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BYU football: It isn't always about game day

Mendenhall Perfect Fit | 7:47 a.m. Aug. 28, 2008

Every time I hear another quote by Mendenhall it amazes me how perfect the guy is for the BYU progam. We all know BYU is unique in that the mission of the Church/school is the main emphasis. Mendenhall is the perfect leader for those objectives. I worry that he will leave the Y for a BCS job like Washington but he definitely would not get the satisfaction there in the fireside, character building, spirituality aspects that he seems to like so well here. Now - if he would just keep Collie at receiver rather than QB :).

don't worry | 8:49 a.m. Aug. 28, 2008

Bronco is a very competitive person. He likes game day and he likes winning. It's just the game day stress that he doesn't like so much.

Agreed | 9:37 a.m. Aug. 28, 2008

Mendenhall is a role model for young and old alike. As a working 34 year old father of three, I've asked myself many times how I could "execute at a higher level?"

But Collie IS the right choice at back-up QB. From what I hear, he can scramble, run and throw a pretty good dart.

Saturday can not come quick enough!!

Comments continue below

Re: Perfect Fit | 9:44 a.m. Aug. 28, 2008

If you think Bronco would leave for a BCS team you honestly don't really know him. He isn't about money and recognition. He will coach at BYU until he is financially secure enough to retire and will walk away without looking back. Go Cougs!

AHAHAHA | 10:30 a.m. Aug. 28, 2008

Mendenhall, though, has said he does not plan on staying in Provo in any LaVellian manner. He said there are other places to be, other things to do.

If you think he wouldn't bolt for bigger better you zoobies are greatly misguided

Bronco n Collie replies | 10:41 a.m. Aug. 28, 2008

Bronco seems to want a challenge. If BYU plateaus...he may move on. Imagine Lavell leaving after 1986 (worst season in 10 yrs). Bronco wants a Ranch and surfing. Finding both will take some money (which could be earned at BYU). He could go somewhere bigger for more money, and BYU would be fortunate to keep him for as long as possible.

Collie may be good at QB, but everyone seems to fail to mention one thing: Putting Collie in at QB takes him off the field as a WR (as if he were injured). That is an asset lost.

Las Vegas Katbacker | 10:51 a.m. Aug. 28, 2008

If Max Hall goes down, I would rather see Gaskins throwing to Collie, than Collie throwing to Ashworth.

Maybe its the challenge | 11:10 a.m. Aug. 28, 2008

Sure leaving for a BCS program would double or triple his Cougar salary. But he may make the jump more for the challenge. Once he gets the BYU program into auto pilot mode he may want to turn another program around. Talk about a challenge - turning around a storied program like a Washington without the help of the spiritual aspect he uses so well here. Some coaches like that next challenge. It's the reason coaches like Holmgren and other former Cougar coaches moved onto the next challenge. I'm afraid we are a little naive to think Mendenhall wont't do the same. We like to think he will consider coaching at BYU as some kind of life-long calling ala Edwards but I'm afraid it doesn't seem Mendenhall will follow that same life-long, church-calling path as head coach.

I am Bronco's conscience | 11:11 a.m. Aug. 28, 2008

And only I will decide what I will or won't do with my future.

Special Teams | 11:12 a.m. Aug. 28, 2008

Did anyone read the part that they didn't practice special teams...hopefully we will be ready. Scarrrrryyyyy.

Never say never about Bronco leaving. The deals are just too good to pass up these days. Wasn't the case when LaVell was in town.

Bronco to ND | 11:56 a.m. Aug. 28, 2008

Forget Washington. When Notre Dame tires of Charlie Weiss, they will look for a guy like Bronco. The same program he uses at BYU would fit perfectly in South Bend. Bronco will have a hard time turning down the money and a chance to win National Championships.

WR's are deep | 11:56 a.m. Aug. 28, 2008

Collie is the best WR on the team, but consider this list: Pitta, George, Reed, Unga, Ashworth, Chambers, Hafoka, DiLuigi, Latu. Scout team has Kozlowski, Brown and there's Mahuika and White.

