BYU Football: News, Rumors and Updates
From Bronco Mendenhall pulling a smile muscle and shots at Craig Thompson to recruiting and BYU on ESPN more than LeBron James, here is this week's edition of BYU Football News, Rumors and Updates.
For good measure, there are a couple shots at Utes thrown in (in good fun) and some entertaining videos.
Be sure to follow me at Twitter.com/SportsGuyUtah for other updates and snarky comments.
Recruiting Success Found in Non-Traditional BYU Athletes
1 of 9Bobby Wolford may never end up earning All-American awards at BYU (or even all-no-conference awards).
But he's made a lasting impression on this author, and his story may serve as (hopefully) a recurring one in Provo for Bronco and the boys.
Brandon Gurney at the Deseret News stole some of my thunder with his article yesterday (but nicely done) when he told Wolford's story, which stirs BYU fans and lovers of good, quality upstanding kids who want to live right on and off the field.
Wolford, a linebacker from Florida, committed to BYU as a junior after a visit to Provo left him knowing it was the place for him. A devout Catholic, Wolford found the religious and moral environment appealing. "It was the only place I wanted to be at to play football and to attend school. There was no doubt," he said.
It combats the theory that BYU can't get non-LDS talent due to its honor code and contrasts nicely with the made-for-CW-Network drama coming from players in Columbus, Ohio (City Motto: You Be Our Back, We'll Scratch Yours).
Official Prospectus Available
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The media relations group down in Provo released the official 2011 BYU Football Prospectus this week.
While it's merely a formality and doesn't contain any startling revelations, it sure as heck looks great. With stunning black and whites of Jake Heaps, LaVell Edwards Stadium and a tatted-up Cody Hoffman, the imagery makes the edition a must read.
But the best image found in the doc? The ESPN logo.
Speaking of which...
BYU Scheduled for Seven-Plus Games on the ESPN Family of Networks
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With just under three months until BYU kicks off the 2011 season against Mississippi in Oxford, the Cougars are slated to play at least seven (yes, that's seven) games on the ESPN networks.
The most recent addition was the announcement that the Hawai'i game in Honolulu on December 3 will be on ESPN2.
The addition of a bowl game could push that number higher.
Oh, and we also found out today that number is probably double for basketball team appearances.
For the record, Utah is currently scheduled to play one game on ESPN, and that's against BYU in Provo. Sure there's time left, but just sayin'.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Bronco Pulls a Muscle Smiling a Record Number of Times
4 of 9The usually stoic (read: vanilla) Mendenhall comments on everything from his players' golf abilities to the ESPN TV deal following his round in a to-be-discussed-four-slides-from-now charity golf tournament.
By Bronco standards, the coach was downright giddy. Who wouldn't be, knowing his product will get top prominence all season on the Mothership?
Nice to see his excitement (and teeth), and it's probably a harbinger for the way he feels about his team's chances this season.
The University of Utah Will Kick Off the Season on Versus
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In an unfortunate display of bad luck and delicious irony, the University of Utah will kick off its Pac-12 season with a game against USC on Versus (channel 6,445 on satellite, right after the Lacrosse Network).
The poor Utes had been relegated to second-rate networks for the past few season as the Mountain West Conference saddled its schools with a TV deal that put the games on channels people either couldn't get or couldn't find.
Speaking of bad moves by the Mountain West Conference...
The Mountain West Unveils a New Logo, and New Deception Tactic
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The Mountain West, BYU's former conference (that sounds soooo good, doesn't it?), revealed its new logo this week.
As pointed out by Scott Pierce of The Salt Lake Tribune, it looks staggeringly like the Doctor Who logo from the Syfy channel.
Judge for yourself, but it looks as though Craig Thompson has shown he's not only fond of blatant lying, but is not averse to plagiarism either.
Luckily, the unveiling was done on the conference's own TV network, The mtn., so nobody saw the logo burglary.
Matt Reynolds Continues to Attract Attention
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Too bad Lance and Leslie Reynolds can't have kids forever. The pair are O-line-makin' wunderkinds.
The current iteration, Matt, is getting national attention as a top NFL prospect and is on every watch list but the terrorist one.
The Outland and Lombardi award candidate is mentioned in nearly every early first-round draft conversation and should anchor a very good offensive front line come fall.
Rivalry Golf Tourney Reveals...
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Twenty years ago, LaVell Edwards and Jim Fassel began the tradition of holding a rivalry-themed golf event to raise money for charity.
Bronco Mendenhall and Kyle Whittingham teed off (but didn't get teed off) together for this year's version.
The coaches were supposed to play with current players, but the Utes failed to field a foursome. Bronco played with Braden Hansen, Carter Mees and JD Falslev.
Hopefully next year they can get Austin Collie and Brice McCain in the same foursome so they can watch Austin snag an 18-yard putt on his fourth shot to win.
Ben Cahoon Making Interview Rounds
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Newly minted wide receivers coach Ben Cahoon has been making the sports talk radio rounds this month, and most Cougar fans are pleased with what they hear.
The former Cougar turned CFL staple indicates there's no shortage of talent in the current corps.
But he stressed that there's plenty of work to be done in the fundamentals department, with emphasis on flawless route running, aggressive hands and QB-to-WR mind meld.
Cahoon should know. He solidified a place in Cougar lore during his time by catching everything that ever came his direction in the air.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
