What to know about BYU QB Bear Bachmeier, from number 47 to name origin and brother Tiger
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What to know about BYU QB Bear Bachmeier, from number 47 to name origin and brother Tiger originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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When you lay it all out, BYU true freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier has a case as the most interesting man in college football.
There's the name, joined by his brother Tiger. There's the jersey number, 47. There's the fact that he won the Cougars job as a true freshman and has them in the top-10. And there's the punishing play style from the QB spot.
It all adds up to a player that the nation has quickly learned a lot about.
Here's everything you need to know:
Why does Bear Bachmeier wear jersey number 47?
Bear started wearing the No. 47 in youth football. He was a running back and linebacker, and his dad helped him pick that number.
“I used to play running back when I was younger, when I started playing football," Bear told reporters. "When I made the transition to quarterback, I just kept the number. I continued to play middle linebacker up until eighth grade. I like the number. It kind of brings you back to your primitive nature, I guess, when you’re playing.”
Bachmeier explained to The Athletic this week that the number makes him play more physical. It reminds him of the digit that a punishing runner or a fierce tackler would wear, and so while it's on his chest, even at QB, that's how he plays.
The Athletic also shared that of the 163 college QBs who have played at least 150 snaps this season, Bachmeier is the only one with a number above 19.
MORE: USC used a crazy jersey number fake punt play to beat Northwestern
Where does Bear Bachmeier get his name?
Bear Bachmeier's name stems from the fact that his brother's nickname is Tiger.
“Tiger’s real name is James," Bear explained over the summer. "Tiger is the fourth. James Bachmeir I is my dad’s grandpa and he was a fighter pilot, he smoked those unfiltered Camels. When my dad was growing up, James I would always tell my dad, ‘Get over here Tiger,’ and my dad always thought that was cool so he named James IV Tiger and then he said 'The best one’s gotta be named Bear."
The difference with Bear is that his actual name is Bear. It's a nickname turned full name.
Bear Bachmeier's brother Tiger
Tiger (James IV) Bachmeier wasn't originally at BYU.
He transferred this summer from Stanford to play with his little brother.
Their older brother Hank was a college quarterback at Boise State, Louisiana Tech and Wake Forest.
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