BYU football: Cougars settling into Las Vegas schedule

LAS VEGAS — BYU made its fourth consecutive December pilgrimage to Las Vegas on Tuesday in preparation for Saturday's Las Vegas Bowl against Arizona.

The Cougars are headquartered at Planet Hollywood, a hotel located on the Las Vegas Strip. The Wildcats also arrived Tuesday and they are staying at The Venetian.

This morning, the Cougars will hold a practice at Bishop Gorman High School. The Wildcats will practice at UNLV. The forecast in Las Vegas calls for a high of 41 degrees and a few showers.

Are the Cougars concerned about being a little rusty, given that they have had only four practices since the end of the regular season?

"There's always a worry with that. It's something every team has to deal with going into a bowl game," said defensive lineman Jan Jorgensen. "We're using the same schedule that we've used the past two years when we've won bowl games. So I'm not doubting at all the way coach Mendenhall is preparing us. I think for every team that goes into a bowl game, there's always that rust-factor that teams have to come in there and wipe it off pretty quickly in that first quarter and just get rolling with things."

Both teams will attend the Team Welcome Reception at ESPN Zone this afternoon. Tonight, the Cougars and Wildcats will take in a show, "Stomp Out Loud," at Planet Hollywood.

ALL-AMERICA HONORS: BYU junior wide receiver Austin Collie, who leads the country in receiving yards and receiving yards per game, was named to The Associated Press College Football All-America second team Tuesday.

Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree and Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant made the first time while Rice's Jarret Dillard also earned second-team recogition.

While BYU tight end Dennis Pitta did not make the All-America team, Arizona's Rob Gronkowski did. He was named to the third team.

INJURY UPDATE: Mendenhall said his team is healthy going into Saturday's game. The only player who is questionable is cornerback Scott Johnson, who suffered a double groin tear against Colorado State on Nov. 1.

Johnson participated in team drills Tuesday. An assessment on his status is expected to be made today, Mendenhall said.

FREEBIES: Bowls are famous for the free loot they dole out to players and coaches. The Cougars and Wildcats received gift packages from the Las Vegas Bowl containing a Wii system bundle package, a Oakley Holsehot three-hand watch, a pair of Oakley HiJinx sunglasses and a Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl hat.

THE ZEBRAS: As assigned by the NCAA, a crew from the Atlantic Coast Conference will officiate this year's Las Vegas Bowl.

CONSISTENCY: Since the start of the 2006 season, BYU has posted a 32-6 record. Only five teams in the nation have won more games during that stretch — Boise State (35-3), Florida (34-6), Oklahoma (34-7), Ohio State (33-5) and USC (33-5).

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