Mendenhall "Not A Great Recruiter"
BYU football coach Bronco Mendenhall has won awards for his coaching acumen, but he doesn't expect to ever be named recruiter of the year.
"All I do is educate," he said. "I am not a great recruiter. The assistant coaches know that. I went into these players' homes and educated them to what the case is and hopefully they push back and really want to come."
BYU's 21-player 2008 recruiting class did not encounter a used car salesman mentality when Mendenhall made his visit. He is not trying to pull one over on high-profile recruits to get them to BYU. He figures it will only hurt both parties in the long run if things aren't the right fit.
"BYU isn't like any other place and the criteria isn't similar to any other so why should I recruit to similar standards to what everyone else has when they are not the same," he said.
Mendenhall's criteria were listed as: 1) Division I athletes. 2) Ecclesiastical. 3) Academic Standards.
****
The Laugh Factory:
If this coaching gig doesn't work out, Mendenhall might have a career as a standup comedian judging by some of his witty and subtle comments yesterday while addressing the Cougar Club members at the signing day luncheon.
"It seems like each year there is more conditional support and I appreciate it," Mendenhall said to begin his speech, which drew a few laughs. "We all know that is the case, so it's better for me to just say it isn't it?"
- Mendenhall said BYU's bowl appearances are good because of the exposure the Cougars get on ESPN. "That only happens with games - No. 1 you can watch on TV and then secondly winning those games," he said with a not so subtle shot at the MWC TV deal with The Mtn. "I have seen some looks that aren't very good," Mendenhall with AD Tom Holmoe sitting a few feet away. "But we might as well acknowledge the brutal facts because I heard more about those two games because people can actually see them. When we have that stage we intend to play well."
- Please step away from the computer. Mendenhall made it clear he doesn't put any stock into the ratings used by recruiting services, and doesn't think you should either. "Before you get all caught up and going on the Internet and doing whatever you do. The idea simply means nothing. It means nothing. Find something else with your time to do please."
- Addressing BYU's fireside appearances the night before games, Mendenhall said some questioned whether that was a wise decision because it might wear the players out or they should be focusing on the impending showdown instead of playing the piano or violin. "Over 30,00 have found that to be a compelling thing when at first it was criticized to the extent of how can they prepare to play if they are singing? You laugh, but some of you were the ones who said it."
****
Around the Mountain:
The BYU men's basketball team took over sole possession of first place in the Mountain West Conference with an 83-72 victory over TCU and a little help from rival Utah.
- The Utes beat UNLV 81-73 at the Huntsman Center to knock the Rebels into second place and snap their five-game winning streak. Utah center Luke Nevill and guard Johnnie Bryant each scored a season-high 26 points.
- San Diego State moved into a tie for second place with UNLV with a 49-38 victory over Air Force at Cox Arena. The 38 points was the fewest San Diego State has allowed in nine years of Mountain West play. It was also the fewest points scored by an opponent at Cox Arena. Air Force didn't score for the first 6:42 of the game.
MWC Standings:
BYU 18-5, 7-1
UNLV 17-5, 6-2
San Diego State 16-6, 6-2
New Mexico 17-6, 4-4
Utah 13-8, 4-4
Air Force 12-9, 4-4
TCU 11-10, 3-5
Wyoming 9-12, 2-6
Colorado State 6-16, 0-8
****
Quick hit:
- USC got Uona Kaveinga yesterday when the linebacker backed out of his oral commitment to BYU and went with the home-state Trojans. The Trojans are likely to also add another former BYU recruit - only this one played basketball for the Cougars. Jordan Cameron (Newbury Park, Calif.) is expected to sign with USC and play tight end for Pete Carroll. Cameron left BYU after redshirting on the basketball team last season and played football at Ventura College during the fall.
"All I do is educate," he said. "I am not a great recruiter. The assistant coaches know that. I went into these players' homes and educated them to what the case is and hopefully they push back and really want to come."
BYU's 21-player 2008 recruiting class did not encounter a used car salesman mentality when Mendenhall made his visit. He is not trying to pull one over on high-profile recruits to get them to BYU. He figures it will only hurt both parties in the long run if things aren't the right fit.
"BYU isn't like any other place and the criteria isn't similar to any other so why should I recruit to similar standards to what everyone else has when they are not the same," he said.
Mendenhall's criteria were listed as: 1) Division I athletes. 2) Ecclesiastical. 3) Academic Standards.
****
The Laugh Factory:
If this coaching gig doesn't work out, Mendenhall might have a career as a standup comedian judging by some of his witty and subtle comments yesterday while addressing the Cougar Club members at the signing day luncheon.
"It seems like each year there is more conditional support and I appreciate it," Mendenhall said to begin his speech, which drew a few laughs. "We all know that is the case, so it's better for me to just say it isn't it?"
- Mendenhall said BYU's bowl appearances are good because of the exposure the Cougars get on ESPN. "That only happens with games - No. 1 you can watch on TV and then secondly winning those games," he said with a not so subtle shot at the MWC TV deal with The Mtn. "I have seen some looks that aren't very good," Mendenhall with AD Tom Holmoe sitting a few feet away. "But we might as well acknowledge the brutal facts because I heard more about those two games because people can actually see them. When we have that stage we intend to play well."
- Please step away from the computer. Mendenhall made it clear he doesn't put any stock into the ratings used by recruiting services, and doesn't think you should either. "Before you get all caught up and going on the Internet and doing whatever you do. The idea simply means nothing. It means nothing. Find something else with your time to do please."
- Addressing BYU's fireside appearances the night before games, Mendenhall said some questioned whether that was a wise decision because it might wear the players out or they should be focusing on the impending showdown instead of playing the piano or violin. "Over 30,00 have found that to be a compelling thing when at first it was criticized to the extent of how can they prepare to play if they are singing? You laugh, but some of you were the ones who said it."
****
Around the Mountain:
The BYU men's basketball team took over sole possession of first place in the Mountain West Conference with an 83-72 victory over TCU and a little help from rival Utah.
- The Utes beat UNLV 81-73 at the Huntsman Center to knock the Rebels into second place and snap their five-game winning streak. Utah center Luke Nevill and guard Johnnie Bryant each scored a season-high 26 points.
- San Diego State moved into a tie for second place with UNLV with a 49-38 victory over Air Force at Cox Arena. The 38 points was the fewest San Diego State has allowed in nine years of Mountain West play. It was also the fewest points scored by an opponent at Cox Arena. Air Force didn't score for the first 6:42 of the game.
MWC Standings:
BYU 18-5, 7-1
UNLV 17-5, 6-2
San Diego State 16-6, 6-2
New Mexico 17-6, 4-4
Utah 13-8, 4-4
Air Force 12-9, 4-4
TCU 11-10, 3-5
Wyoming 9-12, 2-6
Colorado State 6-16, 0-8
****
Quick hit:
- USC got Uona Kaveinga yesterday when the linebacker backed out of his oral commitment to BYU and went with the home-state Trojans. The Trojans are likely to also add another former BYU recruit - only this one played basketball for the Cougars. Jordan Cameron (Newbury Park, Calif.) is expected to sign with USC and play tight end for Pete Carroll. Cameron left BYU after redshirting on the basketball team last season and played football at Ventura College during the fall.
6:24 AM
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2 Comments:
I really enjoy your blogs on BYU sports. I go to this blog before I read any of the newspapers. Keep up the good work
So I'm confused... By "more conditional support" did he mean the support he is getting is more conditional every year or did he mean he is getting more support overall -- albeit conditional support in most cases?
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