Former BYU player takes aim at Mendenhall; other players rebut statement


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PROVO — Perhaps the most decorated defensive player in BYU football history has unleashed a strong dose of stinging criticism against the head coach.

In a radio interview with 97.5-FM and 1280-AM, former Outland Trophy winner and Super Bowl champion Jason Buck believes BYU needs significant change to regain the stronghold as the most prominent football program in Utah. His frustration is directed squarely at Bronco Mendenhall.

A first-round draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals in 1987, Buck contends most former BYU players are disappointed the program is not directed by a former LaVell Edwards disciple. Buck, who won a Super Bowl with the Washington Redskins, ripped Mendenhall for not cultivating a relationship with former players.

Truth is, he said, the football alumni Buck talks to want Mendenhall replaced.

"I'd give anything to have a LaVell Edwards-kind-of-guy back in the program and see it change," he said. "When I talk to players that are leaving the program privately on the side and they tell me what's going on in the locker room and what the relationship is between them and the head coach, that is not what you want to hear. None of them will say it on camera, but it's the truth. They'll say Bronco has four or five favorites that are his boys and the rest of the team don't have a relationship with him."

Buck says that Mendenhall was anti-BYU when he joined the program as a defensive coordinator under Gary Crowton. After Crowton was fired in 2004, Mendenhall got promoted over longtime assistant Lance Reynolds, who played for Edwards.

Buck said Mendenhall has repeatedly stated he picked Oregon State because BYU was on the schedule. BYU overlooked Mendenhall twice, starting during high school at American Fork and then at Snow College. In 1986, the same season Buck won the Outland Trophy, Mendenhall was on the Oregon State team that beat BYU 10-7 in Provo.

BYU Cougars head coach Bronco Mendenhall (Jeffrey Allred, Deseret News)
BYU Cougars head coach Bronco Mendenhall (Jeffrey Allred, Deseret News)

"You got LaVell. who has a fantastic relationship with 100 percent of the players on the team. You got Bronco, who doesn't have a relationship with 90 percent of the guys and maybe only a handful of favorites," Buck said.

"He doesn't have a relationship or internal love of the ex-alumni and the old guys that he wasn't good enough to play with. It's just one of those human nature things."

Buck has felt slighted during times he attended BYU practices. Also, his recommendations on recruiting also have been ignored.

"Bronco doesn't use us or have a relationship with us at all," he said. "It's really frustrating. You call up once every five years with a kid that you think is really special and you try to get ahold of them and help them with the kid and most of the time BYU doesn't return your phone call. I guess some of them feel like they're smarter than the old players or the old players don't know much about football."

Certainly not all former BYU players echo Buck's sentiment. In particular, many Mendenhall-coached players have opposite opinions.

Jake Kuresa playing against Boston College September 16, 2006 (BYU Photo)
Jake Kuresa playing against Boston College September 16, 2006 (BYU Photo)

Former offensive lineman Jake Kuresa said he has access to Mendenhall, who invites him to practice. He said offensive line coach Garett Tujague asked his critique of a junior college lineman who recently committed to BYU.

"I respect what Jason said and if he feels like that, but I'd be lying if I said I feel like that," Kuresa said. "I had the opportunity to play for Bronco for two years and we had some good times and bad times, but I got nothing but respect for the guy."

In particular, former defensive players swear by Mendenhall, who came up through the ranks as a defensive coach. Linebackers Brady Poppinga and Cameron Jensen are among the many who pledge allegiance to their former coach.

Poppinga, who played several seasons in the NFL, thinks Mendenhall is an elite coach. His brother, Kelly, is on Mendenhall's staff.

"Bronco is the best coach I've ever played for," he said. "He's a top five football coach in all of football. He's given BYU the very best chance to win."

Kuresa's primary complaint centers on Mendenhall's personality. Not always at ease in public settings, he usually won't fawn over highly regarded recruits and often goes out of his way to praise the less heralded players.

Some college coaches make highly recruited teenagers feel like rock stars during the recruiting process. Mendenhall has said that players need to recruit him and show a strong desire to attend BYU.


Bronco is the best coach I've ever played for. He's a top five football coach in all of football. He's given BYU the very best chance to win.

–Former BYU player Brady Poppinga


"I don't think he should cater to these kids all the way," Kuresa said, "but I wish he would be a little more personable with some of these recruits."

Subpar recruiting could be a reason BYU has a four-game losing streak to rival Utah. The Cougars also have lost twice in the last five years to Utah State.

During Buck's era, BYU regularly dominated its conference and blew away the in-state competition. Obviously, he's furious at the change.

Buck also said it's tough to see Utah County high school players bypass BYU in favor of Utah. Two high school recruits with family ties to BYU, James Empey and Britain Covey, committed to sign with the Utes next week.

With former BYU linebacker Kyle Whittingham as the coach and other ex-Cougars on his staff, Utah has strong connections to Edwards.

"They're doing a better job than BYU," Buck said. "Kyle is doing a fantastic job. As an alumni it was really hard for me to swallow that pill. If you want your kid to play in the NFL he's got more an advantage under Kyle Whittingham than he does under Bronco Mendenhall."

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