Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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Calling Oklahoma the "most talented" and "fastest of all" the teams he has faced as BYU's head coach, Bronco Mendenhall met the media this morning at Legends Grille.
You can hear the entirety of Bronco's comments by clicking on his audio link in the "Cougar Cuts" box to the right.
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Bronco clarified a few personnel situations, saying field corner Brian Logan has a "non-surgical" broken finger, but will play and will likely start versus Oklahoma.
He added that FC Robbie Buckner is not yet 100% with his hamstring, and that fellow field corner Corby Eason is still waiting on an eligibility ruling. The NCAA has informed BYU a decision should be rendered before BYU leaves for Dallas, but Bronco says the team is preparing as if Eason will not be cleared for OU.
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At the boundary corner, Bronco pronounced the battle to start there "even" between Brandon Bradley and Lee Aguirre. The coach expects to make a decision on the starter by Thursday.
Cornerback Garrett Nicholson is not currently admitted at BYU, and his academic issues have eliminated him consideration for the Oklahoma game; Bronco noting that Nicholson has work to do to "have a chance to work his way back into the program."
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While Braden Hansen is listed as a starting left guard, Bronco is not committing to starting him there on Saturday--Marco Thorson has been the #1 LG for most of camp. Bronco says the team will travel only eight offensive linemen at most, and possibly only seven. If there is an eighth lineman on the trip, it will be freshman Fono Vakalahi, whom Bronco would prefer to redshirt.
The "top seven" are Reynolds, Hansen, Thorson, Willing, T. Brown, N. Alletto and Freeman.
Matt Reynolds is listed as "probable" for the OU game, and is listed as a starter. Were he not able to go, Hansen would start at LT.
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While classes have begun at BYU, OL Jesse Taufi is not yet with the team; Bronco hopes for his return "maybe in a week."
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I referenced the BYU coaches who have coached against OU while at other schools earlier this decade. Bronco acknowledged common links between those earlier Bob Stoops' squads and the current team, but Bronco says the 2009 team is more talented. Those coaches call the current era of OU Football "exceptional."
Bronco also drew attention to Mike Stoops' tenure at Arizona, noting similarities between the programs at U of A and OU--intimating that Mike and brother Bob are sure to have shared notes ("transfer of knowledge," in Bronco-speak) about preparing to face BYU.
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Today, you will also find group interviews with Andrew George, Brett Denney, Jan Jorgensen and Andrew Rich in the "Cougar Cuts" box."
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A reminder: KSL Newsradio's first "Bronco Mendenhall Show" of the season is set for Ken Garff Ford of American Fork on Wednesday, from 7:00-8:00pm. And yes, Iceberg will be on hand once again with free burgers, and even more fixins' than before. See you Wednesday at 7 down in American Fork!
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