Mormon Media Observer: BYU media blitz in Las Vegas

Just what did the national media have to say before the Maaco Las Vegas Bowl Tuesday night? Here's a sampling of opinion and previews of the game:BYU, Oregon State seek redemptionAssociated Press via Sports Illustrated:\"No. 15 BYU and No. 16 Oregon State enter the Las Vegas Bowl with a chance to erase disappointing memories, one much more recent than the other. The Beavers (8-4) were a victory away from the Rose Bowl earlier this month, but a loss to rival Oregon left them relegated to one of the first bowl games of the postseason.The Cougars (10-2) will make their fifth consecutive the Las Vegas Bowl appearance Tuesday night, hoping they can atone for their last.\"Look for a late-game thrillerESPN: \"The Cougars have a flair for the dramatic. In the first game of the season, they upset Oklahoma at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium. At the end of the regular season, they defeated Utah in an overtime thriller. Since this is the only game outside of the BCS bowls with two teams ranked in the top 20, it promises to be yet another late-game thriller.\"Sabbath means practicing (beliefs) off the fieldLas Vegas Review Journal: \"BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall downplayed any possible disadvantage from not practicing. 'It's a unique (school), and the best thing we can be doing is representing our faith and doing the things we know are right,' Mendenhall said.'We have 41 married players on our team, so it's great for them to be with their wives'.\"Bronco, the best first name among college coachesThe Chicago Tribune:\"This game probably features the best, most overlooked teams that are preparing for one of those games that means little to the average fan. BYU is ranked 15th and Oregon State 16th. It should be a good tuneup for all the BCS madness in the following weeks.\"Doman, the LDS Oregon kid who got away(Corvallis,Ore.) Gazette-Times: \"Oregon State football coach Mike Riley is familiar with BYU linebacker Shawn Doman.A senior from Woodburn who was a standout at Canby High, Riley tried to recruit Doman but had no luck. Doman grew up watching the Beavers, but had a higher calling. Being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he also grew up watching BYU and wanted to play for the Cougars no matter what. 'Oregon State was the first team to start recruiting me hard, but I'm an LDS kid and I always wanted to play at BYU,'Doman said. 'My parents went there. It has been my goal. It's like a family tradition'.\"Hall vs. Canfield(Corvalis,Ore.) Gazette-Times: \"Two of the better quarterbacks in the nation will be on display in the Las Vegas Bowl. And that's not just when looking at the stats. The Oregon State football team features Sean Canfield and Brigham Young centers its offense on Max Hall. Both seniors are high on the NFL draft boards. NFL Draft Countdown ranks Canfield the 10th-best quarterback available in April's draft and Hall the 14th-best.\"