Buck, who lives in Alpine, said, "What Bronco's doing is fantastic. What the alumni were all complaining about the past four years, about what kind of recruiting should be done, he listened and took care of. He's brought us all into the circle. This is one big family. To me, football is second only to my own family. You sweat and work and are brought up in a football family. I had one at Ricks. I have this one at BYU. Bronco's doing the right things. The BYU formula works if you do it right, and he's on his way."

Sikahema said it meant tons to him and other former Cougars to see BYU not only beat Oregon in the Las Vegas Bowl but to administer a whipping and end up ranked. "It was long overdue."

Now a successful TV sports anchor in Philadelphia's highly rated TV market, Sikahema on Friday had a TV crew from The mtn. TV network follow him around for a future program.

Sikahema said he joined other players in a meeting Friday where Mendenhall shared his plan, vision and goals. One of those goals included winning a national championship.

The comment raised eyebrows and side looks from players. After all, since the Cougars were named No. 1 in 1984, the NCAA's big conferences and bowls have created ways (Bowl Coalition, then the Bowl Championship Series) to ensure it never happens again.

But Mendenhall said it.

"Now, that is a little far out," said Sikahema, "Maybe a little crazy, the way college football is today. But you know what?

"I'm glad he said it."

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E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com