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BYU Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall spent the better part of an hour meeting with the print media (and one radio guy) after his podium session at the Mountain West Conference Media Days here in Las Vegas.
I was able to sit in for the final 20 minutes or so of his one-on-one session, but I think I was able to cover (or re-cover) some of the more pressing questions heading into the season.
Certainly, there were a few stones left unturned, but you can get a good feel for Bronco's view of the season ahead by clicking his "one-on-one session" audio link in the "Cougar Cuts" box to the right.
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Some, but not all, of the interesting tidbits to come out of his interview session:
Defensive Coordinator Jaime Hill will handle the bulk of the defensive play-calling this season.
RB Manase Tonga needs to "do well in" two BYU classes to be eligible to play this fall. He added that he expects that to mean B- or better.
CB Brandon Howard "most likely" will not return to the program.
DL Thomas Bryson will enroll in school, but not be able to play this season (offseason shoulder surgery)
NT Russell Tialavea should be getting his mission call "today or tomorrow," and the MTC reporting date will help determine whether Tialavea applies for a dispensation allowing him to push his reporting date back until after the season--should he decide he wants to play this season, and should the reporting date be later than September 15th. He says ideally, Tialavea was expecting to get out on his mission before the season.
TE recruit Richard Wilson is now a linebacker, and former LB Vic So'oto is now a defensive end.
He is totally comfortable with using mutliple players to man the nose tackle position (if Tialavea does not play), adding that he believes Romney Fuga (just off a mission) could be in a position to really help at that position. Return missionary Jordan Richardson is also targeted as a contributor at NT.
He may take an "active role" in coaching the nose tackle position in particular. He adds "three or four players may play every game" at the nose.
DL Bernard Afutiti remains academically ineligible.
Former LB Matt Ah You left over his unhappiness relative to position on the depth chart and number of snaps he would get this season. Bronco says he does not know Ah You's next collegiate destination.
CB Lee Aguirre and LB Aveni Leung-Wai are still in junior college classes and not yet eligible to participate in camp.
WR Rhen Brown (return missionary) is a "pleasant surprise."
There are no plans to re-implement the "H" receiver position, based on the types of wide receivers currently in the program--unless someone "jumps out" in camp.
On a non-professional note, Bronco adds that two weeks recently spent on a family vacation in Kauai were "not long enough."
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You will also note in the "Cougar Cuts" box interviews that I conducted with Andrew Rich and Dennis Pitta, along with podium comments from coaches and players from all nine MWC teams.
The MWC Media Days conclude tomorrow with Commissioner Craig Thompson's "State of the Conference Address." I'll have that posted as soon as it wraps up.
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