Portland State head coach Bruce Barnum has a reputation for saying exactly what is on his mind, and after Saturday’s loss to BYU, he delivered one of the most unexpected quotes of Week One.
Speaking about BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier, Barnum admitted he had hoped the new signal-caller might be overstated on paper. That hope did not last long.
“I was hoping he was not as tall or as strong as they listed,” Barnum said. “And then I looked at his ass, and his legs, and he looks like a god damn centaur.”
The quote quickly circulated online, and it was not hard to see why. Bachmeier is listed at 6-foot-1, 215 pounds and carries the build of a quarterback who has seen his share of hits. In his first career start at BYU, his physical presence stood out early against Portland State. He played with control in the pocket and carried himself with the kind of stature that caught the attention of the opposing sideline.
Barnum’s comparison may have been colorful, but it was also rooted in genuine respect. Bachmeier’s ability to absorb contact, extend plays, and maintain composure reflected the type of quarterback Portland State had little answer for. While his stat line will be dissected plenty in the weeks ahead, his size and strength are already leaving a mark.
For BYU, Bachmeier represents stability at a position that has been in transition following the conclusion of the Jake Retzlaff saga. If his performance against Portland State is any indication, he brings a level of physicality that matches what Big 12 defenses expect. And if opposing coaches are noticing it in Week One, that should matter more than any preseason projection.
The moment may have gone viral, but it came from a place of real evaluation. Barnum’s words might have raised eyebrows, but they also confirmed that Bachmeier passed his first on-field test in a BYU uniform, visibly and without doubt.
