Bear Bachmeier, the starting quarterback for Brigham Young University (BYU), shared insights into his faith and family values following an impressive 69-0 victory against the University of Connecticut at LaVell Edwards Stadium. In an interview with BYUtv Sports Nation, Bachmeier highlighted how his religious beliefs shape his experience at the university, despite not being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the institution’s sponsoring organization.
Faith and Spiritual Growth at BYU
Raised in a Catholic household, Bachmeier reflected on his upbringing and its influence on his daily life. He mentioned that he continues to attend church in Orem alongside his older brother and teammate, Tiger Bachmeier. “We still go to church actually in Orem,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of his religious upbringing.
During the interview, Bachmeier praised the “faith-oriented environment” at BYU, noting its substantial effect on his athletic performance. “I think just the faith-oriented environment — I mean, I use the word elevate — but it elevates our spiritual game exponentially,” he remarked. He explained that prayer plays a significant role in their daily routine, occurring before meetings and classes. This environment has deepened his personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which he considers a vital aspect of his time at the university. “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.
Appreciating Family Sacrifices
Alongside his faith, Bachmeier expressed gratitude for his family, particularly in light of head coach Kalani Sitake‘s emphasis on the three pillars of faith, family, and football. Bachmeier revealed that Coach Sitake’s discussions about family have prompted him to reflect on his parents’ sacrifices. “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 explained.
This newfound appreciation has led him to reach out to his parents more frequently. “I call my mom and I just say, ‘I love you and thank you for everything.’ Likewise, with my dad,” he added. Bachmeier described his experience at BYU as transformative, stating, “Being here has been the best experience I’ve ever had and learning so much from Coach Kalani. It’s awesome. It’s great.”
As BYU prepares to host Stanford in their upcoming game on September 16, 2023, Bachmeier’s reflections on faith and family underscore the personal values that guide him both on and off the field. His journey continues to resonate with fans and teammates as they look forward to the season ahead.