Where are they now? Ben Criddle
AP Photo Douglas Pizac
First and foremost, Quinn, you are doing a marvelous job of giving priceless insight to Cougar Nation. With all the catchpenny rubbish and hearsay that I’ve read on all the other sites, it’s quite refreshing to come onto your blog and read an intricate, even “doctrinal” analysis of the game from a intelligent and articulate player’s point of view.
To all you cougar fans out there, if you wish to satiate that thirst for true knowledge of the game of football, and how the Cougs play it, don’t be an ignoramus, read Quinn’s blog and tell your friends.
At any rate, this is Ben Criddle the washed up walk-on #21. How time flies, just two years ago I was in Colorado Springs handing out a thrashing to the Cadets of Air Force Academy. Nostalgia plagues each and every one of the former Cougs, and I’ve cried a few times as I’ve watched my team run out of the tunnel without me. But, on to bigger and better things right? At this moment I am living in the infamous Ute country, a few blocks away from Rice Eccles stadium preaching the word to my lost brethren. Nah, but I am working at the UofU Orthopedic Center doing orthopedic sales, specifically bracing hoping to open up a CPM line soon. I work with all of the team docs for the Utes, and we have a weekly meeting to discuss games, stats, and predictions for the upcoming games. We also find time to talk trash about each others teams, which is quite entertaining. Medical sales has been a great fit for me thus far. I love working with the patients, doctors, and the pay isn’t too bad either. One of these days when I find an eternal companion, hopefully I’ll be able to support her in her spending habits. If any of you bloggers know of any cute, spiritual, funny, athletic and ambitious girls, send them my way.=)
My other extra curricular activities include, coaching a flag football team of 7yr olds, writing a book, and working on my musical talents. My 7yr olds went 8-0 this year! I implemented an intricate offense with 7 different formations and over 45 plays. I had some amazing athletes; the only downer to the whole season came at the conception of our season when I asked them “if they wanted to be called the Cougars or Utes?” It was an 9 to 2 vote in favor of the Utes……heartbreaking indeed. The book I am writing is called “Walk On” -Living the Dream-. The book’s main purpose is to instill in the young men of the church, the desire to build a stronger mutually beneficial relationship with the Lord. I also plan to share insights about the life of a walk-on and the singular experiences that come with being a walk-on. My musical endeavors will also be intertwined hopefully with the book. I’ve been working on classical voice for 7 years now, and have finally built up enough confidence to consider making an album. I’ll also be posting on Quinn’s blog a song by Troy Sheide and myself called, “The Ode To The Scout Team” soon. It’s a comical number expressing the life of a walk-on/scout team player. Troy and I hope that we can set up a downloadable version for your Ipods, I know you will enjoy it. The two times we performed it live, we received standing ovations. =)
My current connection with the program is not as strong as I wish it could be. I’m still an avid fan, attending some games in person and watching others on TV. I miss the game dearly and I’m looking for ways to stay involved with the program. I believe my book will help in the recruiting process for the football program though and build a stronger connection with program. You can only give out so many scholarships as an DIV I team, but I’m hoping to persuade those in-betweeners (like i was), who had small school schollie offers, to walk-on instead. I have strong opinions about the choice I made, and I’ve weighed out the positives and negatives to each scenario for the future prospects. My dream (although unfeasible to some) is to have every worthy LDS football prospect coming to BYU, with or without a scholarship. Thus, I’m not as connected as I want to be, but I’m looking for ways to stay involved, just like Quinn has done with this beautiful blog.
I have so many favorite memories as a BYU football player it’s ridiculous. The walk-on tryout and making the team. Singing in the walk-on locker room with all the other scrubs. Breaking up a pass the first day of practice against Todd Watkins and accidentally tackling him, then subsequently getting yelled and cursed at by John Beck for possibly hurting our star WR. Talks with Bronco Mendenhall, Ode To The Scout Team, Locker room ping pong matches, Starting in my first DIV I football game, breaking up a number of passes, making plays and realizing my potential. “Caught for the Touchdown! Caught for the Touchdown!” 4th and 18. And of course Vegas Bowl 2007, the blocked field goal. I loved it all! I lived a dream indeed.
