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Provo • BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall is reserving the right to change his mind, but he's intending to have defensive coordinator Nick Howell call the game-day schemes in 2014.
Mendenhall took back his control of the defense after firing his coordinator in the middle of the 2010 season. Howell was promoted to the coordinator position last year, but Mendenhall continued to call the schemes during games.
Since the end of the season, Mendenhall has devoted considerable time to working with his offensive staff. "I think that I can do a lot of work, continuing in making sure our offense sees things from a defensive perspective and uses the talent that we have," Mendenhall said during the BYU Football Media Day.
Counting two seasons as a graduate assistant, Howell is entering his eighth year at BYU. "We've been in every meeting together and he knows exactly how the system runs and I think he's ready and capable."
The new assignment will be "a little change-up," Howell said. "Our defensive staff does a good job collaborating, putting together a game plan."