Get ready for a compelling episode of Beyond the Game as host Mike Lacey sits down with Joe Semanoff, former BYU fullback whose journey from Philadelphia walk-on to RB team captain exemplifies perseverance and leadership. After driving cross-country in an '88 Honda Accord with just a VHS highlight reel delivered by his sister, Joe earned his spot alongside legendary running backs Luke Staley, Harvey Unga, Manase Tonga, and Fui Vakapuna in one of the most talented backfields in BYU history.

His wake-up call came when 315-pound defensive end Manaia Brown effortlessly scooped him up during his first scout team practice, teaching him the difference between high school and college football. Playing through the transition from Gary Crowton's laissez-faire approach to Bronco Mendenhall's disciplined corporate-style structure, Joe witnessed firsthand how accountability, discipline, and effort transformed team culture.

As running back captain, he participated in leadership meetings where coaches asked players to set their own goals, creating unprecedented buy-in when the staff committed to helping achieve those player-driven objectives. Through stories of the Spartan shield exercise where teammates shared their deepest motivations, the game-changing touchdown catch against New Mexico that "altered the program trajectory," and the brotherhood forged through running back by committee, Joe reveals how authentic relationships and shared sacrifice create championship culture.

Get ready for an inspiring episode of Beyond the Game as host Mike Lacey sits down with Lucky Finau, BYU running back whose journey exemplifies resilience and faith. When a mass tumor on his heart nearly ended his football dreams before they began, Lucky faced emergency surgery that broke his sternum and ribs just weeks before fall camp, forcing him to redshirt his first year at BYU.

For months during his mission in Birmingham, Alabama, he couldn't breathe properly and lost his voice for nearly a year, unaware that his heart condition was slowly stealing his strength. Now fully recovered and entering his third "freshman" year, Lucky has become the spark plug of BYU's locker room, bringing infectious joy and authentic energy that unites players from diverse backgrounds and faiths.

As the nephew of head coach Kalani Sitaki and cousin of PGA Tour star Tony Finau, Lucky understands both the pressure and privilege of his position, wearing number 45 - the same number once worn by his position coach Harvey Unga and host Mike Lacey.

Through stories of serving a mission in "Roll Tide" country where he used Alabama football to connect with locals, navigating the complexities of NIL while maintaining team unity, and switching from linebacker to running back to help the team, Lucky demonstrates how gratitude and brotherhood create championship culture. His message resonates beyond football: someone always has it worse, so stay grateful for what you have, keep working toward your dreams, and surround yourself with teammates who lift you up when discouragement creeps in.

Follow Beyond the Game on Social Media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hoo.be/btg45podcast⁠⁠

Video Chapters:

00:00 - Opening

0:42 - Meet Lucky Finau

1:10 - Third Freshman Year Explained

1:36 - Heart Tumor Discovery and Surgery

2:40 - Mission Health Struggles

4:02 - Surgery Before Fall Camp

4:46 - Recovery with Coach T

5:11 - Family Connections to Tony Finau

6:02 - Uncle Kalani Sitaki Relationship

7:03 - Locker Room Personality

8:13 - Team Chemistry and Authenticity

9:24 - Running Back vs Fullback Role

10:52 - Running Back Depth Chart

12:21 - Team Unity Across Cultures

14:44 - Religious Diversity and Acceptance

16:34 - Coach Sitaki's Tradition

17:44 - NIL Era and Team Dynamics

20:35 - Birmingham Alabama Mission

22:34 - Roll Tide Connection Stories

24:52 - Mission Companions from Team

25:32 - Personal and Team Aspirations

27:35 - Gary Bohanon's Leadership

29:40 - Transfer Portal Impact

33:26 - Message to Cougar Nation

34:58 - Gratitude and Perspective

36:38 - Team Service to Community

36:45 - Closing Thoughts

Get ready for a compelling episode of Beyond the Game as host Mike Lacey sits down with Chris Burgess, BYU's assistant coach and former McDonald's All-American who chose between Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, and UCLA before his basketball journey took him around the world.

From being recruited by legendary coaches like Coach K, Rick Pitino, and Roy Williams to playing professionally in 11 countries across Ukraine, Turkey, Australia, and the Philippines, Chris's path led him back to Provo with invaluable global perspective. As BYU's big man developer, he's transformed players like Fousseyni Traore and Aly Khalifa while preparing for the arrival of AJ Dybantsa and building around rising stars like Egor Demin and Richie Saunders.

His coaching philosophy centers on creating "joy in the gym" rather than fear-based motivation, building authentic relationships through honest communication and the 3-to-1 ratio of positive reinforcement. Drawing from mentorship by Duke's Quinn Snyder, Burge emphasizes that today's players thrive on truth-telling coaches who invest in them personally, not just during practice hours.

Through stories of Keba's Superman dunks, Egor's leadership, and the team chemistry that carried BYU to the Sweet 16, Burg reveals how modern coaching requires vulnerability, authenticity, and genuine care for each player's development beyond basketball. His message, supported by wife Lisa's sacrificial journey documented in her book "Behind the Bench," demonstrates that championship culture isn't built through intimidation but through love, honesty, and unwavering commitment to the mission that makes BYU basketball special.

Check out "Behind the Bench" by Lesa Burgess: https://a.co/d/dbH6mHN