'Challenge' aims to help Cougars finish games

Of Bronco Mendenhall's many symbols thrown at the survivors from the 5-6 Cougars of 2004, the one that just might pay dividends in the fall of 2005 took place on a hot June day and had nothing to do with turf, a football, scoreboard, whistles, logos or uniforms.

He calls it the Eco Challenge, and Mendenhall maintains it is a test of will, an exercise to cement team unity and establish what it takes to finish. It is totally voluntary.

Last season, the Cougars failed to finish three games that easily could have turned into victories and an 8-3 record and subsequent bowl game. Those games were at Boise State and home losses against UNLV and New Mexico. You could narrow the failures in those three games to a handful of plays, including missed field goals, dropped passes and a fumble.

A year ago, Mendenhall challenged his staff and players to do the Eco Challenge. The test is arduous. It involves swimming a mile, riding a bike up Provo Canyon for 35 miles on a route that includes stops at Squaw Peak lookout, over to Vivian Park and up to the Girls Camp in South Fork, then a ride to the North Fork past Sundance to Aspen Grove. There everyone dumps off their bikes and heads up an 8-mile trail on foot past Stewart Falls and back.

NCAA rules prohibit BYU coaches mingling with players for the event. So, those on the staff who decided to go took off at 5 a.m. Players embarked on the challenge at 6 a.m.

In 2004, about 32 people participated. Last June, more than 60, including community members and staff, took on the task. The top finisher, Bronco's older brother Marty, is a workout guru. Bronco was second, in five hours. The last guy took more than 10 hours. Part of the deal is to wait for the last guy in a show of support and unity.

Aaron Gordon was the first BYU football player to finish this year.

"This really drew our team together," junior linebacker Cameron Jensen said. "We were pulling for one another."

It's all part of "the value of self discovery," Mendenhall said. While at New Mexico, he had players tell him the experience changed their lives — it was the toughest thing they'd ever done.

Mendenhall draws a direct