BYU started its light, one-hour Monday practice later than usual. That meant head coach Bronco Mendenhall entertained about 15 minutes worth of reporters? questions in the dusk, just as the sun began to fade out of sight.
The picturesque scene could be viewed as a perfect backdrop for the Cougars? hopes of what is ahead on the horizon.
?Until the last six minutes I thought they played an excellent game,? Mendenhall said of his much-maligned defense in a 51-50 overtime loss to TCU. ?But we?re measured by end results.?
The 1-2, 0-1 Cougars are at San Diego State (1-3, 0-1) on Saturday for their first road game of the year.
This much we know: BYU can score.
The questions at this point, of course, are numerous. The team is banged up, as Mendenhall read off a laundry list of beat up players whose status for the Aztecs game won?t be known until later in the week.
The most questionable players at this point, Mendenhall said, are linebackers Camerson Jensen and Paul Walkenhorst, who each have MCL knee injuries. Walkenhorst?s is considered more severe, but further details won?t be known until at least Tuesday. Besides those two, defensive lineman Daniel Marquardt (broken rib or ribs), defensive lineman Vince Feula (sprained ankle) are hurting. So, too, is the secondary with Justin Robinson (sprained ankle), Nate Soelberg (sprained knee) and Dustin Gabriel (torn tendons in finger) among the wounded.
Walkenhorst and Jensen would likely be the first two to sit out the 8 p.m. (MT) kickoff.
Otherwise, it was business as usual for a team that is two days off the disappointment. Players and Mendenhall stayed upbeat.
?We just want to come out gunnin? and ready to go,? quarterback John Beck said.
For his performance against the Horned Frogs, a league record 517 yards and five touchdown passes, Beck was named the Mountain West?s offensive player of the week. Beck knew of the honor, but shrugged it off.
?We didn?t win,? Beck said.
But they?re trying to take different forms of positive. Beck had his best game as a Cougar, and Mendenhall thought the defense played well for the first 78 plays or so. Ultimately, however, length of game (4 hours, 42 minutes) and a rash of injuries to the defensive side assisted TCU?s 18-point second-half rally.
?Ultimately we didn?t play well enough at the end,? Mendenhall said. ?But I?m encouraged to that point.?
Upon further review: Mendenhall said after the game that he was satisfied with the result of the booth review of the final play of Saturday?s game, a controversial rushing touchdown by Cory Rodgers in which the TCU player was stripped at the goal line.
Officials immediately called the play a touchdown, and the decision was held up by the MWC replay officials. Unlike in regulation, MWC coaches cannot challenge a call in overtime. The only dilemma to the end result seemed to be no definitive camera angle for the jury to look at.
Mendenhall shied away from saying anything to keep the issue alive. But did note that he wants to make sure critical plays on crucial parts of the field have the necessary technology at hand to make replay worthwhile.
?If it?s going to be in relation to reviewable plays having to do with sidelines and goalines ... then obviously it needs to be considered.?
By the way, BYU cornerback Chris Hale watched the play a number of times and believes the call should?ve been overruled. Hale made contact with Rodgers at the end zone.
?I know (Rodgers) fumbled before he got in,? Hale said. ?I just wish there was something I could?ve done to keep his body out, too.?
Rodgers had 20 pounds on Hale, 195 to 175.
The picturesque scene could be viewed as a perfect backdrop for the Cougars? hopes of what is ahead on the horizon.
?Until the last six minutes I thought they played an excellent game,? Mendenhall said of his much-maligned defense in a 51-50 overtime loss to TCU. ?But we?re measured by end results.?
The 1-2, 0-1 Cougars are at San Diego State (1-3, 0-1) on Saturday for their first road game of the year.
This much we know: BYU can score.
The questions at this point, of course, are numerous. The team is banged up, as Mendenhall read off a laundry list of beat up players whose status for the Aztecs game won?t be known until later in the week.
The most questionable players at this point, Mendenhall said, are linebackers Camerson Jensen and Paul Walkenhorst, who each have MCL knee injuries. Walkenhorst?s is considered more severe, but further details won?t be known until at least Tuesday. Besides those two, defensive lineman Daniel Marquardt (broken rib or ribs), defensive lineman Vince Feula (sprained ankle) are hurting. So, too, is the secondary with Justin Robinson (sprained ankle), Nate Soelberg (sprained knee) and Dustin Gabriel (torn tendons in finger) among the wounded.
Walkenhorst and Jensen would likely be the first two to sit out the 8 p.m. (MT) kickoff.
Otherwise, it was business as usual for a team that is two days off the disappointment. Players and Mendenhall stayed upbeat.
?We just want to come out gunnin? and ready to go,? quarterback John Beck said.
For his performance against the Horned Frogs, a league record 517 yards and five touchdown passes, Beck was named the Mountain West?s offensive player of the week. Beck knew of the honor, but shrugged it off.
?We didn?t win,? Beck said.
But they?re trying to take different forms of positive. Beck had his best game as a Cougar, and Mendenhall thought the defense played well for the first 78 plays or so. Ultimately, however, length of game (4 hours, 42 minutes) and a rash of injuries to the defensive side assisted TCU?s 18-point second-half rally.
?Ultimately we didn?t play well enough at the end,? Mendenhall said. ?But I?m encouraged to that point.?
Upon further review: Mendenhall said after the game that he was satisfied with the result of the booth review of the final play of Saturday?s game, a controversial rushing touchdown by Cory Rodgers in which the TCU player was stripped at the goal line.
Officials immediately called the play a touchdown, and the decision was held up by the MWC replay officials. Unlike in regulation, MWC coaches cannot challenge a call in overtime. The only dilemma to the end result seemed to be no definitive camera angle for the jury to look at.
Mendenhall shied away from saying anything to keep the issue alive. But did note that he wants to make sure critical plays on crucial parts of the field have the necessary technology at hand to make replay worthwhile.
?If it?s going to be in relation to reviewable plays having to do with sidelines and goalines ... then obviously it needs to be considered.?
By the way, BYU cornerback Chris Hale watched the play a number of times and believes the call should?ve been overruled. Hale made contact with Rodgers at the end zone.
?I know (Rodgers) fumbled before he got in,? Hale said. ?I just wish there was something I could?ve done to keep his body out, too.?
Rodgers had 20 pounds on Hale, 195 to 175.
