BYU vs. Ole Miss: News, Notes and Updates for the Cougars

We're a mere four days away from kickoff, and Cougar fans are chomping at the bit, waiting to see what their Cougars can do against the Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford, MS.

The social media outlets are teeming with shots from fans on both sides. But soon, the talking will be over and done, and the truth will play itself out on the field.

So ahead of the big opening, here are news notes and updates from Provo.

Houston Nutt Opens Mouth, Shows Ignorance

Mississippi coach Houston Nutt told the media this week he’d love to have some 25 or 26-year-old players like BYU’s returned missionaries.

He cited maturity as an advantage.

Nutt, like every other happily uninformed coach and pundit from sea to shining sea fails to do enough research to understand that for two years, these guys do NOTHING related to football, training or sometimes exercise in any form. They don't even get to WATCH football.

Nutt would probably change his tune if he was told his players who tool a two-year sabbatical had to sit in a car or on a bus most of the day talking about Jesus, never entering a gym, stepping on a field or watching a snap.

It’s not like going away to prison for a spell, where you can work out and yolk up all day (which Nutt and the SEC are familiar with).

Big-12 Talk Abounds

It’s amazing that for the second straight season, the month of August has been split between Xs and Os and conference realignment talk.

But with Texas A&M expected to bolt to the SEC and the Big 12 all but showing them the door, fans from Provo to Portland (ME and OR both work) are abuzz with talk of BYU receiving an invite to the Big 12.

The rumor mill is working overtime, but nothing has happened as of yet.  As usual, the administration is being prudently tight-lipped.

But fans are expecting news one way or the other very soon.

Houston Reynolds

In what has become an annual tradition at BYU, two Reynolds’ will anchor the offensive line as the first official depth chart has Houston, Matt’s…ahem…little brother starting at left guard.

It’s expected Ryker Mathews, a freshman out of American Fork, will see significant playing time.

Waiting on the Kicker News

As of this writing, BYU had yet to release its first depth chart.

Cougar fans, especially those in Utah, have been eager to find out if big-legged, YouTube-famous kicker and his Justin Sorensen moved to the top of the depth chart.

Sorensen sat out some of fall camp with some back pain but showed well during the summer.

Fans will watch closely to see who runs out for the Cougar’s first kickoff and field goal.

Bronco Sets Expectations

Most of the time, August is full of the usual, tried-and-true coaching platitudes.

“We’re taking it one game at a time.”

“If we play well we like our chances.”

“We could only afford one big-time recruit this offseason." (That's a common utterance in SEC country).

But Bronco Mendenhall said a few interesting things this week—one of which was unexpected.

Bronco said during the pregame presser that many players slid on the depth chart due to not being “as committed as they ought to be” in spring and summer camp.

This is great news for Cougar fans who have a bad taste in their mouths from last season’s defensive debacles in the first half of the year where players had obviously lost an edge, and the team appeared to lack heart.

What it tells us: Three-quarter effort won’t get it done this year—on either side of the ball.

Jake Heaps Shows Confidence in the Offense

When asked by a reporter if there was anything keeping him up at night, quarterback Jake Heaps said there’s basically nothing.

He commented that the offense is in sync, and now, “it’s up to each individual person to do everything they possibly can to be ready.”

He expressed supreme confidence in new OC Brandon Doman and handled other questions like a seasoned veteran.

While his comments aren’t anything surprising, the contrast between them and the comments that came out of camp last year is great.

Confidence, certainty and optimism abound on that side of the ball.

Ole Miss Quarterback

Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt made it official this week that Barry Brunetti will get the starting job for the Rebels on Saturday.

Nobody shined in camp in Oxford, but the West Virginia transfer will get the job in the opener.

Nutt pointed out Brunetti had shown to be the most consistent and accountable.

Earlier this summer, Nutt implied we may see two quarterbacks, but that was before Randall Mackey got himself arrested.