Mendenhall can appreciate how difficult it can be for players like Reed to adapt to BYU.

"I really think hard when I bring a young man to BYU who is not a member of the church, that isn't of this culture and isn't of this faith and isn't familiar with BYU," he said.

"When you consider Mike Reed, none of those things were in place. Yet he had strong Christian values and a good work ethic and was very good person. When you consider those first days to now, running the team meeting and looking to be the mentor for another player because he cares so much about this program, that's a gratifying thing. That weighs much more on my mind than what happens on Saturdays."

Season-opener

BYU vs. Northern Iowa
Saturday, 4 p.m.
TV: The mtn.
Radio: 1160 AM; 102.7 FM

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E-mail: jeffc@desnews.com