Famika Anae a 6-foot-6, 300-pound offensive lineman had a roller coaster time at BYU. With constant injuries and then recovery added with his dad as coach, then not and now again but because of more injuries he is unable to play.

Anae grew up near the BYU campus attending Timpview High and with his father coaching at BYU offers from Colorado and Texas Tech did not compare. "It was an easy pick, my dad was coaching and they were the best team at the time who had offered me. My first spring ball after my mission I tore my ACL, and I didn't have the best attitude" said Anae.

Having knee issues had an effect on Anae and his attitude towards BYU. Having a feeling of always being distant from the team and being on your own. But as he returned home from his mission he realized he needed to have a change of heart. "I really decided to dive in my redshirt freshmen year, I didn't want to go one foot in and one foot out but to go all in enjoy my time at BYU. I felt like I thrived as a player in my short career and I couldn't be more grateful for the experiences I have had and am having here at BYU" Anae continued saying "There is a bond at BYU and a brotherhood, that alone changed my attitude and outlook at BYU. "

With the constant injuries but having committed himself to fully embracing the university, things changed a bit when he learned that his father would no longer be coaching at BYU. "When my dad left to Arizona I had a bitter feeling, it wasn't towards the University itself. Any situation where a family and this case my father who I am very close is being scrutinized or blamed, that hurt me and hurt my family. And my initial reaction was I want to get out of here. My parents sat me down and I had a meeting with Coach Mendenhall and he told me how much he loved and respected my dad and he wanted me to stay and my parents wanted me to stay. It was hard because of all the scrutiny that was going around Provo because I am very loyal to my team and especially to my family. The people who were closest to me wanted me to stay."

So he stayed and this year really showed cougarnation what could have been had he stayed healthy, a big, strong aggressive offensive lineman with talent. Unfortunately his season ended early with an injury and also his career. Anae does not want to leave the game of football, but since his body will not allow him to he is following in father's footsteps.

This year Anae will be tutored under his father as an undergraduate assistant, finishing up his degree in history and then getting his career started in coaching. This past weekend Anae was the host for recruits Keegan Hicks, Brayden Kearsley and newest commit Quincy Awa-dubose. "It's something I have always thought about it because it is all I know. I am very passionate about the game of football and I've always wanted to be around football but because of my injuries this is a way I can."

So what were his thoughts when he found out his dad was coming back to BYU? "When he decided to take the job coming back my initial reaction was geez he is going to throw himself back in the fire. But it was a good fit and he loves BYU" said Anae.

The reasons he said his dad came back to BYU was because it was a right fit and his passion and love for BYU. "He is so fired up, you can see it in the way that he is conducting the workouts he is fired up to get things going" said Anae on his fathers attitude since returning.

Though BYU will lose Famika Anae on the field they gain him on the sideline. One thing that has been confirmed from multiple sources Coach Robert Anae is bringing in a fast paced offense. CougarNation will be excited how both Anae's help the Cougars in 2014.

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