BYU Cougars Football: News and Notes from Media Day

For the first time ever, Media Day for the Cougars wasn't preceded by a conference name.

Unlike last year, there were no gripes about TV exposure, an awful schedule and lack of accommodations in Laramie.

In fact, optimism ran high this year as the Cougars kicked off football independence with a July 12 BYU Football Media Day.

Here are some news and notes from the event, obligatory jabs at Utah included.

Follow Ryan at Twitter.com/SportsGuyUtah

No Schedule Announcements

Many Cougar fans were expecting to hear a major schedule announcement for 2012 and beyond. USC, Wisconsin and Alabama were all on the wishlist.

But the day passed without an announcement on future opponents.

So fans hoping to play Ohio State and its four remaining scholarship athletes in 2013 will have to wait.

More Game on ESPN

You ever find money in the pocket of old jeans? It's great, right?

Have you ever found even more money in the other pocket?

That's what BYU fans got when it was announced at Media Day that at least 10 games will be broadcast on ESPN networks this season.

Amazing. Simply amazing. BYU is the new Boise State.

Bronco Acknowledges the Antagonists

I found it interesting that Bronco mentioned he knows there are people out there hoping to see the Cougars stumble in independence.

Oddly enough, I don't think he's talking about Utah. I think it's more likely he's referring to the little brothers of the Mountain West who were left behind when the three big brothers (BYU, Utah and TCU) abandoned them.

Of course, some Utah fans would like to see BYU stumble. I'd say it's about 50/50. The 50 percent hoping for failure being those who don't really have an affinity for the Utes but a dislike of BYU.

Joe Punchclock has to find some outlet for his poverty-line-straddling angst.

Mendenhall Gets Three More Years

Not a surprise.

Glad to see BYU lock up the coach. I think BYU fans take for granted the fact that he hasn't shied away from religion or the peculiarity of BYU's football program but has made it the selling point.

And it's working.

With the signing of more and more top LDS athletes and solid non-LDS kids who love the lifestyle, you can't help but feel all warm and fuzzy and bosom-burny.

Players Have a Bitter Taste Remaining from Last Year

In multiple interviews, BYU players (particularly offensive players) expressed that last season wasn't a failure but left a bitter taste in their mouths.

Jake Heaps, JJ DiLuigi and Bryan Kariya, among others explained that the finish to last season was good, but by no means acceptable for BYU.

Heaps repeatedly said "This is not a 7-6 team" and the overall tenor of players was that there are high expectations for this season.

ESPN Seems Genuinely Excited

Naysayers and concrete-worker Ute fans will say the mothership's excitement is feigned (that means pretend, Utes).

But reps from the network positively gushed over the Cougars beyond what you'd expect for simple placation. It was clear ESPN missed BYU when it was relegated to the 600 channels in the Mountain West.

"Our schedule was lacking because we didn't have BYU on. Now they'll be a big, big part of our lineup," VP Dave Brown said.