Any worries among BYU football fans that star freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier won’t play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl were put to rest Thursday by offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick as the Cougars conducted their first practice since the demoralizing 34-7 loss to Texas Tech in the Big 12 championship game.

Bachmeier sustained a left ankle injury in Arlington just as BYU was taking a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, and was not the same after that. The next day, photos appeared online of the QB wearing a protective boot on his left foot, even as head coach Kalani Sitake was saying the Californian “will be fine” moving forward.

“Yeah, he’s a fast healer,” Sitake said.

Roderick said that Bachmeier didn’t practice Thursday, which also marked the beginning of final exams for BYU students,

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