For college football players, their craft is so much more than just a sport. It's a brotherhood.
That brotherhood is clearly a big component of the BYU locker room, and it was put on full display Saturday. Taysom Hill, the team's starting quarterback, exited Saturday's game against Nebraska early with a foot injury that will cause him to miss the entire 2015 season. Obviously, that's horrible news for BYU, but the team rallied to win the game on a Hail Mary as time expired. In essence, it was the most dramatic and exciting way a team can possibly win a football game. Needless to say, it was a whirlwind of a day for coach Bronco Mendenhall and the Cougars.
MORE: Watch BYU knock off Nebraska on Hail Mary
Fans and players were elated with the stunning victory. But even in a moment of such triumph, BYU didn't lose sight of the bigger picture. Hill, the team's leader on and off the field, will never take a snap for the Cougars again. The players recognized the gravity of the situation (most notably Mitch Mathews, who caught the game-winning Hail Mary), and the scene in the locker room after the game was heartwrenching and heartwarming.
BYU will attempt to move forward with Tanner Mangum, who certainly performed well against the Cornhuskers once Hill went down. Still, it's inspiring to see the love and admiration teammates like this share following the heat of battle.
