Before taking the field at LaVell Edwards Stadium for his first game, Bear Bachmeier shared insights about his faith and its significance in his life as a player for Brigham Young University (BYU). In a pre-game interview on BYUtv Sports Nation, Bachmeier, the starting quarterback, opened up about his religious beliefs, emphasizing their impact on his performance and personal growth.
Although Bachmeier is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the university’s sponsoring institution, he has found a supportive environment at BYU. “We still go to church actually in Orem,” he mentioned, referring to his Catholic upbringing and the ongoing support he receives from his family, including his older brother and teammate, Tiger Bachmeier.
Faith’s Role in Performance
Bachmeier expressed appreciation for the “faith-oriented environment” at BYU, which he believes enhances his spiritual and athletic performance. He stated, “I think just the faith-oriented environment — I mean, I use the word elevate — but it elevates our spiritual game exponentially.” He described the practice of beginning meetings and classes with a prayer as a significant aspect of his experience at the university.
The quarterback elaborated on how this environment has deepened his personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “Being in this environment has just helped immensely in growing my spiritual aspect with Jesus Christ, and that played a big factor in coming here,” he said, highlighting the role of faith in his journey as a student-athlete.
Family and Sacrifice
Bachmeier also reflected on the importance of family, particularly in the context of head coach Kalani Sitake’s emphasis on faith, family, and football. He noted that Sitake’s discussions about family have heightened his appreciation for the sacrifices made by his parents. “When Coach Kalani’s talking about family, it just brings tears to your eyes because you take for granted what your dad, what your mom did for you,” he shared.
He mentioned that after many meetings, he feels compelled to reach out to his parents, expressing gratitude for their support. “I call my mom and I just say, ‘I love you and thank you for everything.’ Likewise, with my dad. Being here has been the best experience I’ve ever had and learning so much from Coach Kalani. It’s awesome. It’s great.”
With this mindset, Bear Bachmeier leads BYU into its second game of the season against Stanford on Saturday, continuing to integrate his faith and family values into his role as a quarterback.
