Mendenhall: Thrilled to Be in Front of Home Crowd This Week

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BYU Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall

Opening Remarks

I was excited and pleased with the way our team not only prepared last week, but how they played in the game. Most of the questions I received during the week centered around a possible let down, etc. I didn’t see any signs in practice, nor do I think we saw any signs in the game. I think it was a clean football game and I think the offense performed at a level improved from their opener. I think the defense did the same and special teams to a lesser extent, but I believe they improved as well. So I think our team is making progress and I think they’re anxious to continue to play. I believe they have a great chance to continue to compete and I think they’re all thrilled to be in front of their home crowd this week.

You’ve had a group of students and fans at the airport to greet you for the last two games – they packed the Smith Fieldhouse on Saturday – do you feel more support and how important is it for students at the university you represent to support your team?

It has been really fun. I wasn’t aware of the Smith Fieldhouse being full until I was told when we came off the plane. That’s a neat thing and I think it matters to myself and the team that we’re receiving that kind of support; and sometimes it takes maybe even a breakthrough or what is viewed as a monumental-type win before that happens. I’m not talking about LaVell Edwards Stadium on game day – that is certainly exceptional – but I think it adds to the campus community, I think it adds to a competitive spirit at the institution. I think it’s positive for so many to turn out this week, I think it really surprised our team and they appreciated it. I think many thought that after the Oklahoma game nobody would be at the airport – and that’s normally the case because we get in late – but our students showed up and it was a nice touch – our players and I really appreciated it.

You and some of the players say you don’t care where you’re ranked in the polls as far as the team itself, but what is your general philosophy as far as the polls?

I think I made a comment about that last week that up until about week six, no one has any idea of how good their own football team is and let alone how they might be compared to others. I think it generates interest and gives folks something to talk about and promotes the game, but in terms of accuracy – most of the rankings just default to the year before that or the year before that, and the teams that are most consistent in the top-20 try to find themselves there at the start of each year. After about week six we’ll have a better idea and the end of the season is really what matters.

You went from 78,000 in the Cowboy stadium to supposedly 26,000 in the Super Dome and 64,000 at home. Can you talk about the impact of the crowd in a game as far as you’re concerned?

It’s noticeable usually before the game and then at critical moments in terms of volume of noise. We considered the Oklahoma game at the critical moments an amazing scene and similarly last week was an amazing scene to be in the Super Dome, there weren’t many people there and it didn’t seem like 26,000 if there were, but really once the game gets started, neither I nor the players notice until you get to the critical moments and then the volume of noise is what you notice. That’s the one thing in LaVell Edwards Stadium is at those critical moments the support we receive and the help we receive to stop an opponent is something that makes a lot of difference and I think it’s had something to do with the number of consecutive wins we have had there.

Talk about the significance of having a program such as Florida State come to play you at home.

I hope it is a continuation of things to come. When I first came to be the defensive coordinator we had both USC and Notre Dame here in our stadium and the thing that has prohibited that, when you consider our record against ranked teams, 17 of those 20 or so games have been on the road. We’re having a very difficult time where they acknowledge we’re a team that should play home and home, most of the time they want 2-for-1. I’m not really willing to go 2-for-1 any longer. Even though that is a philosophy that we once had, I think our program has a different level of credibility that’s been earned. And the teams that suggest 2-to-1 I take as an insult. When you have the chance to have Florida State – a team of the caliber – that is willing to play and then come to LaVell Edwards Stadium is an awesome thing and I think it’s something that the program has earned over a long period of time.

Can you talk about your concern about the kickoffs and is somebody chosen to do those this week?

No one has been chosen this week yet, but I am concerned. We have had three in two games where the ball starts out on the 40-yard line, that’s an amazing swing of field position, really wherever you would kick the ball would be better than starting on the 40-yard line. I think at this point our kickers understand there is pressure on them to perform and they’re just trying a little too hard. Riley Stephenson has certainly shown that he is capable of adding distance and at least the same accuracy to this point on kickoffs, so if he does that this week it might be his job to give us a chance to kickoff the ball this week. Mitch will still maintain the field goal duties, but it’s the kickoff that I am most concerned about.