By ROMNEY M. STEWART
Very rarely do two brothers attend the same university and play a very challenging and physical sport together. Cliff and Brandon Doman are one of these few combinations.
Cliff and Brandon had other Cougar examples to follow with two older brothers having played for Coach Edwards.
The Domans prepped at Skyline High School in Salt Lake City, where each brother led teams to the state football championship in their junior years. Skyline is widely regarded as having one of the best high school football programs in the state of Utah. There is a big difference, though, between Skyline and BYU. Whereas the Cougars focus on the aerial attack first, Skyline runs the option out of the wishbone, similar to the Air Force Academy’s potent running game.
“It was a huge adjustment coming here,” said Brandon, the younger brother of the tandem. “One’s trying to figure out how to pass best, the other is trying to figure out how to run the best.”
The brothers graduated three years apart from each other and had never played on the same team before coming to BYU because of their difference in age.
Older brother Cliff plays wide receiver and served an LDS mission to Chicago. He married Rocky Wilson in January 1996 and this February welcomed newborn twins Jacob and Jordan into the family.
Brandon is looking to compete for the starting quarterback job this fall and recently returned from the Argentina, Bahia Blanca mission. He suited up for the first time for the Cougars this spring in the annual Blue/White scrimmage. He had three long scrambles in the game to help the white team to victory.
“It’s tough to get back in shape, but I’m loving every minute of it,” Brandon said.
It’s an enjoyable experience finally being able to play with one another, the Doman duo said.
“This spring was the first time we’ve practiced together,” Cliff said. “I caught my first ball ever from Brandon in pads, and we’re excited to play.”
Brothers are brothers though, and some competition is plainly evident between the two.
“I’ve got the older brother intimidation factor,” Cliff said.
“Yeah, well I’ve got forty pounds on him,” Brandon replied.
They feel that this competition carries onto the field where it drives each brother to perform to the best of their abilities. It’s not too often that players from the Salt Lake area sign with the BYU, and both brothers have friends playing for arch-rival University of Utah. Both are happy with their decision to come to BYU instead of the other schools that recruited them.
“It’s close to home, and it has a good environment with a great football program right next to our house. You can’t beat it,” Brandon said.
“It’s great. It motivates both of us to have a brother to play with, and it makes the game funner,” Cliff said.
