BYU football notebook: Corner will play with injury

PROVO — There was good news for the BYU defensive secondary Monday, when coach Bronco Mendenhall announced that cornerback Brian Logan will play Saturday against Oklahoma.

Logan suffered a broken finger in practice last Saturday, though originally it was feared that he had broken his hand.

The injury is "non-surgical," Mendenhall said, explaining that Logan will wear a plastic cast.

"How that works, I'm not certain. He had a similar injury in junior college and was able to play and perform. He's assured me that it won't affect him. When you see him, it will make you nervous because it's wrapped right now from his (fingertip) to the elbow. But I've been assured that he'll be able to play and he's excited to play."

Currently, Logan is listed as the starter at field corner, with Robbie Buckner backing him up. Buckner, who was the projected starter going into fall camp, still is not 100 percent as he deals with a hamstring injury.

"I'd like to reward Brian's diligence of just continuing day by day while Robbie's been hurt," Mendenhall said.

At boundary corner, "it's about dead-even between Brandon Bradley and Lee Aguirre. By Thursday we hope to have an announcement made there," Mendenhall said.

BYU is still awaiting word from the NCAA on the eligibility status of another cornerback, Corby Eason.

"They know we're waiting," Mendenhall said. "The response they gave us is that we'll know before we leave for Dallas. It's hard to prepare if that's the timeline. So we're preparing like he won't be ready."

Meanwhile, cornerback Garett Nicholson has not been admitted into school for academic reasons, Mendenhall said. "We plan to go on without him at this point. But he could work his way back into the program."

EIGHTH WONDER: Asked about his team's opportunity to play in the first college game at the Dallas Cowboys' new, billion-dollar stadium, Mendenhall said, "I don't think it was a random selection, I don't think it was an accident that we were picked. I think it came through a lot of hard work and our players ought to be commended for that. That only gets you to the stadium. Now I'd really be hopeful that we play at a manner equal to, if not exceeding, the stage that they're on. That would be saying something considering it's the eighth wonder of the world, or what somebody is calling it."

PAYDAY: According to the Dallas Morning News, Oklahoma will receive $2.5 million for their appearance in Arlington while BYU will earn about $1.5 million, which is roughly the same amount the Cougars make for a home game.

e-mail: jeffc@desnews.com