I don't know the context here. Both parties might have been joking.
Johnsen first played for the Utes in 1997. Remember 1996 anyone? Things didn't go too well for the Y BBall team that year. This is when Johnsen was recruited. Probably a no brainer in those days to play for Majerus when BYU's program had hit skid row.
Just guessing that had BYU been more respectable then he might have been a Cougar. He was one Ute player I always liked. I remember him saying how loud the Marriott Center was in one of his last rivalry games.