NOT-SO-STRICT KOSHER UTAH COUNTY — Not everything has been perfect for Jake Retzlaff as he's adapted to BYU for the past two years.

But what's so bad about removing the bacon from a chicken sandwich in exchange for the chance to be the the starting quarterback for a Big 12 football program?

Retzlaff, who told the Deseret News he is a practicing "Reform Jew" and has been seen worshipping with the Chabad of Utah County, is the first Jewish starting quarterback at the university owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He's also got the Cougars off to a 5-0 start, including a 2-0 jumpstart on Big 12 play, while completing 61% of his passes for 1,206 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions after Saturday's 34-28 win over Baylor.

During a recent episode of the "All Facts No Brakes" podcast with former NFL star Keyshawn Johnson, Retzlaff explained a bit about practicing his Jewish faith at the Latter-day Saint school — one where Christian prayer is a daily part of life, from classes to meals to team meetings and even prior to sporting events.

"Being faith-based, prayer is involved with everything," Retzlaff said. "We have prayer before team meetings, we have prayer before games and after games in the locker room.

"I've just been able to, in my own mind, say my own prayer — and be able when everyone is looking down, I look up and be so grateful for where I'm at. Those moments are the moments where I like to have a little perspective in my life."

That doesn't make everything is perfect, but on a team with plenty of Polynesian friends and players, turning down the Kalua pork at team outings to Hungry Hawaiian means little when compared with the chance to play for the program that produced Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Ty Detmer, John Beck and Zach Wilson, among others.

"It's impossible to be on a (strict) kosher diet in Utah," said Retzlaff, who said he didn't grow up "extremely kosher."

"To be where I'm at now, how do I not give glory and thanks to the guy looking out for me," he added. "Knowing that, it's easy to say: I don't need any bacon on my chicken sandwich. Maybe it tastes better, but I doubt it does. Just put that in perspective: I'm here for a reason, and God's hand put me where I'm at. Being at BYU was not an accident."

Watch the full interview in the video player above, or on YouTube here.

Yesterday's Have You Seen This?

Nature makes unlikely friends

This little girl finds a praying mantis on some wood and doesn't even flinch when it starts to crawl all over her. She seems to even enjoy it, even when it starts to crawl on her face.

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