Deep, deep, deep.

Bronco is no Urban Meyer | 12:07 p.m. Aug. 28, 2008

Urban, although good for the Utes and really for the entire MWC, had only one goal in mind during his short tenure in Utah. Utah was nothing more than a stepping stone for his career and the opportunity to move on to a higher and more prestigious address. Mission accomplished, he now finds himself at the top of the BCS heap.

Although it is certain that Bronco may have some of the same aspirations, he is wise enough to see that success at BYU and bringing them back to national prominence is far more rewarding than brief moments in the spotlight at somewhere higher up the BCS food chain.

Like LaVell, he understands that there is probably no where else that his style and coaching methods would work near as well as they do in Provo. And like Coach Edwards, Bronco is indeed the right man at the right time.

Re: Bronco to ND | 12:27 p.m. Aug. 28, 2008

A Mormon head coach at Notre Dame?

Now THAT would ALMOST be worth the cost of losing Bronco.

almost...

It would be interesting to see the looks on the faces of the Notre Dame players when Bronco started talking about "Stripling Warriors."

Bronco to ND??? | 12:43 p.m. Aug. 28, 2008

Notre Dame would never hire an LDS coach. That's like BYU hiring a Catholic to coach BYU . . . not gonna happen.

Easy | 12:46 p.m. Aug. 28, 2008

It is easy to talk about how great Bronco is and how is efforts off the fields are more important than his efforts on the field. I'll bet we wouldn't be hearing any of those comments if they were only winning 5 or 6 games each year. As a Utah fan, I can admit that Bronco has been the perfect guy for the job down there. As a Mormon, I am glad to see that he has been able to reduce the number of "off-field" issues. But as a realist who has seen both good years and bad for BYU, I know that winning games is what keeps a coach his job, and losing, even if he has perfect angels off the field, will lose a coach his job. And the fans are the one's leading the cries for change. It is no different for BYU.

The comparison that Bronco's job is more rewarding than "brief moments in the spotlight at somewhere higher up the BCS food chain" blows my mind. Bronco's goals are to win conference championships, bust the BCS, then win a national championship. If he can't do it there, why not go where it will be easier?

Bronco to Hawaii | 1:10 p.m. Aug. 28, 2008

Maybe he'll retire to Hawaii, the big island, buy a ranch and find some waves.

Coogeyman | 1:36 p.m. Aug. 28, 2008

Should BYU win that ellusive BCS crown within the next several years, then maybe Coug fans could start fretting. That would be one of those major goals accomplished and...may cause him to reevaluate his tenure as BYU's HC.

Bleed Cougar Blue | 1:40 p.m. Aug. 28, 2008

OK, I'm gonna keep this short:

Go COUUUUUUGARS!!!

Best wishes for a fantasic season and I hope to be seeing you play on January 1st!

Dan Maloy
Enid, OK

Anonymous | 2:13 p.m. Aug. 28, 2008

I knew it wouldn't be game days that Bronco enjoys. A stadium full of grown up jr high kids, wearing every color but blue and white. The game starts and people are just getting there, and it ends with the stadium 1/4 full, because people leave early. That's why BYU doesn't compare to the big boys, like LSU, Michigan, USC etc. But don't tell them that or the fans will throw a jr high like temper tantrum.

Hmmm... | 2:17 p.m. Aug. 28, 2008

Bronco to ND??? | 12:43 p.m. Aug. 28, 2008
"Notre Dame would never hire an LDS coach. That's like BYU hiring a Catholic to coach BYU . . . not gonna happen."

I daresay BYU would hire a Catholic before Notre Dame hires a Mormon.

Collie at QB | 2:20 p.m. Aug. 28, 2008

I get the new wrinkles on offense and unpredictability Collie at QB could bring. That works if this is just a Weddle-like deal.

