BYU football notebook: GameDay's Provo visit shows level of respect

PROVO — That ESPN's College GameDay is coming this weekend to BYU's campus is a "positive sign," coach Bronco Mendenhall said Monday.

The college football highlights and analysis show has never come to Provo before and the last time it made an appearance at a Mountain West Conference school was in 2004 at Utah, prior to the BYU-Utah game.

For Mendenhall, the fact ESPN chose the BYU-TCU game (though the contest will be broadcast on Versus) is a sign of respect.

"I think that's earned. I don't think it's a selection at random," he said. "I think both TCU's program, and our program now, have played to the level and there's enough intrigue about what's happening with our programs that we've been selected for (that)."

Mendenhall compared it to being selected to play Oklahoma at the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium in Arlington, Texas in the season-opener.

"It's another positive step in terms of recognition," he said. "I think it will be a great football game with two very good teams and a great atmosphere. I anticipate a sellout game with a lot of emotion. It should be a lot of fun."

BYU running back Harvey Unga said he's excited GameDay is coming.

"Provo is just a small city compared to all of the big places GameDay has been. It's a fun opportunity to put BYU on the map out there and have our fans out there and supporting us. It will be fun for them."

Linebacker Terrance Hooks agreed. "Personally, it just shows our program is moving up," he said. "College GameDay doesn't go to just any school."

INJURY UPDATE: Mendenhall said there are no new injuries after the San Diego State game.

As for this week's game against TCU, fullback Manase Tonga (knee), defensive lineman Russell Tialavea (knee), linebacker Brandon Ogletree (groin) and special teams player Steven Thomas (concussion) are all expected to play, according to Mendenhall.

A handful of players — cornerback Brandon Bradley, linebacker Shawn Doman, defensive lineman Brett Denney and running back Bryan Kariya — were battling illness last Saturday but all played against SDSU. "The players who were ill are recovering," Mendenhall said.

Wide receiver McKay Jacobson, who has missed three games due to a hamstring injury, will be evaluated and more could be known about his status today.

"He's hopeful and was targeting this game (against TCU) as one he might return for," Mendenhall said.

HALL HONORED: BYU quarterback Max Hall was named Mountain West Conference offensive player of the week for his performance in a 38-28 victory over San Diego State last Saturday.

Hall passed for 346 yards (completing 27 of 39 attempts) and rushed for another 47 (on 14 carries). He threw for three touchdowns and ran for another. For the second straight game, Hall did not throw an interception.

TCU's Jeremy Kerley, was the league's special teams player of the week after racking up 103 yards on three punt returns, including a 69-yard punt return for a touchdown in the Horned Frogs' 44-6 whipping of Colorado State.

Wyoming's Brian Hendricks was the MWC defensive player of the week.

e-mail: jeffc@desnews.com