TACOMA, Wash. — Thanksgiving is for family, food, giving thanks, and of course, a healthy dose of football. While the Pacific Lutheran University football squad has already concluded the season, there are still plenty of Lute alumni that will be patrolling the sideline this weekend. 

All six of these Lutes either played under current Head Coach Brant McAdams or coached with him.

"As coaches, we hope to foster a love for the game and the impact that it can have on our student-athletes. To see the number of our players who have gone on to take up that same charge is an awesome thing to get to watch unfold," said McAdams who just wrapped up his eighth season at the helm. 

Bryce Missey — Missey played two seasons for the Lutes as starting quarterback in 2019 and the spring 2021 campaign. He went on to coach for the Lutes during the 2022 season. Missey is now assistant quarterbacks coach at the University of Wyoming in the Mountain West Conference. The Cowboys close out their season on Saturday with an 8 p.m. tilt against the University of Hawaii in Honolulu.

Regan Divina— On the opposite side of the sideline for that Saturday evening clash will be Missey's former teammate Regan Divina. A graduate assistant for the Rainbow Warriors, Divina spent three seasons coaching defensive backs for the Lutes before shipping off to Honolulu. Divina played four years for the Lutes from 2019 to 2022.

Cody Brown— A workhorse running back for the Lutes, Brown is now an assistant with the Division I FCS South Dakota State University Jackrabbits. Brown was an All-Conference running back for the Lutes, suiting up from 2017 to 2021. The Jackrabbits begin the FCS playoffs on Saturday, hosting the University of New Hampshire at 10 a.m.  

Ryan Baerg — Baerg served as a student coach for the Lutes from 2019-2021 and is now on staff at NAIA College of Idaho as the running backs coach. The 9-1 Coyotes host Morningside University (Iowa) in the second round of the NAIA playoffs on Saturday with a 12 p.m. kickoff. 

Hajriz Aliu — Aliu is the football operations assistant with the Cleveland Browns. Aliu played four seasons with the Lutes from 2015-2018. Since then, he's worked with the Los Angeles Chargers, UCLA, and now the Browns. Aliu and the Browns host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at 10 a.m. 

Michael Bryne — Bryne played for the Lutes in 2008 and 2009 and was an All-Conference quarterback. Bryne would return to Luteville in 2019, working a variety of roles for three seasons. Bryne's is now an offensive assistant for the Seattle Seahawks who are off to a hot start with an 8-3 record. Prior to the Seahawks, Bryne's had stops at the New Orleans Saints, Texas A&M University, and West Texas A&M University. Bryne and the Seahawks host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.