The BYU and Jake Retzlaff story started when the latter decided to bid goodbye to the JUCO level of college football. His move to BYU carved a historical feat in the college’s history as he became the first-ever Jewish starting QB for them.
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As expected, it wasn’t all that easy for him to adjust to the institution founded, led, and aided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Retzlaff sat down with Keyshawn Johnson on his All Facts No Brakes podcast, detailing his journey and how he found a way to balance his Jewish traditions and the college’s strong faith-based rituals:
“Prayer is involved with everything like we have prayer before team meetings, we have prayers before like before games and after games in the locker room and so me I have just been able to in my own mind say a similar prayer say my own prayer”
He acknowledged that most of the time, he and his brother would walk away and engage in their own prayers. However, given BYU’s keen prayer traditions before and after the games, it sometimes becomes difficult to avoid.
The college’s strong Mormon faith obviously differs from Retzlaff’s Jewish rituals. However, these differences did not stop the redshirt junior from choosing the place based on its history, tradition, and crafting of next-level quarterbacks.
This faith-based dissimilarity hasn’t hampered the QB though. His impressive four straight wins for the Cougars is a testament to this dedication. He has also found himself getting a different perspective on his life while being able to compete at an ambitious level.
It has brought its fair share of challenges as well, including having difficulties eating a kosher diet, that isn’t easily available in places like Utah.
Retzlaff shares how he eats Kosher at BYU
Although he grew up on a Kosher diet, Retzlaff noted that it wasn’t strictly observed in his household, and they didn’t always follow all the rules. So it’s been easier for him to adapt. However, he does avoid certain foods like pork.
“Not a strict Kosher diet. It’s impossible to be on a strict Kosher diet in Utah. I didn’t grow up with extreme Kosher diet. But I stay away from main things like you said, I’m not having Kula Pork at the Hawaiian Spot.”
But the BYU QB believes he isn’t missing anything by giving up certain foods. Coming from JUCO, he is grateful to God for getting him the opportunity to play at a D1 school in the first place.
Retxlaff is determined to carve his place in the NFL and BYU seems like the right place to ignite that dream. Despite the differences, he is ready to face challenges that will eventually bear fruitful results.
