Mendenhall says his days are much different as DC

Provo • Work days are a bit different for BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall now that he's appointed himself as the team's defensive coordinator, replacing the fired Jaime Hill.

Actually, they are a lot different.

"I would say [they are] 95 percent different than what I had been [doing] prior to last week," Mendenhall said Tuesday. "I spent every minute but a half hour, per day, in the defensive room coaching the defense and designing the schemes and strategies and building the culture.

"I spend a half hour a day in the head coach's office, which is the exact opposite percentages of what it had been prior to that. So from running practice, to running meetings, to designing schemes and strategies, and planning, I basically took on the role of an assistant coach, as well as a head coach, last week."

The coach said he is still not sure yet whether he will hire a new defensive coordinator in the offseason, or keep the position.

"I am going to think very hard about it. I am not ready to commit to that answer yet, but I am going to think very hard about the role that I am currently playing. I am enjoying it. It certainly is a lot of work, and longevity could be an issue that way. But it is more fulfilling, currently," he said.

When on "Rome" …

After getting his first NFL start on Sunday and helping the Arizona Cardinals defeat the New Orleans Saints 30-20, former BYU quarterback Max Hall appeared as a guest on Jim Rome's nationally syndicated radio show Tuesday morning. Rome gave Hall plenty of chances to throw out more verbal jabs at the University of Utah, a school he said he "hates" after the Cougars defeated the Utes in Provo last November.

However, Hall was remarkably restrained, and mainly just described the Utah-BYU rivalry to Rome's audience as one of the most intense in the country.

"To be honest with you, I don't think there's a lot of respect in it," Hall said. "I just think it has come down to hate, and it is unfortunate it has to be like that."

Rome asked Hall what going to BYU did for him.

"It's a different type of atmosphere, and a different type of kid that you recruit there," Hall said. "A lot of us go on Mormon missions, so you come, play for a year then leave for two years, and then you come back and you're back playing again. So really, recruiting and everything's different, and the atmosphere is different."

Hall said he felt like a "professional quarterback" at BYU because of the media scrutiny and attention.

"So it prepared me a ton for what I'm going through right now, not to mention the type of offense we ran, which was very sophisticated, very complicated and gave me all control," he said. "That's why I think I feel comfortable stepping into this role right now."

Briefly

Safety Steven Thomas (concussion) will not be cleared to play on Saturday, trainer Kevin Morris said. Fellow safety Andrew Rich will play, while linebacker Jameson Frazier (broken thumb) is probably another week or two away from returning. … BYU has won 13 straight games that have been decided by seven points or fewer. … TCU will be the fourth team currently ranked in the Top 25 that BYU has played this year.

drew@sltrib.com Twitter: @drewjay —

BYU (2-4) at TCU (6-0)

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