Mendenhall previews Utah State on weekly radio show


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PROVO — The final 2015 edition of the weekly radio show "BYU Football with Bronco Mendenhall" spotlighted the Cougars' final regular-season game at Utah State Saturday at 1:30 p.m. MST (KSL 1160 AM).

The coach of the Cougars likes having an in-state matchup to finish up the regular-season schedule.

"It was designed this way. I thought it made a lot of sense for our independent schedule to have another intriguing opponent at the end of the year," Mendenhall said.

Mendenhall recognized that fans on both sides tend to be even more invested for in-state battles. However, he tries to tone down that kind of mindset inside his locker room.

"Our players certainly know members of the other (in-state) teams," Mendenhall said. "That might be compelling before you start practice on Monday or maybe after the game is over come Saturday, but in between you simply don't have the time or energy to put any more focus on things other than your assignments, schemes, game plans and getting as prepared as you possibly can. Any time spent on any of the other things just gets in the way."

Rivalry games, especially of the in-state variety, can also have added fuel because of the recruiting battles that sometimes take place between schools before any of the athletes ever take the field. But Mendenhall said that, in reality, that notion is rarely ever the case.

"There isn't as much crossover as you might think between ourselves, Utah and Utah State, even though we are in-state schools," he said. "The amount of crossover, when it comes down to actually choosing between BYU or one of those other schools, doesn't happen nearly as frequently as what others think."

Photo: Ravell Call, Deseret News
Photo: Ravell Call, Deseret News

Mendenhall expects the Aggies to be at their best come Saturday in a season that has been unpredictable at times for Utah State.

"They're a good team. College football is crazy. It's very difficult to be consistent week in and week out," Mendenhall said. "Utah State has done that over the past few years. This year, they have been way up in some games, and they've also had a couple get away from them. That doesn't take away the ability they have in any given game, especially at home."

Chuckie Keeton, a fifth-year senior, could start for the Aggies Saturday. Mendenhall was thrilled for him to be back healthy after injuries have marred an otherwise brilliant career.

"I think you have to give Chuckie credit for being the quarterback who turned Utah State around," he said. "Regardless of the coaching staff and all the work they put in, you have to have a player on the field taking the snaps and making the plays in the games. He deserves every bit of credit that he gets for doing that. I'm glad to see that he's returning to full health and is able to play again. I like to see players return and have positive careers and be recognized for what they've done."

Francis Bernard earned the season's final Firehouse Subs "Firestarter of the Game" recognition for scoring the Cougars' first touchdown last Saturday in a 52-10 win over Fresno State. Kai Nacua was also recognized as the first-ever Firehouse Subs "Fire Extinguisher of the Game" for his two interceptions, including one pick-six, Saturday. Nacua's six interceptions are the most for a BYU player since 2001 when Jernaro Gilford also had six.

For the second straight week, two BYU players joined the program to answer questions and offer insights. Two seniors, wide receiver Terenn Houk and defensive lineman Graham Rowley, made their radio show debuts. Both players talked about how they chose to make the trip to Provo to play football.

"It was a hard decision to choose where I wanted to go for college," said, Houk, an Enumclaw, Washington, native. "For me, I wanted to go to a place that was not only going to make me a better athlete, but a better person as well. I felt like I could do that here."

"I've always loved BYU," Rowley, of Waialua, Hawaii, said. "Both my parents went to BYU, and this is where they met. I remember going to the BYU vs. Hawaii games at Aloha Stadium back when I didn't really care about football. When I started playing football, I thought why not BYU?"

One of the more comical moments of the show was when Houk talked about his multiple, referee-involved, touchdown celebrations this season. He also had an unexpected run-in with the first of those referees in a game later in the year.

"During warmups at the Michigan game, I felt someone tap me on my shoulder and ask me if he was going to get another hug," Houk chuckled. "It was the same referee that was at the Nebraska game."

As a preview for this weekend's game, a fan in attendance asked what it was going to take to finally get senior Devon Blackmon into the end zone. Houk's fellow wide receiver is still looking for his first touchdown as a BYU player. Houk responded, "You might see one on Saturday because we're working to get him one."


Blake Dorton is a BYU student studying broadcast journalism and French. He hopes to pursue a career in sports broadcasting following graduation. Follow him on Twitter @BlakeDorton.

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