BYU football notebook: Jacobson stoked for 'homecoming' game

PROVO — BYU wide receiver McKay Jacobson is a native of Southlake, Texas — located just outside of Dallas — and he grew up a huge Dallas Cowboys fan.

But he's watched the Cowboys only once in person at Texas Stadium — a Monday night preseason game.

On Saturday, Jacobson will help christen the Cowboys' brand-new stadium in Arlington when the Cougars square off against No. 3 Oklahoma.

"It's really a unique opportunity," said Jacobson, who noted that he has a lot of friends and family who will be attending the game. "It's going to be awesome, and I'm looking forward to it."

BYU quarterback Max Hall is the nephew of former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Danny White. For that reason, this game takes on even greater meaning for him.

"It's special. It's a different stadium than my uncle played in. But it is the Cowboys," Hall said. "I know it's not going to affect how I play or anything. But I think it's a very good chance to go over there, play in that stadium, to represent my family and the school and do a bunch of things. So I'm excited."

Hall said White is planning to attend Saturday's game.

Despite the unique atmosphere for this contest, the Cougars know they can't go into Cowboys' Stadium being awed by the surroundings.

"From a players' standpoint, we need to not focus on the stadium so much," said tight end Andrew George. "While it's an honor that we've been selected to play in this stadium and in the first college football game in that stadium, the field is still 100 yards long. We're going there to play a football game. We're not going there to admire the scenery. We need to keep that focus. If we don't, then it could really hurt us. We need to help everybody keep that same focus."

NEED FOR SPEED: Coach Bronco Mendenhall has acknowledged that improving team speed was a priority during the offseason.

In all three losses last season — TCU, Utah and Arizona — the opponents' speed was a factor. And, of course, it will be a big factor against Oklahoma.

"I think we've addressed (speed) at a higher level," Mendenhall said. "Whether we've addressed it at the level we need to, I'm anxious to see because I would say this football team (Oklahoma) is the fastest of all, if you compare them to the teams that gave us trouble last year. This is the next level of that. Any efforts we've made coaching-wise to counteract those things will be put to the test in week one."

SOONER OUT: Oklahoma middle linebacker Mike Balogun will not play against BYU. The Sooner senior is waiting for the NCAA to make a decision about his eligibility, but it won't come by Saturday.

Balogun was listed as the backup to senior Ryan Reynolds, who has two surgically rebuilt knees. Freshman Tom Wort suffered a season-ending knee surgery during fall camp.

Oklahoma coaches are concerned about the depth at that position. Head coach Bob Stoops said sophomore Austin Box, who is the backup to All-Big 12 selection Travis Lewis at weakside linebacker, will be Reynolds' backup against the Cougars, while freshman Ronnell Lewis could also play middle linebacker.

e-mail: jeffc@desnews.com