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PROVO, Utah -- Fall Camp officially came to a close Thursday morning with more drills, another scrimmage and the team's annual slip-n-slide activity.
Coach Bronco Mendenhall said he is pleased with the teams' progress and the unity fostered during the last few weeks.
"I like our team," he said. "I think we've taken the appropriate steps to bring them together as a program. We've taken down barriers between the sides of the ball. I think we've created unity and we've given them (the players) every opportunity to be prepared to play going into game preparation. I like our organization and our practice format and I like their willingness to work from day-to-day. Now we move into game preparation."
Junior running back Curtis Brown added that the players gained a lot from the Fall Camp experience.
"Fall Camp went really well for us," he commented. "We had a great chance to install an offense and get better. We took advantage of it. Everyday we came out and worked hard and gave 110 percent, and now we can start preparing for the opponent. We've been beating up on each other for a couple weeks now. Now it's time to get ready for the guys in Boston."
Tight End Dan Coats
Mendenhall noted the coaches began preparing for the B.C. Eagles immediately after practice by reviewing game film and preparing the practice format for Friday, when the players will begin preparing for next Saturday's game. Mendenhall shared his comments on Boston College.
"They're physical, they run the ball very well and they're exceptional at play-action pass. They're confident, they're well coached. They have a program that looks very well established and mature.
During practice, the team ran through Blue Zone drills before conducting a non-contact scrimmage. After failing to move the offense on his first three drives, Beck got things rolling on the last two, leading the team into the endzone with touchdown passes of 47 and 13 yards to Biletnikoff Award candidate Todd Watkins. Between the two drives, Beck was 8-of-13 for 122 yards. For the day, he completed 14-of-23 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns.
Junior receiver Nathan Meikle said the camp was a positive experience and it was fun to end with the slip-n-slide.
"You enjoy it," he said. "There are times when it gets long and hard, but all in all, it's fun. We had a lot of neat experiences as a team during camp. We're not as excited to be done as we are to know that in a week from now we're going to play B.C.
"It's (the slip-n-slide) a lot of fun. I was sure to wear a mouthpiece this year because of Dan Bates. Coach Mendenhall gets out here and looks like a lot of kids."
During last year's slip-n-slide, linebacker Dan Bates collided with a teammate's elbow and lost a front tooth.
"I'm in one piece," Mendenhall said. "I'm breathing a little harder than I expected. My conditioning has dropped off with my new responsibilities."
Written by BYU Athletic Communications
