to the brotherhood of BYU football.
BYU football player on defense Tyler Batty was one of ten Cougars players selected to the All-Big 12 team. (Source: Deseret News, Jeffrey D. Allred)
Share on KSL Sports by Chandler Holt
Las Vegas: Connor Pay and Tyler Batty, two linemen for BYU, are inseparable throughout practice, but off the field, they have nothing but love for one another.
Pay and Batty arrived at the KSL Sports Zone on Wednesday after attending the Big 12 Media Days in Las Vegas.
Pay and Batty, who are rivals on the field and brothers off it, have both attended BYU since 2020.
Though they spend a lot of time together, a significant portion of it is spent arguing on the practice field.
Pay remarked, “It’s been four years, but we are still friends.” “That wasn’t always the case.”
Putting jokes aside, Batty discussed the team’s competitive culture and how trash language on the field has no bearing off the field.
Even seasoned players occasionally find that the conversation goes too far, and younger players don’t always pick it up immediately away. On game day, though, there is still a belief that all animosity will be aimed toward the opposition.
Batty remarked, “Our team culture is fantastic.” “You try to kill each other for two hours straight on the field. That ends the instant you walk off. As teammates, you look out for one another.
Offensive Line Changes May Lead To Success
With some big names out the door and a new offensive line coach, Pay thought that his time as a Cougar was coming to an end.
After testing the waters, Pay was pleasantly surprised by what he saw and decided to run it back in Provo.
“I felt that with a less talented (offensive) line than we’ve had in the past, we probably performed better in spring ball than years past,” Pay said. “That makes me really optimistic for the season. The offensive line is so intricate. You have to master things that your body isn’t designed to do.”
About 2024 Big 12 Media Days
For the first time, the Big 12 is making its way to Las Vegas, Nevada.
Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders, is hosting the two-day event on Tuesday, July 9, and Wednesday, July 10.
The BYU Cougars will be attending their second Media Day as a member of the Big 12 after joining the conference in 2023. Last year, the Media Days were held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Utah is one of four newcomers to the Big 12 in 2024. The Utes will have a sense of familiarity at Allegiant Stadium though, having attended the 2023 Pac-12 Media Day at Resorts World in Las Vegas.
