BYU football notebook: Cougars will enjoy a day away from football today

LAS VEGAS — It's Sunday, just two days before BYU will take on Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl. And because it's Sunday, the Cougars won't be preparing for the game. Instead, they will basically take the day off.

BYU players, coaches and their families plan to attend church services at a local LDS ward in Las Vegas in the morning and enjoy a day of rest because of the school policy of not playing or practicing on Sundays.

Asked if this is a disadvantage for his team, coach Bronco Mendenhall replied, "I don't think so. We haven't worked on Sunday for five years, so this isn't anything new. We go home early after practices as coaches, and that doesn't seem to have bothered us the last five years.

"It's a unique place and the best thing we could be doing (Sunday) is representing our faith and worshipping and doing the things we know are right. That will be the best benefit we could have."

Most of the day will be reserved for "family time," Mendenhall said. "We have 41 married players on our team, so it's great for them to be with their wives."

This marks the first time under Mendenhall that the Cougars haven't practiced just two days before a game, but the coach shrugged it off. "I don't intend to make it a big thing," he said. "Usually when I don't, the players don't."

BYU is scheduled to participate in a two service-oriented activities today tied to the bowl, including the traditional visit to the Sunrise Children's Hospital. The Cougars, along with the Beavers, will also attend the Outback Buffet Bowl tonight.

On Saturday, BYU and Oregon State held practices. The Cougars practiced at Clark High School while the Beavers practiced at UNLV. Both teams participated in the Team Welcome Reception at ESPNZone at the New York-New York Hotel, and in the evening they attended a show at the Mirage.

QUEZADA PICKS BYU: Joshua Quezada, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound running back from La Habra, Calif., has chosen to become a Cougar.

Quezada, who is not LDS, made the announcement Saturday in La Habra after narrowing his choices to BYU and Utah. He said he plans to sign a scholarship agreement with BYU and will enroll in January.

It's a recruiting coup for the Cougars, who could lose all-time leading rusher Harvey Unga to the NFL. Quezada rushed for 2,114 yards and 26 touchdowns this season at LaHabra High School.

"(BYU coaches) said I would fit in real good with their offense," Quezada told ocvarsity.com.