Cougar cornerbacks getting some rehab

PROVO — With a little more than three weeks before BYU faces Oregon in the Las Vegas Bowl, three of the Cougars' top four cornerbacks are nursing injuries.

Ben Criddle (toe) and Kayle Buchanan (leg) are scheduled to be reassessed by doctors later this week. Justin Robinson (shoulder) is expected to play against the Ducks, according to coach Bronco Mendenhall.

Buchanan suffered a slight fracture in his lower leg, and team doctors are optimistic that he will be available for the bowl game.

Running back Fui Vakapuna's ankle is in a boot as a precautionary measure, but Mendenhall is confident that Vakapuna will be able to play.

"It looks worse than it is at this point," Mendenhall said of his team's injury situation.

With assistant coaches off recruiting, Mendenhall presided over strength and conditioning drills Monday.

The Cougars will continue conditioning drills Wednesday before participating in some seven-on-seven drills Friday. Starting next Monday, BYU will return to regular practices and begin preparing in earnest for Oregon.

BYU is practicing fewer times than it did last year, when it played in the Las Vegas Bowl against California. Cougar quarterback John Beck said the team needs this time to rest before the bowl game.

"I think it's smart what coach is doing. This season's been very good to us, because we've won a lot of games," he said. "But we've also had a lot of guys who have been injured. It's been a lot a longer season than we're used to because there was an extra week in there. Our bye week came in the middle of the season, so we played (six straight weeks). It will give guys a chance to rest and get the fire going again for this last game. Coach Mendenhall told us, 'Our first season is done with. That was our regular season. Now our bowl season begins.' He's giving us a little break, then starting up a new season that we call the bowl season."

ONE GOAL REMAINING: The Cougars are eager to finish their season the right way.

"The goal is simple: win. It's been 10 years since we've won a bowl game," Beck said. "I don't think it has to be put out any plainer than that. Just win. We set out this season with particular goals. One was to win the Mountain West Conference. That was accomplished. Another was to beat Utah. That was accomplished. There's one more — that's to win a bowl game. I think every time we step on the practice field, that will be our motivation, to find a way to win, no matter how."

Would a bowl loss tarnish the season?