Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
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With three games remaining in the regular season, BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall this morning said "I think we're capable of winning all of them."
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That statement came after Mendenhall said "No" when asked by the Trib's Jay Drew if this weekend's game at Colorado State was a 'must-win game,' relative to the two wins needed to secure bowl eligibility.
Then entire exchange:
Q: "You've talked all year about there's no such thing in your mind as a must-win. But as you look at the schedule and the way it lays out, the next three games, it seems that you have to beat Colorado State to make a bowl game. Are you painting that at all to your team?"
A: "No, 'cause we have three games left and I think we're capable of winning all of them."
In those few words, "Bronco the Competitor" came out, and signaled to me that he expects his team to have as much a shot at Utah this year as in any other year; no more, no less.
I think the coach's answer was the most telling comment of his weekly press conference, the entirety of which you can hear by clicking the audio link in the "Cougar Cuts" box. You can also hear group interviews with Austen Jorgensen, Shane Hunter and B.J. Peterson.
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The comment about the final three games augmented earlier remarks about his squad in the wake of a weekend win over UNLV.
"I think our team is improving; how to measure it...is still probably three weeks away. I do think we threw and caught the football at a higher level (against UNLV), there was more balance in the offense."
"I think the defense remained relatively consistent and I think our team played hard and is gaining confidence and optimism. Our intent is to carry that on the road as we play Colorado State."
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More from Mendenhall--
On what led to the performance in the passing game: "I do think the bye week helped, I do think the increased focus helped, I do think there was improvement, but certainly our opponent had something to do to with that."
"Until we see our (next games), hard to say exactly how much of a step we did take forward."
On Colorado State: "Even though their record doesn't show it, I would liken them a lot to San Diego State, and the best way to verify that is in head-to-head matchups (SDSU beat CSU 24-19 on the weekend). I think we'll be playing a similar opponent--not in style, but in ability--to what the Aztecs were when they came to Provo."
On CSU freshman QB Pete Thomas: "He's tall, would prefer not to run out of the pocket if he doesn't have to, but has very good vision, a strong arm, and delivers the football downfield in a 'pass first' mentality pretty well."
On needing to win on the road (BYU is 0-4 away from home): "To make a phantom out of playing on the road, that it's bigger than it is, I'm not going to do that."
"The games we have lost on the road were representative of where the team was at that time, and hopefully we're at a different time. Our execution is still what I'll be spending most of my emphasis on."
On TE Marcus Mathews (who suffered a lacerated spleen in the UNLV game and will be out for the season after surgery): "We'll miss him. Marcus was emerging as kind of the featured pass-catcher...we'll have to look hard again at who now becomes that player, because it had taken a long time to reach that point."
Mendenhall noted that OL Braden Hansen has an MCL sprain and is "possible" for the CSU game; RB Mike Hague has a hamstring strain, "which is going to take a little while. I would not anticipate him being back this week."
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Someone tweeted me this morning that students are already camping out for the best seats to Friday night's hoops season opener with Fresno State.
The push is on for an opening-night sellout, which I have never seen since I started as the full-time play-by-play guy in 1997.
A full house ovation for Steve Cleveland would be a great way to welcome the former Cougar coach back to the Marriott Center, and of course a packed arena would be instrumental in helping to defeat Cleveland's Bulldogs, who will never have encountered an environment like the one they will enter on Friday night.
Cougar fans, start your BYU sports weekend by filling a seat at the Marriott Center; make opening night a sellout!
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