Is it any wonder, then, that Bronco Mendenhall, whom Brigham Young University promoted in December to be its 14th head football coach, oversees practices in the bitter cold wearing shorts? Is it any wonder that he never makes excuses? Is it any wonder he demands excellence, even perfection, from his players? Is it any wonder he preaches teamwork, discipline and effort? Is it any wonder that nobody has higher expectations for BYU's football program than he does?

Looking back, Mendenhall realizes he has been preparing his entire life for this mantle of leadership. "On-the job training for this position was, I think, happening since I was just a little boy," he says.

"He's always felt that it's been a calling he needs to do," Paul says.

No doubt, those lessons learned in childhood shaped him into the intense, no-nonsense, hard-worker he is today. Now, at the relatively young age of 39, he carries a weighty responsibility on his shoulders.

BYU is banking on Mendenhall leading its once-renowned football program, mired in a streak of three straight losing seasons, back to glory. From the outside, this job, at times, may resemble cleaning horse manure from a barn.

One of the differences between now and then is that his performance won't be scrutinized only by his father within the confines of a barn, but on a very public stage, LaVell Edwards Stadium, by thousands of fans and critics at BYU and beyond. There is super-sized pressure to succeed.

"I've been amazed at how far this responsibility reaches, in terms of those I'm accountable to - former players, former coaches, the institution, with its unique mission, and the (LDS) Church," he says.

Observers might point out that he has he never been a head coach before and that he is the second-youngest head coach in Division I football. In his coaching career, he's been involved in only one Division I bowl game.

Bronco admits there is plenty of work to do to point the program back in the right direction. Then again, he thrives on hard work. For him, this is a dream job and he has no doubts about what the results will be, in time.

"If you look at the mission statement that we came up with for the football program, I think we're the flagbearer of the institution," he says. "I'm passionate about my faith and I'm passionate about principles of truth and virtue and character. Those things represent BYU and BYU's football program. We're on the front line, representing all of those things. I intend to carry that flag up high, not on the ground. If I do my job right, this place will be one of the most dominant programs in the country, as it once was."