I arrived on campus just before Coach Mendenahall started his first season as head coach. When I got there, the “weeding out” was almost complete. Yeah, there will be transfers here and there, but most of it had already taken place. I witnessed a mediocre season in 2005 from the stands. I chose to red-shirt that season because I didn’t want to waste a year of eligibility just playing special teams. I then saw how the players rallied together, taking the counsel of our coaches, applying it and then reaping the fruits of our labor for two years. Our coaching staff is amazing, and we should be grateful, and be hoping that we don’t lose any of them.
My expectations for the rest of the season are these.
If our defense does not put in the extra time to watch film and to be assignment sound Utah will beat us. Individually they are not watching enough film and visualizing themselves making plays as they come to them. It shows on film, there’s no hiding it. They are not doing their homework. Our secondary and linebackers should watch at least 8 hours of film individually this week. I’m begging you to. If you want.. call me .. I’ll watch it with you! If that happens, we beat Utah, take a piece of the MWC title, have a minute chance of BCS (doubtful) but we go bowling a beat a Pac 10 team.
If everyone sticks around for their senior seasons (which i think they will) we go into next season nationally ranked again with a chance to bust the BCS. We don’t have enough experience on the O-line to protect max like we have in the past, but the talent is there, but it depends on their work ethic. We will need a QB in the near future though. I haven’t seen anything promising in the ranks thus far, and I know a good QB when I see one.. trust me. There’s talent, but a lack of ambition, drive and competitive nature is festering amongst our younger QB’s. They don’t realize the hours both John and Max have put in tossing the football and watching film in the off-season.
If you got any questions feel free to shoot me a line. Keep up the good work Quinn!
Ben Criddle
November 18th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Hoo-wee! Thems a lot of big sillabull words, Ben.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Ben:
Write your book. I will buy it. You are the hero of every skinny white dude that really wanted to play ball and knew he could do it if someone just gave him the chance.
Sounds like you have a lot of talents and a lot going for you. In addition to what’s here I seem to remember you winning a couple LV Bowl dance-offs.
Rock on brother, and thanks for the inspiration.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Ben,
You probably know the starting secondary very well on a personal level since you played with all of them. Why do you think they are not putting in the extra preparation time?
Agree about this being the most insightful and pleasant BYU fan site. It’s making the BYU site I pay $9.95 a month for (I won’t name names :)), that is not so pleasant right now, irrelevant. I would happily pay money for access this site if Quinn ever decided to charge for it.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Ben,
Why no mention of moonlighting as Cosmo at BYU basketball games?
November 18th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Jon,
Don’t give too many ideas. We all love Quinn’s free blog.
However, if it came down to it, I think most would be willing to pay to hear the real deal from our heroes.
Ben, thanks for writing. I was wondering what happened to you. I like your vision of getting every worthy LDS football player at BYU. I think that part of the problem is some of the laxidasical members outside of Utah who choose to hate on BYU for no reason. Then they raise their kids with no loyalty to the Blue. Don’t these people know that their tithing is subsidizing our education, or that the head of the Board of Regents is the prophet of the church? We have to all do our part to change this culture.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Ben,
Thanks for writing. You had so many awesome plays for BYU. I remember cheering your name a lot.
I would be interested in your book as well, so write it up.
I’m interested to know more about film viewing. Bronco seems to be running a player lead team. Was it an individual decision to use so much of your time to view tape, or was it by the encouragement of others. I know some people are very self-motivated. Where is the drop off, is it leadership or is it just left up to the indiidual on that kind of preparation?
November 18th, 2008 at 10:25 am
We miss you Criddle! I can’t wait for your book to hit the shelves.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Gentlemen, I like free as well as the next man. The best way to help out Quinn is to occasionally, maybe everytime you come to the site, is to click on at least one of the adds. Now you don’t have to buy anything, it just helps him out. That way, all of us help him keep it free, and he gets a small reward for all this work. Thanks Quinn.
Ben, you talk about the great feeling you had as a walk-on. Talk more about the events and experiences that you went through because you were a walk-on rathar than a recruited scholarship player.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Ben,
Thanks for giving the update here on Quinn’s blog. It’s fun to hear what the former cougars are up to, and I hope everything continues well for you.
