PROVO — Win or lose, come Thursday night, the most disappointing season in Bronco Mendenhall’s time as a head coach will end.

Mendenhall has enjoyed a marvelous run during his eight years at BYU, compiling a 73-29 record with four consecutive seasons and five out of six with at least 10 wins. Going into Thursday night’s Poinsettia Bowl against San Diego State, he has a 5-2 record in the postseason.

But all those sizzling numbers haven’t helped much this season. For the first time in Mendenhall’s career, his team has underachieved.

Since taking over a program that was in shambles, Mendenhall has been a great fit for BYU. Almost immediately, he restored respectability and brought back the pride that had slipped due to three consecutive losing seasons and numerous embarrassing incidents off the field.

Cougar Tracks:

BYU sluggish in first San Diego practice

With a Poinsettia Bowl meeting with San Diego State only three days away, BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall was a bit disappointed in the Cougars' first San Diego practice Monday.

With his quirky personality, Mendenhall has run a clean and successful program. But this year we’ve seen cracks develop.

This time, even another bowl win won’t change the feeling of dissatisfaction among BYU fans. Losing to Boise State and San Jose State, among others, was simply unacceptable.

By now, it’s well chronicled that Mendenhall mangled the quarterback situation, continuing to play an injured Riley Nelson. Mendenhall remains coy about the bowl-game starter even though the overwhelming evidence suggests it will be James Lark.

When asked after Monday’s practice if he’ll start, Lark said: “No comment. I can’t really comment on that.”

Ever the loyal soldier, Lark knows he will start but can’t publicly reveal it. Lark also remembers being told he would play against Utah, only to watch an injured Nelson play the entire game.

Mendenhall might as well play the cat-and-mouse game this week. There’s no need to tip off the Aztecs, who will be forced to split time preparing for Lark and Nelson.

In an unusual move, the normally affable Nelson was not available for interviews after practice Monday.

“They’re both getting work,” Mendenhall said. “There’s a good chance you’re going to see both.”

Judging by the reaction we get on the DJ and PK radio show (1280-AM and 97.5-FM), BYU fans are clamoring for Lark to start. They are done with hoping the injured Nelson can make the necessary plays.

In many ways, even if the final score favors the Cougars, Mendenhall is in a no-win situation. If Lark plays well, as he did with six touchdown passes in the last game against New Mexico State, the pro-Lark crowd will be furious that he didn’t get chances in the losses to Utah, Boise State and San Jose State.

The guess here is Lark will play well enough for BYU to win the game, leading to a significant portion of the fan base to question the head coach. As he’s done all season, Mendenhall will find a way to spin it positively or remain defiant in the face of the evidence.

The best-case scenario is to start Lark and find opportunities to insert Nelson. The fifth-year senior deserves a chance to at least take a few snaps in his final game.

If Nelson does start, Mendenhall can expect a mutiny from his fan base unless the Cougars can pull off a resounding win. The tough and gritty-quarterback story has run its course.

No matter who plays quarterback, the frustration will reach new levels if BYU loses. Given the team’s talent level, particularly on defense, it’s unfathomable to think the Cougars could finish at 7-6.

As a side note, the Cougars had better shake off what Mendenhall described as a sluggish practice Monday and be prepared to play. The Aztecs, remembering BYU’s defection from the Mountain West and a controversial loss the last time the two teams played, will have plenty of incentive to win in their home stadium.

A loss means BYU would have been 7-6 for the second time in two seasons. That mediocre record two seasons ago somehow seemed more acceptable, knowing the offense needed to reload after four straight seasons of stellar quarterback play from John Beck and Max Hall.

“Mentally, we’re focused and dialed in,” Lark said.

The 2009 season may have been the catalyst in Mendenhall choosing to stick with Nelson throughout the season. Two years ago, he went back and forth with Nelson and freshman Jake Heaps. The theory goes that Mendenhall wanted to avoid another quarterback controversy at virtually all costs.

But the reality is, the decision to stay with Nelson only heightened the controversy this season. Mercifully, it all ends soon.

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