National championship game probably out of reach, Bronco says
BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall acknowledged in his part of the Mountain West Conference football teleconference today that the No. 7/8 Cougars probably won't get a chance to play for the national championship even if they do go 12-0 in the regular season this year.
Asked if there was still a bias from those that vote on the Harris Interactive Poll and the USA Today coaches poll -- two-thirds of the formula that make up the BCS rankings -- that could keep an undefeated team from a non-BCS conference out of the title game, Mendenhall answered affirmatively.
"I think it very well could happen," he said. "I am not sure the perception of our program and our league is strong enough yet, even if we go undefeated that we might be considered that way. Really, those thoughts are ones I can't control, nor do I have much influence over, other than just trying to help our team win and play to the best of their ability."
BYU is No. 7 in the Coaches Poll and No. 9 in the Harris Poll. Computer rankings -- which take into account strength of schedule -- comprise the final third.
Mendenhall then repeated the thoughts that he first shared in his news conference on Monday, that there is something wrong with a system that moves a team four spots in the polls even when it doesn't play.
"Just when you think you know the irony of the polls, we did win a game earlier [vs. Washington], and dropped a few spots, and we don't play a game at all, and we move up. So I think it is just very premature to try to sort out where we might fit.
"We have a lot of room to improve just in terms of winning football games and getting our team to play at their highest level, so after Week 12 we will have a better idea, but I think our league is still fighting for credibility and certainly, we would be the same."
Mendenhall acknowledged that it will probably take a scenario in which a non-BCS team wins back-to-back BCS bowl games to change the national perception.
"In that case, the country at large would be saying, "How come this team doesn't get a chance and how come this is so exclusive?" But it might take something maybe as extreme as that for it to work out. And again, I am just projecting, I don't know for sure," he said.
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Other odds and ends from the six-minute session:
* Asked what BYU's offensive line is doing well (it has now officially allowed one sack, after officials changed Max Hall's end zone fumble against Northern Iowa to a sack), Mendenhall said it is protecting Hall well and it is also unfazed by the tricks and stunts that defenses are using.
"Very seldom is there a player that is coming free unblocked," he said.
* Mendenhall said the Cougars are indeed concerned about Utah State, although they are 28-point favorites in Friday's game at Logan.
"We certainly think we are going to have our hands full," he said.
Asked if there was still a bias from those that vote on the Harris Interactive Poll and the USA Today coaches poll -- two-thirds of the formula that make up the BCS rankings -- that could keep an undefeated team from a non-BCS conference out of the title game, Mendenhall answered affirmatively.
"I think it very well could happen," he said. "I am not sure the perception of our program and our league is strong enough yet, even if we go undefeated that we might be considered that way. Really, those thoughts are ones I can't control, nor do I have much influence over, other than just trying to help our team win and play to the best of their ability."
BYU is No. 7 in the Coaches Poll and No. 9 in the Harris Poll. Computer rankings -- which take into account strength of schedule -- comprise the final third.
Mendenhall then repeated the thoughts that he first shared in his news conference on Monday, that there is something wrong with a system that moves a team four spots in the polls even when it doesn't play.
"Just when you think you know the irony of the polls, we did win a game earlier [vs. Washington], and dropped a few spots, and we don't play a game at all, and we move up. So I think it is just very premature to try to sort out where we might fit.
"We have a lot of room to improve just in terms of winning football games and getting our team to play at their highest level, so after Week 12 we will have a better idea, but I think our league is still fighting for credibility and certainly, we would be the same."
Mendenhall acknowledged that it will probably take a scenario in which a non-BCS team wins back-to-back BCS bowl games to change the national perception.
"In that case, the country at large would be saying, "How come this team doesn't get a chance and how come this is so exclusive?" But it might take something maybe as extreme as that for it to work out. And again, I am just projecting, I don't know for sure," he said.
----------------------
Other odds and ends from the six-minute session:
* Asked what BYU's offensive line is doing well (it has now officially allowed one sack, after officials changed Max Hall's end zone fumble against Northern Iowa to a sack), Mendenhall said it is protecting Hall well and it is also unfazed by the tricks and stunts that defenses are using.
"Very seldom is there a player that is coming free unblocked," he said.
* Mendenhall said the Cougars are indeed concerned about Utah State, although they are 28-point favorites in Friday's game at Logan.
"We certainly think we are going to have our hands full," he said.
12:10 PM
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