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Tallahassee, Fla. • BYU senior safety Andrew Rich admits it. He was feeling the effects of the heat and high humidity at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday.
"Personally, I was a little gassed," he said.
Temperatures were in the mid-90s, but the humidity let up a bit after several days in the 70s. The Cougars wore all-white uniforms for the first time since 2003.
However, Rich said, "I don't think you can blame the way we played on the heat."
The Cougars gave up three unanswered touchdowns in the second half, after holding FSU to 13 points in the first half.
"I don't think the constant grinding [from FSU's running game] is what maybe had the effect. I think the big plays had a larger effect than that" on BYU wearing down, said coach Bronco Mendenhall. "The run in the third quarter that went around us, followed right by a pass completion. And then in the first half, the long run as well. Those to me probably had more of an impact than the constant pounding of the football."
Anae on the field
BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae watched the game from the sidelines on Saturday, instead of from the press box where he usually watches the action unfold and calls the plays. Quarterbacks coach Brandon Doman was also on the sidelines, leaving running backs coach Lance Reynolds as the lone coach up top.
Why?
"More presence on the sideline with a young football team, and young offensive skill players especially," Mendenhall said. "Just making sure there is the communication and the ready adjustment and we our trusting Lance Reynolds to be upstairs and give us all the input we need from there."
Mendenhall said he felt the move was a positive one.
"I think there was some improvement. Still a ways to go from where we need to be, but I think some improvement."
drew@sltrib.com Twitter: @sltribbyu, @drewjay