PROVO -- BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall addressed the media at his weekly press luncheon.
Opening Statment:
"Our team is anxious to play. From what I saw in practice yesterday they look excited, fresh and anxious to rejoin the conference race. We look forward to a great game this week."
Q: The last two times UNLV has come to Provo it's been symbolic of losing at home, can you put your finger on one or two things that you weren't in charge of that led to those losses?
BM: "It seems like its been a long time ago. I'm not sure the record or that situation is relevant now. What I can attest to is that there was a lack of consistency in the program. We didn't perform, regardless of playing at home or away. Certainly, those things have been addressed at a higher level. The team is more focused. We've asked them to claim more and invest in a higher level of ownership. Our players are certainly aware that we have lost to UNLV at home twice. They brought that to my attention early last week."
Q: What challenges did you have that are unique to a bye week?
BM: "There are a number of things, and based on when the bye week comes, you can deal with separate and distinct issues. We had a lot of momentum going into the bye week and our goal was to sustain that momentum through three things. Number one, getting the health of our team back at a higher level, simply touch up on some fundamentals and some scheme mastery. When you're playing at a high level, you don't want to interrupt that but I think the bye came at an appropriate time. The players welcomed it, which is a key knowing that they need to recover. The players will practice and play how the expectations are framed to them. We could have viewed practice differently last week but I don't think there is that much change in our coachers or players."
Q: How did Rocky Long do things when he was at New Mexixo?
BM: "He stayed the course very similar to the approach we take here. He let the young players scrimmage like we do on Thursday nights. It was really a chance for the team to improve under Coach Long."
Q: How hard is it to coach a team when having success versus a team that is struggling? Are there some differences that you have to take?
BM: "The key I think to coaching this program is consistency and being the same week in and week out. The next game is the most important game and that is something we talked about doing all the way back to last year. I don't intend to change that and I want the players to have consistency when they show up to the building each day. To have a meeting, a practice schedule and conduct from the coaches that is the same showing them that this is another week and the most important game. To allow an opponent, winning or losing change things doesn't show correct principles in how we are trying to run this program."
Q: I assume you aware of the brawl that happened in the Miami game over the weekend, what is your opinion in how the situation was handled and what should be the appropriate punishment for the players involved in that situation?
BM: "I haven't followed it closely enough to know was the response is in terms of the ejections or how the coaches have handled it specifically. There's no place for it and there is definitely no place on the team for a player that comes off the sideline and does what I saw happen on Saturday. Each coach has to make those judgments on their own. Certainly there are boundaries that can't be crossed and about every boundary that I have was certainly crossed from what I saw in the replay of that."
Q: You rested John Beck a few weeks ago do you see a benefit in resting Fui or Manase?
BM: "Their status won't be approached the same way. Their status will simply be determined by their readiness. If they are cleared to play then I will play them. If they are not cleared to play then I won't play them. If they're not cleared to play then there is value in observing the team from the outside in. Maybe they will gain an urgency to play but also they will see their role in the team and how the team plays without you in it. John saw that and I think he was able to assess his play inside the structure that he saw. We'll play Fui, Manase and Aaron Wagner if they are capable of playing. If not then we'll leverage it so that they can perform at a higher level when they come back."
Q: Aaron Francisco and Brian Urlacher played last night and were a big part of the game, did you watch it, hear of it and your thoughts on those players?
BM: "I didn't watch it. I heard of it from our coaching staff today and was emailed the clip of Aaron's interception. It made me smile when I think about two of the best players I've ever coached playing the same position on defense and going against each other and playing well. They have a lot in common and it made me smile thinking about it even though I didn't watch it."
Q: If Fui and Manase couldn't go what would be your rotation?
BM: "That's still being determined but Curtis Brown would take the majority of the carries and Joe Semanoff would play in Manase's place if he couldn't go. Mike Hague would probably back up Curtis Brown at the tail back or h-back position. So they would be the guys that would get a majority of the work."
Q: Tell us a little bit about Markell's comeback and how he's played?
BM: "It's been a source of frustration for Markell and the coaching staff. I spoke with the trainer yesterday and when that injury happened in fall camp I remember a statement being made that he was going to be back for the Arizona game. Not only was he not back for that game but his hamstring being tested yesterday was at 56% strength wise. He's doing better and playing the best he can but he certainly is not a full strength. His heart and spirit are willing but he is physically not able to play at his highest level. With Aaron Wagner out with an ankle is listed day-to-day. Markell's role and Shawn Doman will be part of the plan in winning that position."
Q: Talk about the quarterback situation of UNLV. Who do you think will start and do you prepare for both?
BM: "We have to prepare for both because I believe both have played in every game. I don't know who the starter will be and what the percentage of snaps each one will get. It might be based on the success they are having and not having during the course of the game. There are two different elements where one, the offensive doesn't change drastically when one of them is in. The coaches tend to stick to core plays for each of them. The one that feels confident and executes at the highest level will be the one that they will go with and stay with."
Q: How does their offense look and is it similar to Stanford's from two years ago?
BM: "It is almost identical to the way the offense was run at Utah. The execution and precision hasn't reached the same level yet but I would say that they are an improving football team. If you look at the Colorado State and New Mexico football games their team has competed well in both of those contests but miscues at critical times are preventing them from breaking through and I'm sure they are addressing that."
Q: What about them defensively?
BM: "I see athleticism, speed and I see them playing hard and being physical. They have a physical front and defend the run well. There is some youth in the secondary but I think that is sorting its way out. I think they are an improving football team though."
Q: Talk about this Mountain TV deal and how it affects your recruiting or do you see coaches from other conferences using it as their advantage telling parents that you can't see BYU regularly but you can see us?
BM: "I'm sure it will play out later and I haven't heard any of that yet. All I have heard is from our fans and how they can't get the games. I haven't heard anything from other coaches but as recruiting heats up and when the season ends, coaches will look to find things to talk positives and negatives about others and I'm sure that will be addressed. In terms of recruiting, our class is signed or basically committed for next year. I don't think it will affect us hardly at all. I would like to see the conference address it and make the games more available than they already are."
Q: Do you prepare any different this week being a homecoming game?
BM: "One of the main differences is that I am in a suit today because I just spoke to the student body at the Marriot Center. Other than that we are just playing the game and preparing like always."
Q: What did you say to the student body?
BM: "I told them that the last time I spoke to them I was introduced as the new head football coach at halftime of a basketball game. I remember asking them to watch us play, watch us work and to watch us win. Hopefully they have seen enough to believe that is happening and I also told them about the three principles of the program being tradition, spirit and honor. Hopefully they've acknowledged that those are the things I'm hoping the players do and that the program is reflective of those things."
Q: If you were to take a snapshot of UNLV's second quarter against New Mexico and evaluate it how good is that football team?
BM: "They scored 28 unanswered points against a very good defensive coordinator and head coach that knows how to stop opponents. UNLV is capable of doing that. They have plenty of athletes that have speed that can highlight those athletes and when there execution is at a high level and they lack mistakes they'll have quarters that coincide like that."