It’s a new day here at Vanquish The Foe. Just as BYU will be ramping up its independent football schedule, VTF is stepping up its game to be a more prominent part of Cougar Nation and to provide you with more to chew on, discuss, and debate.
We are grateful to SB Nation for the opportunity to come together with you, our fellow Cougar fans, in this capacity. We also appreciate the work of all those who have managed this site before us. (And a tip of the hat to our friends at Big East Coast Bias for an assist so we could get rolling.)
Our goal is for VTF to be (cliché time) a true destination for BYU fans. While we will coordinate to minimize duplication of stories, we will attempt to engender the diversity of opinion that already exists on our staff and throughout BYU fandom. Team Riley or Team [Name Redacted]. Big 12. Big East.
Make sure you bring a healthy sense of humor as well. If you feel like we’re making fun of you as a fan, it will be stemming from within—we’re really just making fun of ourselves. Outside of sports fandom, like many of you, we are also a part of that “peculiar” bunch of believers. We won’t mock that, ever—but, a healthy dose of self-jabbing may still occur. Tune your heart and humor accordingly.
To do our part to Rise Up (c. 2011, BYU Marketing), among many changes, the Mangum brothers are bringing aboard their Rise And Shout podcast. We will also bring you a more active Twitter presence, so make sure you follow @VanquishTheFoe (which we currently don’t have control over at the moment…we’re working on it).
Here are some quick bios so you can get to know the new VTF staff.
MANAGING EDITORS
Zach Bloxham (@zbloxham)
Zach attends Gonzaga University School of Law and is currently in the state of Washington. Having graduated with honors from Weber State University in Political Science, Zach enjoys campaign politics, appellate law, film, literature, technology, and the study of theology. He was brewed (not an Honor Code violation) a BYU fan by his BYU-diehard (and University of Utah alum) father and grandfather. His first BYU memory is watching the 1990 Holiday Bowl. There simply isn't anything as glorious as a fall Saturday at Lavell Edwards Stadium.
Brett Hein (@bhein3)
Brett is a communication graduate of
Zach and Brett have (and continue) to cover college sports in the West at The Upset
STAFF
Adam Mangum (@ajmangum)
Adam has bled BYU blue since birth. One of his first BYU memories was the Cougars beating
Matt Mangum (@matt_mangum)
After graduating from BYU, Matt is currently working on an MBA at
Keith Harten (@keithharten)
Keith lives in Utah after graduating from BYU with a Masters in American Literature and taught English at BYU for two years. He is a third-generation BYU graduate, and his favorite BYU memory is Steve Sarkisian’s lasso celebration in the 96/97 Cotton Bowl. He enjoys backpacking, sports, and film/literature (currently in a Werner Herzog and Cormac McCarthy phase). He and his wife are expecting their first child in early 2012.
Geoff Johnston (@geoffjBYU)
Geoff is a native of
Peter Case (@spaffoo)
Peter has been a BYU fan as far as his memory goes back. BYU fanhood was a natural fit for Peter while living in
Thank you for joining with us. Go Cougars!
Zach Bloxham and Brett Hein