Profiles in Bad-assery: BJ Beatty

In this week's edition of "Profiles" we will review Linebacker BJ Beatty's performance in the Wyoming game.

Before specifically mentioning the Wyo campaign and BJ's role in it, let us set some context.

First, for the uninitiated, let's review the noble role of the Linebacker. While Defensive Linemen exist to stuff the running lanes and Defensive Backs exist to defend the passing options, Linebackers exist primarily for the purpose of knocking the ever loving puddin' out the poor bastard who happens to be holding the football. As a coach once explained to me, the "raison d'être" of the humble linebacker is to get to the ball in a hurry and arrive in a bad mood.

The second piece of context is to consider what the CU defense experienced in the two games prior to Wyoming - namely, shameful defeat. First, defeat to the cross state rival with a first time starting quarterback and second, a 58 (58!) point explosion by Toledo (Toledo!). Both on national television. To Linebacker types who are raised to inflict pain on others, public spankings at the hands chumps do not sit well.

The third piece of context to understand is BJ's heritage. BJ hails from the great stat of Hawaii - obvious hotbed of Polynesian football prowess. BJ is half howley, the son of a former BYU linebacker, Byron Beatty, and cousin to former Buff All-American lineman and all around bad-ass, Chris Naeole. So the gridiron bloodlines and Islander pride runs deep through the veins of BJ. Also, BJ has long, curly red hair. Much like a "boy named Sue", growing up looking like that was bound to make BJ tough - like a violently insane Bozo the Clown. Good luck with that nightmare.

So back to BJ Beatty and the Wyoming performance. It is now easy to understand how BJ was feeling entering this game - the name of that feeling is pure, primal rage. But rather than allowing that rage to drive him to depression or simple insanity, BJ decided to channel that rage. And channel it he did - right through the sternums of the poor Wyoming quarterbacks and tailbacks! BJ's body became a vessel of violence and pain for those in white jerseys and helmets. His shoulder pads were named "anger" and "justice" and his silver helmet was named "redemption". To the Wyoming Cowboys, BJ became the embodiment of Samuel L Jackson in Pulp Fiction - only with long curly red hair, so way scarier:


And lay down his vengeance upon them he did. BJ's results were not unlike those of Samuel's in that classic scene. Blood spattered about the place and BJ and his mates standing over the fallen Cowboys in triumph and freshly released anger. That's ZERO points for you, vanquished opponent.

Will this new found fire of BJ and his brethren carry forward for the remainder of the season? We can only wait and watch. But let us bask for a few more moments in the shutout that was pitched in Folsom on Saturday. And salute a Linebacker who for one spectacular September afternoon self-realized in a perfect and vicious manner befitting the profession to which he was born. Respect, my brother. Respect.