BYU football: Refocused Cougs aim to bounce back

LARAMIE, Wyo. — With the stated goal of capturing the Mountain West Conference championship seemingly out of reach in the wake of BYU's 38-7 walloping at the hands of TCU two weeks ago, what's left for the No. 25 Cougars to play for?

BYU (6-2, 3-1) has four regular-season games remaining, beginning today at Wyoming (noon, The mtn.).

"We're optimistic. We're excited," said senior quarterback Max Hall. "I'm still excited about our football team. We have four great games ahead of us to play — two on the road and our last two at home. I think we can win all four of them, and that's really the goal."

The Cougars are also looking forward to a fifth contest — a bowl game in December.

"I'm excited that I have five more opportunities as a BYU football player," Hall said. "This place has meant a lot to me, and I really want to take advantage of it and give it everything I've got these next five games. Hopefully, you'll see that on the field."

"We just want to make the best of it and have fun," said senior defensive lineman Brett Denney. "At midseason, it becomes monotonous and you get caught going through the motions. When you're having fun, playing hard, usually you win games, too. We're focused on really enjoying these last four games and the bowl game."

BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said this week that he is still holding out hope that his team can win a piece of the MWC championship while acknowledging the Cougars will need help from other teams. Unbeaten TCU would have to lose and BYU would have to win out for the Cougars to get a share of the league crown.

That aside, Mendenhall believes that loss to the Frogs could be a pivotal one in his tenure at BYU.

"I think our recent loss to TCU, at some point — whether it be this year or next year, or a couple of years down the road — you'll draw a line back to this game, kind of like we did with the San Diego State game my first year," the Cougars' coach said. "Whatever changes have happened that helped the program move forward could have been started or motivated by that one particular game as you look for ways to continue to improve."

After a bye week that followed that humbling setback at home to the Horned Frogs, the Cougars say they're well-rested and eager to play football again.

"Everybody (on the team) was pretty upset" with the performance against TCU, said defensive lineman Jan Jorgensen. "We're getting that confidence back. ... It will return totally once we get back on the field and actually play."