BYU football notebook: Waiting game is tough one to play

PROVO — With two weeks' worth of practices completed, BYU players are ready for fall camp to be over and for the season to begin.

The Cougars open the 2010 campaign against Washington on Sept. 4.

"We can't wait," said offensive lineman Matt Reynolds. "We love our defense, but we're excited to prepare for Washington and get that rolling so we can be as prepared as possible."

"The countdown's been on since summer," said cornerback Brandon Bradley. "We have a few things we need to tweak. But I feel like the excitement continues to build and everybody's looking forward to the first game. By the time the first game gets here, we'll be ready to go."

The Cougars conclude camp Wednesday. They start to prepare for the Huskies on Thursday.

"The first couple of weeks (of fall camp) are the toughest, hardest part of the year," said linebacker Jordan Pendleton. "Once you start gearing toward the game, and we change our practices where we're not going against the first-team offense all of the time, you start preparing for someone else's offense and it's really exciting. It will be fun to finally go against someone else."

Coach Bronco Mendenhall said "the urgency to get ready to play has increased. We can probably make it two more days, then we need to play somebody else. That's just normal." They're coming together in the sense that they know we're going to play a game."

The Cougars plan to hold one more scrimmage Wednesday, with an emphasis on young players.

INDEPENDENCE TALK?: Asked if he heard anything over the weekend about BYU going independent, Mendenhall replied: "I haven't heard a thing."

He also denied that rumors and speculation about what BYU might do have been a distraction for his team.

"None for us. We haven't brought it up to our team," the coach said. "I answer this question here, but I haven't given it any thought. It might be hard to believe, but there's just way too much going on out here. I'm sure our AD (Tom Holmoe) is doing what he needs to do."

DEPTH CHART: After Monday's practice, Mendenhall said nothing has been settled yet when it comes to the depth chart. The coaches are hoping to solidify the depth chart by Wednesday.