Coach worried about BYU's mindset - Sports

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Aug. 27, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Coach worried about BYU's mindset

Mendenhall fears Cougars distracted by hype over BCS

By MARK ANDERSON
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Football coaches are a paranoid lot, and things only get worse as the stakes increase.

Bronco Mendenhall, Brigham Young's generally easygoing and low-key coach, isn't immune.

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Many in the media are touting the Cougars as this season's Bowl Championship Series busters. But Mendenhall worries his team is getting caught up in the hype, after reading players' quotes that have shifted from statements about "we" and "us" to talk of "I" and "me."

Mendenhall isn't big on limiting media access to the team, but he knows two-time defending Mountain West Conference champion BYU has a major opportunity this season.

He voiced his concerns in a team meeting Monday. Mendenhall fears this isn't a problem that will go away, though he said practices and other types of game preparation haven't been affected.

"It's been able to penetrate farther than I hoped," Mendenhall said during Tuesday's league teleconference. "I've had to handle outside influences more than I have the last couple of years. I don't think it's over."

Go ahead, call Mendenhall paranoid. But remember he put BYU back on top in the Mountain West largely because of his attention to detail.

The 16th-ranked Cougars open the season Saturday by hosting Northern Iowa, which might sound like a walkover. But the Panthers advanced to the Football Championship Series playoffs last season, winning at Iowa State along the way.

"I think they have enough talent to beat us," Mendenhall said. "They're well-coached, as well-coached as any team in our league."

• NO SURPRISES HERE -- Appalachian State's stunning opening-week upset of Michigan last season probably ruined any hope Utah had of sneaking up on the Wolverines on Saturday in Ann Arbor.

"That heightens the awareness, I'm sure of that, and the element of surprise and not being ready to play in the opener is completely gone," Utes coach Kyle Whittingham said. "It's certainly at the forefront of everybody's mind in their program. So that didn't do us any favors having Appalachian State go in there and whack them like they did last year."

Still, Utah could have a realistic shot at upending Michigan. Only 4-point underdogs, the Utes face a Wolverines squad that is remaking its offensive personnel and scheme under first-year coach Rich Rodriguez, who hasn't even named a starting quarterback yet.

Whittingham knows his team will be representing not only Utah on Saturday but the entire Mountain West.

"If we want to be high profile (as a conference) like we feel we deserve, we've got to win those games," Whittingham said.

• THIS YEAR'S BELL -- San Diego State coach Chuck Long was asked recently if there is a MWC defensive player that he might design an offensive game plan around.

"I think Beau Bell is the one that stuck out the most the last couple of years," Long said of the former UNLV star linebacker who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round this year. "Right now, nobody sticks out. We've still got a ways before we finally get to conference play, and by then who knows?"

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.

CONFERENCE STANDINGS
The Mountain West from top to bottom (according to media poll):

• No. 16 Brigham Young (11-2 last season) vs. Northern Iowa (12-1): Cougars' 10-game winning streak is the country's longest.

• Utah (9-4) at Michigan (9-4): Utes' string of seven consecutive bowl victories is second nationally only to Boston College's eight.

• Texas Christian (8-5, 4-4 MWC) at New Mexico (9-4, 5-3): Horned Frogs have jumped on New Mexico to lead by at least 24-0 in each of the past three meetings.

• New Mexico (9-4, 5-3) vs. TCU (8-5, 4-4): Lobos trying to win fifth consecutive home game for first time since span of 1983 and 1984 seasons.

• Wyoming (5-7) vs. Ohio (6-6): Cowboys on four-game skid but hope to extend string of five consecutive home-opening victories.

• Air Force (9-4) vs. Southern Utah (0-11): Seven Falcons will make first career starts.

• San Diego State (4-8) vs. Cal Poly (7-4): Aztecs lost previous meeting 16-14 in 2006.

• Colorado State (3-9) vs. Colorado (6-7) in Denver, Sunday: Future of rivalry on neutral field in jeopardy.

• UNLV (2-10) vs. Utah State (2-10): Rebels have lost five in row at home to Utah State.

FIVE BEST PLAYERS
1. Harvey Unga, RB, BYU: Racked up nearly 1,900 all-purpose yards.

2. Max Hall, QB, BYU: The face of the conference's best team.

3. Brian Johnson, QB, Utah: Needs to stay healthy for a change.

4. Donovan Porterie, QB, New Mexico: Overshadowed by Hall and Johnson, but a quality quarterback.

5. Jan Jorgensen, DL, BYU: Should shatter league's career sacks record.

THEY WROTE IT ...
Albuquerque (N.M.) Journal columnist Rick Wright, on New Mexico being penalized five scholarships each of the next three years after former assistant coaches Lenny Rodriguez and Grady Stretz were found to have violated NCAA rules: "At a Wednesday news conference, a curiously upbeat (coach Rocky) Long refused to say his former aides had betrayed him. 'Great guys that made some serious mistakes,' he said. Great guys? Long knows Rodriguez and Stretz personally; I don't. Maybe they're a lot of fun at postseason coaches' gatherings. Mistakes? Unlike blame and responsibility, 'mistake' and 'academic fraud' are not cross-referenced in the dictionary."

Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City) columnist Scott D. Pierce, on ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit's apparent lack of respect for BYU: "We're going to be hearing about Hawaii's 41-10 loss to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl all season. And it will be used as anti-BCS busting 'evidence' for years to come. But you've got to watch the video of Herbstreit's Aug. 17 comments to get the full effect. As he was being asked about the preseason AP poll, he broke into rather derisive laughter the moment BYU was mentioned. And that's the sort of thing that upsets fans."

Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) sportswriter Jake Schaller, on Air Force's offensive line: "After the 2007 season, Air Force's offensive line made T-shirts that contained the slogan, 'I'm not fat, I'm gravitationally challenged.' Previous Falcon offensive line T-shirts had the phrases, 'The fat gives the meat its flavor,' and 'There's no "I" in "team," but there are three in "Chili Cheese Fries."' At Air Force, as is the case on most football teams, the players with the best (and most self-deprecating) senses of humor typically play along the offensive line. But in 2008, the Falcons' funniest unit also will have to be one of the best."

THEY SAID IT ...
Former Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick, on his decision not to attend Sunday's game against Colorado: "I wouldn't want to go and take the chance I'd be a distraction, people saying, 'There's Sonny sitting over there.' It would be embarrassing for me."

Former Wyoming starting quarterback Karsten Sween, on losing the job to Dax Crum: "That's where I think you can fall into being complacent and think, 'Oh, I'm not the starter, I won't watch those extra two hours of film or draw up those plays before practice. I'm just going to go out there and wing it.' I just try to have the attitude that I'm still the starter and I've got to prepare with the same amount of work even if I don't go in for one snap on Saturday."

San Diego State linebacker Luke Laolagi, on his defense's new attitude: "Before, we'd have days where we'd come out and there'd be a lack of focus and lack of intensity. But I feel like every day we come out here now, we work hard and try to get it turned around."

COMPILED BY MARK ANDERSON
REVIEW-JOURNAL

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Marty B wrote on August 27, 2008 08:45 PM: I said It sounds like the Mormons are the same in sports as they are in business. It is always what is best for me, me, me. You said Most business men are me, me, me. That's how they succeed. You seemed to agree with my earlier comment, that was not an attack or a racist statement and then call me a spade. As a man of color that is very offensive. RebCam wrote on August 27, 2008 06:22 PM: Marty you are a fool beyond comprehension. Race Card? That's really reaching. That's what you resort to when you have nothing else to come back with? I don't think you have room to call me a racist in the same breath that you've displayed your hatred for Mormons. Pass the second grade and then I'll continue a debate with you. JD wrote on August 27, 2008 02:49 PM: Attention Running Back, you are a fool to bet on Michigan! Utah will defeat the Wolverines in the Big House. Marty wrote on August 27, 2008 11:32 AM: Reb cam Way to pull the race card. RebCam wrote on August 27, 2008 10:57 AM: Marty don't be an ignorant fool. Most business men are me, me, me. That's how they succeed. Do you think they make money by giving away money to the poor. Don't make it sound like it's just Mormons. BTW I'm a Rebel fan and am certainly not sticking up for BYU in any way but a spade's a spade. Running Back wrote on August 27, 2008 10:47 AM: Whittingham knows his team will be representing not only Utah on Saturday but the entire Mountain West. "If we want to be high profile (as a conference) like we feel we deserve, we've got to win those games," Whittingham said. HA! HA! UTAH HAS A ZERO % CHANCE OF BEATING MICHIGAN. THEY HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING. ONLY 4 PT UNDERDOGS? I AM GOING OVER TO THE NEAREST SPORTS BOOK RIGHT NOW AND PLUNK DOWN $1000 ON THE MONEY LINE. U-M IS GOING TO BLOW THESE GUYS OUT. Marty B wrote on August 27, 2008 09:44 AM: It sounds like the Mormons are the same in sports as they are in business. It is always what is best for me, me, me. Bronco should switch over to a team that could use his talents, like Notre Dame Wow! wrote on August 27, 2008 08:38 AM: Oh my gosh, Joe, you are hilarious! I love it! I mean, nobody's EVER made fun of Bronco Mendenhall's name before! You are truly a trailblazer! Very avant garde! Andy wrote on August 27, 2008 08:14 AM: Yes you are. Joe wrote on August 27, 2008 07:59 AM: Am I missing something here? A bronco is a type of horse. What does that have to do with sports. Brigham young was married to lots of girls. Provo is in Utah. Am I missing something here?