Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
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It will be interesting to see what Bronco Mendenhall does to replace dismissed safety Shiloah Te'o in the depth chart.
I'm sure Bronco had hoped to go through the year using only four top-line safeties: Scott Johnson (free) and Andrew Rich (Kat), backed up by Craig Bills (free) and Te'o (Kat).
It would be same to assume that with Te'o gone, Bronco will employ a "three to play two" philosophy: if Rich goes down, Johnson would move to Kat and Bills would take over at free (or Johnson could stay at free with Bills at Kat); if Johnson were to go down, Bills could become the #1 FS, and play alongside Rich. So really, BYU is fine, as long as the Cougars don't need to play a fourth safety--but if that happens, then what?
Well, the next "travel squad" safety in would ostensibly be Steven Thomas, the number three at FS, currently dealing with a concussion. The third-stringer at Kat before the Te'o dismissal was true freshman Jray Galea'i, who would have been targeted for a redshirt season otherwise.
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BYU has thrown at least one interception in every game this season, and in eight straight games dating back to last season. But lest you think such a streak is approaching the realm of the unprecedented, be advised that since 1972, the BYU record for consecutive games with an interception thrown is 17, set in 1977-78, with Marc Wilson throwing most of the passes.
Since 1972, there has been only one season in which BYU threw at least one pick in every game: 1976, with Gifford Nielsen the quarterback of record.
Since 1972, the record for interception-less games in a single season is 7, set in 2006, with John Beck at the helm. The BYU record for consecutive games without an interception thrown is a modest four games, in Ty Detmer's Heisman Trophy season of 1990.
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BYU fan Thane Clark sent me some stats I include here:
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"5 games into the 1990 Heisman season, Ty Detmer was 162 out of 245 (66%) for 2197 yards, 14 TDs, 10 INT.
Yards per attempt: 9.0
Pass efficiency: 152.1
BYU was 4-1, having beaten Miami, and lost to Oregon.
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5 games into the 2009 season, Max Hall is 104 out of 153 (68%) for 1403 yards, 11 TDs, 10 INT.
Yards per attempt: 9.2
Pass efficiency: 155.7
BYU is 4-1, having beaten Oklahoma, and lost to FSU."
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BYU has never lost to UNLV in Las Vegas, going 7-0. BYU leads the overall series with UNLV 13-3.
In games played at Sam Boyd Stadium (including games at UNLV, Las Vegas Bowls and WAC Championship games), BYU is 10-3 alltime--with non-UNLV wins over Wyoming, Oregon and UCLA; losses to California, Arizona and Air Force.
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What are the chances of BYU putting up a Nevada-like score total against the Rebels on Saturday? In Bronco Mendenhall's four games against UNLV, BYU has averaged 43 points per outing, scoring 42 or more in three of the four games (average scored in the four games: BYU 43.3, UNLV 17.5). BYU's point totals: 55 (2005), 52 (2006), 42 (2008), 24 (2007).
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Bronco Mendenhall and UNLV's Mike Sanford were both hired at the start of the 2005 season. Their conference records:
Mendenhall: 28-5
Sanford: 5-28
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Look ahead:
BYU follows its trip to UNLV with a game at San Diego State. I linked to a story last week dealing with the Aztecs' struggle to put fans in the stands. More of the same this week, from the Union-Tribune...
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"SDSU had replica Brian Sipe jerseys to give away to the first 20,000 fans through the gates for last week's 34-17 win against New Mexico State. But not enough fans showed up so SDSU ended up with several unclaimed boxes of jerseys."
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Tonight's "Bronco Mendenhall Show" is live at Ken Garff Honda, on University Parkway in Orem, starting at 7:00 pm.
You can pose questions to the coach by e-mail (cougarradio@ksl.com) or via text message (57500).
Iceberg Drive-Inn will be there of course with free burgers and drinks until they're gone. And don't forget to text the word "cougars" to 89800 and get a special text sent to you for a $3.99 combo that includes the Iceburger (double meat double cheese with grilled onions), fries and a drink--you'll also be entered to win a free shake. There will be 50 winners a week.
Even if you entered last week's contest, you can do so this week and get the special text to use at any of the Iceberg locations. All of the Iceberg stores are being alerted so that BYU fans can redeem the text.
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