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PROVO -- The biggest news to come out of BYU media day was a new contract extension for Bronco Mendenhall. There weren't any big scheduling announcements that many fans had hoped for, but it was a chance for BYU to showcase their new found independence, their relationship with ESPN and a new broadcast facility.
"Here we are back with our good friends at ESPN," said BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe. "Ready to move forward into the future."
"I think anybody that has watched us over the years, knows how many great games BYU has given us," said ESPN vice president of programming Dave Brown.
Holmoe pointed out what an asset ESPN and Brown have been in helping them schedule games.
"Sometimes we'll go to Dave (Brown) and say, hey we would love to fit in a certain team and don't necessarily have a connection, and Dave is maybe able to move a game or two on our schedule to make it happen, and that is something that is very special," said Holmoe. "Without that assistance from ESPN, we would never have been able to put a 2011 schedule together."
ESPN will offer a level of exposure for the football program it's never experienced before. And everyone form players to coaches are excited for the opportunity to play on TV sets around the country.
"One of the hardest things for us over the past couple of years is hearing families of players or fans in different states that weren't able to get the games, weren't able to watch us play," said pre-season all-American tackle Matt Reynolds. "That was really hard for us but we're going to have so much more exposure, so many more opportunities for people to watch and for people to see us play, and really have recognition on a national level unlike we have had in a really long time."
The TV deal has also given BYU's recruiting a real shot in the arm.
"It has increased the pool of young men that would like to come that otherwise wouldn't have known about BYU," said offensive coordinator Brandon Doman. "Now being on national television every Saturday, we get to be seen. We are going to be playing in different parts of the country now which has increased some of the other opportunities in other states for us."
Playing on the world wide leader in sports' network week after week and facing the unknown world of independence could intimidate a lot of teams, but BYU players and coaches say they are confident and optimistic for the future.
"I'm just shaking just thinking about it," said BYU QB Jake Heaps. "I'm really looking forward to this season and what our team has in store for us and its exciting schedule and what our team is capable of."
"You don't go into a season saying ‘if we go .500 it's going to be okay,'" said running back JJ DiLuigi. "We are out to win a championship and we don't have a conference anymore so the national championship is what we are looking for and that is what we are working for."
"We could beat anybody," said defensive back Corby Eason. "Our goal here is to win a national championship and we are not going to listen to anyone to tell us anything different. We know we can win a national championship."
The coaches also have a goal of bringing home another national championship to Provo, but they think the road may be a bit longer than most of the players.
"I don't think we are ready yet," said Doman. "We are emotionally ready for it and we talk a good game right now but we got a lot of work to do."
"BYU won a national championship in 1984 and I think they and the administration wants a coach that will embrace that standard, which is the standard," said head coach Bronco Mendenhall. "I don't intend to shy away from it because it is what is expected here and we might as well say it."
