From Deseret News archives:
Pre-game fireside fits Y. team to a T
BYU quarterback John Beck was passing out hymnbooks.
As part of a tradition that has gone on for the better part of this season, the BYU football team held a fireside the night before a game, this one in the Provo Tabernacle on Friday night.
In his remarks, head coach Bronco Mendenhall said he spent a lot of time after he was hired, searching for a good routine for the team to follow on the night before game day.
"For the first three weeks this year, we went to movies," Mendenhall said. " A lot of teams go to movies. The result, as you know, is we started 1-3. But as I've read and looked for the correct alignment for this program and what we are doing ... this is it, this is it."
The theme for the firesides this year has been "Being a Disciple of Christ, Being a Follower of Christ, Being a Representative of Christ."
Senior Sosiua Sekona spoke first and reminded the audience they are blessed to live in this time but that much is expected of them.
"If you are a disciple of Christ, what is it you have done lately to get better, to be better?" Sekona asked. "We are asked, as we say in football, to hold the line. Have you held it lately?"
Freshman Manase Tonga was the second speaker and talked about the lessons he's learned in his short time as a BYU player and how they relate to life in general.
"There's a lot of things coach Mendenhall makes us do," Tonga said. "In the summer, when I was new, I'd ask 'Why are we doing this? What does this do?' But now, I can see the benefits. ... As long as we listen to our leaders, everything will work out for the best."
Working with returned missionaries like Tonga was a big part in his decision to take the program in this direction, Mendenhall said.
"What kind of coach would I be if I wasn't aligning our program to allow them to maintain that light, to maintain that spirit and maintain that look in their countenance?" he said.
In his closing remarks, Mendenhall related the story of the Eco-Challenge, a grueling, voluntary test players take part in over the summer. It consists of a one-mile swim, followed by a 38-mile bike ride, most of which is uphill.
The day of the challenge, there were two players who finished hours behind all the others. Mendenhall had sent the rest of the team on, but waited until those two players crossed the finish line so he could be there to congratulate them.
The lesson, he said, far transcended football.
"As you step outside of football and look at life, when you cross that finish line, I don't think our Father will care what position we finished or whether we were the fastest or slowest," he said.
E-mail: jtwitchell@desnews.com
Comments
- Sports on the air 1:21 a.m.
- 2009 MLS Cup recap 12:45 a.m.
- MLS Cup winners, MVPs 12:41 a.m.
- Real Salt Lake: Game at a glance 12:36 a.m.
- Paper circulation worse than it looks 12:28 a.m.
- RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks 12:22 a.m.
- Editorial: Cancer screening 12:15 a.m.
- Afterthoughts 12:15 a.m.
- Treat teachers with respect, trust 12:15 a.m.
- 'Reform' helps old, hurts young 12:15 a.m.
- BYU records with win
- Jazz outlast Pistons in overtime
- Glenn Beck to enter politics?
- Cougars turn focus to dreaded rivals
- Cougars put the fun back in football
- Former BYU professor remembered
- Kirilenko heating up for the Jazz
- Police link alcohol to murder
- Wendover airfield's legacy lost?
- Florida No. 1, TCU 4 in AP Top 25
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
202 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
191 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
178 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
130 - BYU records with win
129 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
125 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
100 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
98 - Utes knock off rival Aggies
93
A little after midnight Wednesday morning, about 21 hours ago as I write...
There's a lot of reason to leave your plastic home as you shop:
That game was amazing! I think this will really help the sport grow in Utah....
Congrats on a great win. Utah as a whole should be proud not just of a major...
Congrats Real Salt Lake! but, they aren't the first major sports team to...
I told ALL of you how much i liked NED Pure irony his contributions vs x...
this is to NevadaUTE @ 10:25!!! I love soccer, I love Real and it brought a...
wow!!! amazing. UTAH JAZZ DO SOMETHING!!!
So much fear and anger from Beck lovers. You all lost the last election, we...
This is the most emotion I have had watching a sporting event since my...
Nicky Rimando is my hero! I love that guy. He has had his detractors, but...
Two stars means nothing! We played as a team and it showed! I'm still in...


You can be the first to comment on this story.