BYU football: Vegas Bowl new for Riley Nelson

PROVO — For many BYU Cougar players, going to the Las Vegas Bowl is old hat. The team is making its fifth consecutive December trip to Vegas.

But for sophomore quarterback Riley Nelson, it will be a brand new experience.

Nelson played at Utah State in 2006, served a mission, then transferred to BYU last summer. The Dec. 22 Las Vegas Bowl (6 p.m., ESPN) against No. 16 Oregon State will be his first-ever bowl game.

"I'm very excited about it, and the opportunity is great. Not all teams get postseason play," he said. "At BYU, it's kind of become the norm. But I really appreciate the opportunity to experience a bowl game. The guys tell me it's a fun atmosphere, you get a lot of prizes and there's a lot of fun activities leading up to the game. From hearing the other guys talk, there's a special energy about this game, different from years' past. I don't know, because I haven't been here. But it's an opportunity to play a ranked team."

Nelson, who has served as Max Hall's backup this season, said he and his teammates are working hard and are eager to play in the Las Vegas Bowl.

"Not only are we excited, but we're serious about our preparation," he said. … "There are a lot of guys in the film room at all hours of the day. I pass through there a lot and see guys in the morning, then right before practice, right after, and late at night as I'm leaving I'll still see guys in there. The energy in practice has been tremendous."

SIGNING DAY: Today marks the beginning signing period for midyear transfers. Coach Bronco Mendenhall said the program will sign a number of players, though he wouldn't say how many.

"We'll make an announcement (today)," Mendenhall said. He added the signings could include both high school and junior college players.

BEAVER BOWL SUCCESS: Oregon State has won seven straight bowl games, including five in a row under coach Mike Riley.

The Beavers beat Notre Dame in the 2001 Fiesta Bowl (41-9); Pittsburgh in the 2002 Insight Bowl (38-13); New Mexico in the 2003 Las Vegas Bowl (55-14); Notre Dame in the 2004 Insight Bowl (38-21); Missouri in the 2006 Sun Bowl (39-38); Maryland in the 2007 Emerald Bowl (21-14); and Pittsburgh in the 2008 Sun Bowl (3-0).

Last year's victory in the Sun Bowl was the lowest-scoring major bowl game in 50 years.

In his eight years in college coaching, Riley has never suffered a loss in a bowl game. He boasts an 8-0 record in the postseason.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME: While Oregon State played at Sam Boyd Stadium earlier this season, a 23-21 victory over UNLV, Riley acknowledged that BYU will have the home field advantage in the bowl game.

"It is like a home game for BYU," he said. "They've earned this spot in this bowl game, what is it, like five years in a row?"

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