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PROVO — Yes, it was a win over 1-8 San Jose State last week.
But perhaps the biggest takeaway from BYU’s 41-20 home victory last Saturday — a rare win — that snapped a seven-game losing streak wasn’t any new formation, new skillset or breakout player, necessarily.
It was, quite simply, one word: confidence.
That confidence can go a long way towards BYU’s late Saturday night kickoff at Fresno State (5-3), providing a much-needed source of momentum against a team that just lost at UNLV, according to assistant head coach Ed Lamb.
“I think our guys are savvy enough and experienced enough to know that in college football, whether we played better or not against San Jose State or East Carolina, that’s questionable,” Lamb said Tuesday after practice. “We didn’t turn it over as much, and there are things you can point to that was better.
“But in the final analysis, we were better than an opponent. Our guys realize that. However, it’s just more fun to win. If our guys can carry that demeanor into our coaching, our spirits, I think that’s powerful.”
There were a lot of reasons for Saturday’s win: Tanner Mangum threw for three touchdown passes, KJ Hall recorded the longest touchdown play from scrimmage since Taysom Hill hit Jonah Trinnaman with a 75-yard score a year ago, and the defense finished in the positive side of the turnover column.
But mostly, the players were just sick of losing, according to linebacker Butch Pau’u — and they took out their frustrations on a Spartans squad ranked among the worst teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision in most major statistical categories.
“Last week was a mentally strong week,” Pau’u said. “Fred (Warner) was offended they decided to go to the offense when they won the toss, and that got the guys going — even when they went up 14-0.”
🎥: @LangiTuifua had his 1st career fumble recovery in BYU's win Saturday & injured teammates @fred_warner, @mounga50 had to celebrate w/him pic.twitter.com/kH1Z3wmaDC
— Brandon Judd (@brandonljudd) October 30, 2017
Cheerleader-in-chief
Miami has its turnover chain.
Tennessee has its trash can collector.
Every college football team has something on the sideline to pump up big plays.
BYU has … Tevita Mo’unga?
The injured defensive tackle was arguably the most active player on the BYU sideline Saturday, pumping up the crowd and teammates with one big play after another.
It went noticed by his non-injured teammates, too.
“The coaches gave him some praise yesterday; they said ‘Vita Mo’unga is an unselfish guy,” Pau’u said. “He got hurt, and can complain about anything he wants. But he’s leading right now. Kyle Griffith, Alden Tofa, everyone that wasn’t playing was there because Tevita was getting them all riled up.”
What is BYU playing for now?
A lot has been made of BYU’s remaining season. With a losing record guaranteed and the thought of a postseason bowl appearance all-but eliminated by the slimmest of mathematical margins, some argue that the Cougars are staring at something of a lost season through the month of November.
One BYU coach has a counterargument, though.
“The pressure of not playing for a winning season is helpful. We have to evaluate what we are playing for now: to be as good as we can be and for every winning moment,” Lamb said. “I think that’s good for the team.”