I’m glad to hear there’s a glimmer of blue holding out in Ute country there. Hopefully the defense can watch enough film, as you say, to stand up against the Ute offense this year. I have to say, I’ve been mighty nervous about this game. I just hope we keep it competitive so we’re not embarrassed like we were in Ft. Worth.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:04 am
People don’t worry about paying for this site, to date I have no intention of charging for access. All of my thought and ideas are free to the world. I am trying to create a place that would be attractive to advertisers and other companies looking to hit up a great demographic.
Web based advertising and lead generating is the future, and it’s pays better.
This won’t turn into TBS or Cougarboard. I am differenciating and stealing market share. Isn’t that business?
Now there will be things that I and others will want to sell, but even those purchases will be your own personal choice.
Enjoy it, free of charge.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Please tell Ben I am a cute, spiritual, funny, athletic and ambitious girl blogger that can even play the piano for him and obviously has good taste in reading materials.
Only catch is I’m not leaving Denver for Utah again, and he has to become a Denver Broncos fan if he isn’t already! (I actually think you could probably get more sales out here anyway!)
November 18th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Jon,
Players have priorities. Time management and the shuffling of those priorities are essential to success in life and in this case winning football games. Many of our players are married, going to school full time, playing football!, and have callings or even children.. That is a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of young men… I had it good, single, i deprived myself of social life, and spent all my extra time in the gym and film room. My philosophy was “One chance to play football at BYU, the rest of my life to find a Wife”. Not everyone has that philosophy.
With the coaches you only have 1 hour a day to watch film, You must dedicate the time necessary (imo) 8 hours an opponent, to be properly prepared and “react” instinctively as each play begins.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Dedication to film is a personal choice. Coach Mendenhall has formation and play tests which gauge our knowledge every week on paper. But if you do not watch enough film, it becomes a cramming session at the end of the week just to pass the test. And after a day or two you may forget everything once you get on the field. People not watching film, personally choose not to such. It has to come from the leadership of the team. Coaches do not force, but they encourage you to watch film. My senior year, Quinn, Kehl, Popps, Jan, and Me were all watching film constantly. We discussed it with each other too and held each other accountable.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I am a grandma and from where I sit, you sound like you’re putting in the ideal preparation still, Ben, this time in personal preparation instead of film-watching. You’ll find that perfect wife, no worries. It was good to hear about your life now. And I didn’t know about the clicking on the advertisers thing when I come to the blog, but “Utah Ring tones!” — t hat’s hard, man.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Wow, Ben, 7 years of classical voice. I had no idea. Come try out for the Motabs next July! (Hey, we’re not all stodgy oldsters; we’ve even got Alex Boyé!)
November 18th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Quinn,
Just one question, WHY is there utah ring tones on your web site? Don’t we need BYU ringtones? Kind of funny though!
November 18th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Ben- You are a hero for fans of BYU everywhere. I loved watching you play, and I love your story. Keep living the dream, and put me on the pre-order list for your book.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Do we have any hope of the Tonga brothers coming back? Please say Yes!
November 18th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Ben, kiss her once and she’ll come to Utah, kiss her twice and she’ll marry you, kiss her three times and …… nevermind,
November 18th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Thanks to everyone,
Swaints,
I love Manase and Matangi very much. Manase and the other poly’s were extremely kind to me when i was just a scrub walk-on. They really took me under their wing. I hope to see them both back in uniform. They made some bad choices, but are amazing men and have great hearts. I to see them in blue and white next year.
OrangeCrush,
I don’t know how to react to your message, b/c i can’t tell if it’s a joke or not.. haha anyways, i’m flattered.. very flattered
November 19th, 2008 at 6:41 am
Ben,
You were a real inspiration to Cougar fans everywhere. I still remember that lick you put on Marques in the U game that separated him from not only the ball but from overall consciousness for a while. NICE HIT! IIRC, you did it with a bad foot as well, which makes it even more impressive.