But, like a few other posters said, if it is to prep for the actual backup QB job I would much rather see him catching passes 30 yards downfield than trying to gain a few yards against someone's front 7. And if Hall does go down - whoever is behind center will need Collie to throw to more than ever! I agree with someone who previously said he would prefer Gaskins (or anyone) to Collie rather than Collie to Reed, Chambers, Ashworth, etc.

I am retaining my faith that this is NOT about the actual backup QB position but rather about some nice trick plays every now and then.

this article's headline | 2:38 p.m. Aug. 28, 2008

is SO funny. Because with Cougar fans, its all about their pathetic attempts lay the smackdown prior to kickoff

Then, there is all whining, wailing, nashing of teeth in short the "what if" game when they lose.

Collie = Timo = Tebo/Doman | 2:43 p.m. Aug. 28, 2008

I've been stumped about the Collie at QB experiement. He even admits he can't throw. He is invaluable at receiver. He is probably not the best slash candidate anyway - others are faster and quicker than he is. Our backup QBs can't be THAT bad particularly when Mendenhall praised them the first couple weeks of camp. It has to be for some other reason and it finally hit me -

Next season one of the best athletes to ever wear cougar blue will be stepping on campus in Adam Timo. Timo is playing QB for his team this season while at the same time BYU is experimenting with a few plays designed for an athlete like Timo at QB - coincidence? I think not! Watch for Collie to take 20-30 plays at QB this season and then step back into his fulltime receiver role next season while Timo takes those 20-30 snaps or more as Hall's backup. Then watch Timo move into the QB spot full time in 2010 and the cougar offense look a lot like Florida's did with Tim Tebo last season and BYU's did with Doman in 2001.

dkorth | 3:04 p.m. Aug. 28, 2008

anonymous, you show you're not very bright. To paint all BYU fans with such a broad brush is foolish. Fans do not make a fooyball team, players do. But you probaly live in a stereotype world that allows you to live such a pitiful life.
Go Cougars

Bronco to ND | 3:19 p.m. Aug. 28, 2008

Ha ha ha ha. I'm sure the most decorated CATHOLIC program is going to hire an LDS head coach. You BYU homers are hilarious.

Collie Throws | 3:55 p.m. Aug. 28, 2008

I saw Collie throw a Favre-like rope 65 yards downfield that nearly took the receiver's head off. Don't fool yourself he really can throw the football. I dare say better than Hall.

Yup. I second that. | 7:13 p.m. Aug. 28, 2008

So I watched Collie in that same practice. He seemed like he was goofing around and then he lets loose this 65 yard cannon. Reed caught it mid-air, but the ball's momentum took his feet out from under him. He held onto the ball but no extra yards after the catch.

I was stunned. Then watching Collie repeat the same 5-6 other times at shorter range: 25-40 yards was about the coolest thing I have ever seen....next to watching Hunter the Punter back in the 90s (BYUs 320lb center who stepped into the punter role on open tryouts and ended up setting WAC records and going pro....as a punter)

Urban Legends | 8:28 p.m. Aug. 28, 2008

I dare say we are witnessing how urban legends begin through comments like "Collie Throws" and "Yup. I second that". Hall said Collie throws darts at best and Collie admitted he is not much of a passer and hadn't done it since he was 10. And yet we already have tales of him throwing 65 yard bullets that take the feet out from under our receivers. If Collie was so good why didn't he play QB in hs? Unless he had a stud QB on his team most coaches value the QB position so much that their best play that position and then often switch to another more natural position in college - not the other way around. Maybe Collie is really one of the Three Nephites. My aunt's son was on a mission in Russia before they had to close it to non-Russian missionaries. He said that as they were boarding the plane to fly out of the country they passed Collie going the other way. He simply said "don't worry Elders, you will return to finish your mission here. I will see to that." And yet he was supposedly in fall camp at the same time. Amazing!

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BYU football: It isn't always about game day