Bronco Makes a "First Class" Bus Stop

Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes

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A new BYU broadcast partner pulled into Provo early Friday as the ESPN/DIRECTV satellite bus made a whistle stop on campus.

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Bronco Mendenhall is ready for his close-up.

BYU head football coach Bronco Mendenhall hopped on board the bus for a series of interviews to air today (Friday) and next week as part of ESPN's college football preview shows.

In at 10:15am, out at 12:15pm. Next stops: USC and UCLA.

I spoke with Mendenhall after he stepped off the bus and you can hear that conversation by clicking on the audio link in the "Cougar Cuts" box to the right. You can also hear interviews with ESPN bus driver T.J. Tart and bus engineer Dennis Stacklin; they were great to work with and talk to.

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Big Wheels: the ESPN bus pulled in next to the BYU truck.

Mendenhall called sitting down in the high-tech mobile studio "a very unique experience; I mean how many times does ESPN come to you?...the chance for them to make us one of their stops, it's just a great acknowledgment of the type of program but also the partnership and I think the excitement going forward. It's clearly just a very invigorating thing."

"First class, very efficient, and as it should be," said Mendenhall of his bus-bound satellite linkup with ESPN headquarters in Bristol, CT.

Chatting with bus engineer Dennis Stacklin in his neck of the woods.

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I asked Bronco about his feedback from ESPN about the football program and the partnership and he said "they're really optimistic about and excited about the chance for us to be independent, knowing that we are probably one of the only schools nationwide that can pull this off."

A view from the front of the bus toward the studio at the back.

"There are other schools that have independence," said Mendenhall, "but very few have their own television network...or two networks (BYUTV and ESPN), so we have a worldwide viewership, we have a great product to put on the field, and now we have the exposure at least the vehicles necessary to not only benefit the program, but benefit BYU and hopefully then benefit the (LDS) Church."

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The Friday bus stop was one of 15 scheduled appearances at campuses across the country, with Boise State (visited earlier in the week) as the only other regional program on the ESPN bus itinerary.

Joined by BYU Football Media Relations Director Brett Pyne, bus driver T.J. Tart and bus engineer Dennis Stacklin.

"We certainly feel deserving but also feel honored that they would stop and visit with us, and I think it's just a sign of what's to come."

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Mendenhall on--

The ESPN relationship:

"Literally a step up. I still realize we have to play and play very well against an upgraded level of competition with increased viewership which will drive the whole things...but what is in place is a chance for millions of people to see us and learn about our program and see exactly what we're doing and why...and that in and of itself is a great reason to show up every day."

Hi-def comforts of home on the big bus (Bronco's assistant Carey Hoki in the foreground with BYU Football Media Relations Director Brett Pyne).

His 2011 squad:

"I like our team. I loved the way spring practice went, I love the way that we finished the season a year ago, I like the momentum we're generating, I love the enthusiasm offensively with our love our new coaching staff...(the spring game in the snow) will epitomize what this particular team will do, and that will be fun."

The new era of independence with increased media exposure:

"There is great chance to acknowledge and be true to the existing loyalties and friendships that have helped us get to this point... but I'm talking about now in relation to what maybe the founders of this school and if Coach Edwards were here, to say 'what has BYU earned, and what do they deserve in terms of having a chance to play and on what stage?'...I think we're approaching that."