I have no doubt whatsoever that you will be successful in whatever you choose to aim for. I always found that the harder I worked, the luckier I got and it seems that it works that way for most people. Given your work ethic, I expect to hear some wonderful things about you in the future.
Thanks for being such a great example of what a Y player should be. You played in such a way that Ben Criddle’s name will be long held in honor among the BYU faithful.
Send us some more players like you!
November 19th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Good to hear from you! Have you ever thought of collaborating w/ B-Money for your singing career? That’d be solid!
November 19th, 2008 at 11:38 am
The Criddler…
You were and are a class act. I was touring the BYU football complex with my Father one day (Big Donor) and saw you putting in extra time at the Rehab place there. we walked in and talked to you for a few minutes… Your so funny with your dance moves and you played like a frekin animal.
You can coach my 7 yr old anytime.
November 19th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Ben,
Normally I don’t get involved in these blog discussions, but was linked into this and couldn’t help but drop you a line. This is your old prof from your Comms 235 class. I’m thrilled to hear that you are doing well and that you are still in your search for that perfect mate! It sounds, though, that you might be looking in enemy territory (Utes? Ouch!). I had heard that you had a great voice but am really impressed with your seven years of lessons on top of all of your time in class and playing football. We should have had you sing a solo in class! Anyway, all the best, and keep up your great work–you are a wonderful representative of BYU out there. Look forward to your book.
November 19th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Ben, don’t worry the Broncos thing isn’t a joke. I’m pretty picky (probably too picky) about the guys I date in regards to who they cheer for. (Bad experience with a Jazz fan. Bleck.)
Actually, my heart kind of belongs to Jay Cutler at the moment so maybe I’ll give you a shot after we get knocked out of the playoffs or win the super bowl.
Good luck finding a quality girl in Ute country!
November 19th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Hurray Criddle, an awesome player and a brilliant intellectual as well!!!
November 19th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Ben,
Have you seen Jay Cutler? If this orangecrush girl is so caught up on him and not you, just keep moving buddy, cause you deserve better. Jay Cutler may be great on the field, but he has to be one of the most un-athletic looking individuals I have ever seen. he has nothing on you Ben!
November 19th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Ben and Staff-
Sorry to linger on Jay Cutler any longer than necesary but doesn’t he look a lot like John Lennon circa ‘65 or ‘66 with that mop top. Every time I see a press conference or interview that’s the first thing that comes to mind. Of course I am a beatles fan. I am a bigger BYU fan though! Go Cougs!!
November 19th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Ben,
I loved the effort you put out each game for your 2 years on the field at BYU. Great personality during interviews, probably the reason sales are going well, even in Ute country.
Love to see a copy of the book soon. Bronco would too probably.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:01 am
Mac, Scott T, Orange,Mars,appleseed
Thanks for your kind words.
Justin,
B money and I are good friends through the social scene and I’d love to do an album with him, perhaps an rap song with me singing the RandB part. LOL.
Prof W!
Great to hear from you. I’ve been singing for 7 years but only had lessons here and there. They can be quite expensive =) Hope all is well with you in all your classes!
Markell,
haha thanks buddy! You were always there to build up my self esteem when the Daughters of Zion would shoot their fiery darts of “Ben you’re not good looking enough” at me. You’re the man!
November 20th, 2008 at 10:46 am
I assure you the only reason why Cutler has stolen my heart is because of the seam pass to Graham, the long bomb to Marshall, and the lead blocking on Sunday.
Send me some highlight videos and I’m sure I could be persuaded to go for a d-man. QB’s are just heartbreakers anyway, but sometimes you can’t help yourself.
Please all you boys and your man-crushes should know this is how it works. Mine just seem more shallow because I’m a girl, but at the end of the day I would take rather take a cougar home than a bronco.
November 20th, 2008 at 10:52 am
BTW please do an album with B-Money. I was in his ward a couple of summers ago when I was in charge of the music for sacrament meeting, and I almost regret not having him do a number for church.
November 21st, 2008 at 2:03 pm
My all-time favorite hit of yours was lighting up Ute Marquis Wilson to make him drop the ball near the goal line in 2006.
Good luck in all you do, I’ll buy the book!