BYU football: Cougars more resolved not to suffer late-season swoon

PROVO — Following last year's 32-7 loss at the hands of TCU, BYU was never the same again. The Cougars finished 4-3 in their final seven contests after a 6-0 start.

In the wake of the Cougars' 38-7 setback to the Horned Frogs on Oct. 24, coach Bronco Mendenhall said the mood of his team is much different than it was a year ago as it prepares to visit Wyoming on Saturday (noon, The mtn.).

"This team is more resolved and more determined. Just the way they practice and have practiced all year, they're fun to be around," Mendenhall said. "They like to compete, they like to play the game and they like to practice. I haven't seen any signs from a year ago."

Running back Manase Tonga said the Cougars benefited from the recent bye week and are eager to play the Cowboys.

"It was about getting healthy and getting over what happened against TCU," Tonga said. "I think our team did a really good job of that last week. I think we're ready to move forward and we're ready for this week."

FIRST LADY OF BYU FOOTBALL: Mendenhall's wife, Holly, wasn't much of a football fan until the last few years. Now, she apparently loves watching games on television.

"It's unbelievable," Mendenhall said Monday. "She watches all the time now, and so when we came home from trick-or-treating from Halloween, she turned on the games. And so she watched USC-Oregon, she watched part of Utah-Wyoming, there was one other one she was flipping back and forth to. So I am having a hard time getting away from it now that she is wanting to watch it."

So what was the coach doing while Holly was watching football?

"I was helping the boys barter their candy," he said. "Breaker (one of Mendenhall's three sons) likes Hershey bars, so he got some pretty good deals for trading those."

INJURY UPDATE: Three special teams players won't be available this weekend — Tucker Lamb (hamstring), Carter Mees (foot), and Landon Jaussi (who is scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery on Thursday), according to Mendenhall.

10,000-YARD CLUB: BYU quarterback Max Hall moved into some elite company after passing for 241 yards against TCU. Hall now has 10,036 career yards, putting him No. 3 all-time in Cougar history.

Only two other BYU quarterbacks have surpassed the 10,000-yard mark — John Beck (11,021) and Ty Detmer (15,031).

CLOSING IN ON DETMER: Hall has 27 career wins as BYU's starting quarterback. He needs only two more victories to tie Detmer (29) in all-time wins in school history.

CALLED TO SERVE: BYU freshman receiver Brett Thompson has received a call to serve in the Kentucky Louisville mission. He reports to the MTC early in 2010.

Cougars on the air

No. 25 BYU (6-2, 3-1 MWC) at Wyoming (4-4, 2-2)

Saturday, noon

War Memorial Stadium

Laramie, Wyo.

TV: The mtn. Radio: 1160 AM, 102.7 FM byu notebook

e-mail: jeffc@desnews.com