BYU football notebook: Victory typified Bronco Mendenhall's MWC dominance

PROVO — One of the many storylines from BYU's 40-7 victory over New Mexico Saturday was the fact the contest marked the Cougars' final Mountain West Conference home game.

Starting next season, BYU, which helped create the MWC in 1999, will play football as an independent.

Coach Bronco Mendenhall said the final MWC home game wasn't something he thought about.

But he has certainly helped BYU enjoy overwhelming success against MWC foes, particularly Air Force, San Diego State, Wyoming, UNLV, Colorado State and New Mexico.

In Mendenhall's six seasons at the helm, BYU was 5-1 against the Falcons, 5-1 against the Aztecs, 6-0 against the Cowboys, 6-0 against the Rebels, 6-0 against the Rams and 6-0 against the Lobos. That's a combined record of 28-2.

Mendenhall's teams have a 2-4 record against TCU and a 3-2 mark against Utah.

Why has BYU been able to win so many games against MWC foes?

"I'm kind of a worrier by nature. Maybe the players sense that there is no easy game and there is no easy win," Mendenhall explained. "Sometimes maybe I might be guilty of over-emphasizing how good an opponent might be, or highlighting their strengths. I do that simply to give our team their best chance to be prepared and not be surprised. That might have something to do with it. But I also think the type of young men here are really consistent. I think the combination of those two things might play into what our results have been."

SENIOR DAY: BYU's senior class, playing in its final game at LaVell Edwards Stadium, was honored Saturday.

Thirteen seniors received their traditional "Y" Senior Blankets during a ceremony after the game — offensive lineman Nick Alletto (Parker, Colo.), wide receiver Luke Ashworth (Provo), cornerback Brandon Bradley (Tallahassee, Fla.), linebacker Shane Hunter (Idaho Falls), safety Landon Jaussi (Wylie, Texas), cornerback Brian Logan (Fremont, Calif.), linebacker Zeke Mendenhall (Alpine), placekicker Mitch Payne (North Ogden), wide receiver BJ Peterson (Salt Lake City), safety Andrew Rich (Ogden), defensive lineman Vic So'oto (Carlsbad, Calif.), offensive lineman Jason Speredon (West Valley City), linebacker AJ Van Valkenburg (South Jordan).

ALL-BLUE UNIFORMS: For the first time since the 1995 BYU-Utah game, the Cougars wore all blue uniforms Saturday in honor of Senior Day.

PAYNE PASSES PAYNE: BYU senior placekicker Mitch Payne eclipsed his older brother, Matt (2001-2004), for first-place on the Mountain West Conference career kicking points list.