BYU-Tulane: pregame chatter heating up
One of the big topics at coach Bronco Mendenhall's news conference today was the Cougars' mental mindset as they transition from being a heavy underdog and beating Oklahoma to being a heavy favorite this week against Tulane.
The Cougars are 18-point favorites.
Mendenhall said it could be considered a trap game if it were later in the season, but doesn't believe it is like that now because the season is so young.
"It shouldn't be too difficult to keep the team focused since this is only our second game. The magnitude of the win, I am not sure anyone knows what that is yet. We considered it a fantastic game and really enjoyed it, all the way through Monday. But once Monday started, we have been on to Tulane. I am not sure that this team will allow themselves anything other than looking towards our next opponent, considering that it is only the second week of the season."
The coach acknowledged that he learned how to handle rising expectations after the Cougars beat UCLA 59-0 last year and that it should help the team as it prepares to face a Tulane squad that has won just six games the past two seasons.
"I don't think the wins are comparable, nor are the teams comparable, but the lesson might be. And we spend a lot of time in last season's offseason tryng to gauge what it is that we can do to continue to improve the program, which is our goal every year, and we don't necessarily gauge that only by winning and losing, but so far I think our team is working harder and having more fun. And if that becomes the goal, to do both of those things, and that becomes the way that we gauge whether we are making progress or not, that seems to give us a better perspective.
Quarterback Max Hall said there's no chance the Cougars look past the Green Wave.
"Because we know that if we don't win games, and if we don't finish the season [nothing else matters]," he said. "I mean, that was Game I and people are making a big hype of it. We got 11 more games or so to go. And if we don't win the games that we are supposed to win, it all of a sudden takes that win that we just had, and it lessens the importance of it. And so in order to kind of honor that win, and make it worth what it really is, we gotta keep winning."
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Some interesting (somewhat wacky) statements regarding BYU from Tulane coach Bob Toledo today in his weekly news conference.
Here's my favorite:
"As far as BYU, we all know they beat Oklahoma 14-13 and they are now ninth in the nation. I've played BYU several times. They're an older, much more mature football team than anybody in the country. They've got guys going on 2-year missions and they come back. I would venture to say that I heard that there's like forty-something guys that are married on that football team and I know they have kids too. So, they're mature guys who are responsible people too. But they're an experienced football team because of the Mormon Faith they have to do the 2-year mission as I mentioned, they come back...I know one guy went away as a quarterback and when he came back he was a nose tackle. They grow and mature. They have a great quarterback Max Hall. He's a great quarterback. I remember him when he was at Arizona State. He's really good. Dennis Pitta. He's a California guy. As a matter of fact, my house in California - I could hit a wedge and hit his house. He's a teammate of Casey Blum - one of our players. He's one of the best tight ends in the Country...I think he had about 7 catches last week. "
Here's the link to the official Tulane athletics Web site that contains all of the coach's remarks today.
The Cougars are 18-point favorites.
Mendenhall said it could be considered a trap game if it were later in the season, but doesn't believe it is like that now because the season is so young.
"It shouldn't be too difficult to keep the team focused since this is only our second game. The magnitude of the win, I am not sure anyone knows what that is yet. We considered it a fantastic game and really enjoyed it, all the way through Monday. But once Monday started, we have been on to Tulane. I am not sure that this team will allow themselves anything other than looking towards our next opponent, considering that it is only the second week of the season."
The coach acknowledged that he learned how to handle rising expectations after the Cougars beat UCLA 59-0 last year and that it should help the team as it prepares to face a Tulane squad that has won just six games the past two seasons.
"I don't think the wins are comparable, nor are the teams comparable, but the lesson might be. And we spend a lot of time in last season's offseason tryng to gauge what it is that we can do to continue to improve the program, which is our goal every year, and we don't necessarily gauge that only by winning and losing, but so far I think our team is working harder and having more fun. And if that becomes the goal, to do both of those things, and that becomes the way that we gauge whether we are making progress or not, that seems to give us a better perspective.
Quarterback Max Hall said there's no chance the Cougars look past the Green Wave.
"Because we know that if we don't win games, and if we don't finish the season [nothing else matters]," he said. "I mean, that was Game I and people are making a big hype of it. We got 11 more games or so to go. And if we don't win the games that we are supposed to win, it all of a sudden takes that win that we just had, and it lessens the importance of it. And so in order to kind of honor that win, and make it worth what it really is, we gotta keep winning."
--------------------------------
Some interesting (somewhat wacky) statements regarding BYU from Tulane coach Bob Toledo today in his weekly news conference.
Here's my favorite:
"As far as BYU, we all know they beat Oklahoma 14-13 and they are now ninth in the nation. I've played BYU several times. They're an older, much more mature football team than anybody in the country. They've got guys going on 2-year missions and they come back. I would venture to say that I heard that there's like forty-something guys that are married on that football team and I know they have kids too. So, they're mature guys who are responsible people too. But they're an experienced football team because of the Mormon Faith they have to do the 2-year mission as I mentioned, they come back...I know one guy went away as a quarterback and when he came back he was a nose tackle. They grow and mature. They have a great quarterback Max Hall. He's a great quarterback. I remember him when he was at Arizona State. He's really good. Dennis Pitta. He's a California guy. As a matter of fact, my house in California - I could hit a wedge and hit his house. He's a teammate of Casey Blum - one of our players. He's one of the best tight ends in the Country...I think he had about 7 catches last week. "
Here's the link to the official Tulane athletics Web site that contains all of the coach's remarks today.
7:46 PM
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4 Comments:
I am writing this from Oklahoma, and although my heart was breaking on Saturday night...I had to tell someone how impressed I was with the actions of your entire staff & team. I too, am a Christian, and even though lots of people SAY they are too, not many SHOW that they are. Your coach, players, and staff, ALL showed a lot of class...and I just thought I should tell you that. Good luck the rest of the season, and well, maybe we'll get'cha next time! Thanks for your great sportsmanship! Signed, OU's number one fan
Renee, that takes a lot of guts and courage to say. I too would be just as heartbroken were I a diehard OU fan, but it is nice to see that people notice what BYU is all about. I being a BYU student am grateful to hear you say that. At BYU we strive to be Christ-like, as a missionary I worked for two years to show that love to others, as have many of the BYU football players. Thanks for noticing. Hopefully Bradford gets better soon. Good luck to you guys as well.
Renee--I think you should know it's a two-way street. My wife's cousin was at the game. He commented about how friendly and neighborly the OU fans were, before, during and after the game. He said all the BYU fans were extremely impressed with the caliber, kindness and hospitality of the Oklahoma fans.
I was at the game, and I have never been so impressed with the fans of an opposing team. As we were exiting, ever so many people stopped us and congratulated us for the win. One fan, decked out in Oklahoma gear, congratulated us and the said he was "crushing" on BYU. In any case, I spent a lot of money taking my family to the game; the setting was wonderful, the win was beyond excellent, but the icing on the cake was our surprisingly positive interaction with the Oklahoma fans.
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