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San Diego • It has been more than three weeks since BYU last played a football game, so there has been a lot of time for the Cougars to answer the same questions over and over again. The two they are clearly getting tired of being asked are if they consider Poinsettia Bowl opponent Wyoming a hated rival, and if they are bothered by their three-game losing skid in bowl games.
The answers are no and no.
"I am not really focused on the [bowl losing] streak," first-year coach Kalani Sitake said. "We are just trying to play the game and enjoy the moment, and the best way to really enjoy it is to have a win at the end of it. We are not talking about anything in the past or anything like that. We are going to go have fun, and part of having fun is making sure we play our best and see what happens."
The Cougars (8-4) will be playing in their 12th straight bowl game Wednesday, while Wyoming (8-5) will play in its first since 2011. Coincidentally, the Cougars' last bowl win came at Qualcomm Stadium in 2012, a 23-6 win over San Diego State.
"This is a new bowl, a new year and pretty much we are just going out there and playing our game like we usually have this whole season, and the thing with this whole season is just for us to kill people with kindness," said running back Jamaal Williams, answering both tiresome questions at once. "Be as physical as you want. After the whistle is done, help 'em up, but let them know that you are going to be back for the next play. We can get ruthless, but at the same time we have pure hearts. We are still nice people."
Quarterback Tanner Mangum, who will make his first start since losing 35-28 to Utah in last year's Las Vegas Bowl, seconded the comments made by Sitake and Williams.
"We don't talk about our losing streak or anything. We don't dwell on the past," Mangum said. "All you can worry about is what is ahead. So right now we are just focusing on Wyoming. I think we've got a good matchup. Obviously, they are a good team, have had a really good season, big turnaround from last year. So they are hungry as well to finish the season strong. But as far as worrying about successes or past failures, past records, we are not too worried about that. We are just focused on the task ahead."
Success for Sitake
Regardless of what happens Wednesday night, Sitake is calling his first season a success. And why not? The Cougars won eight regular-season games and lost four games by a combined eight points.
"It has all been positive stuff, really," he said, when asked if anything surprised him. "I mean, the surprise to me is I always knew that the support, especially the fans, at BYU was awesome. But from my perspective as a head coach in his first year, it is way better. … I have enjoyed the moment and getting to interact with everyone. LaVell [Edwards] gave me the best advice. He said, 'be yourself.' He also told me to enjoy every part I can. That's a guy who was here for three decades in this position. This first year was awesome, so I look forward to the next one."
Briefly
Injured senior quarterback Taysom Hill was named BYU's Most Inspirational Player at the team luncheon on the USS Midway on Tuesday. Linebacker D.J. May, whose season ended in the New Mexico game due to a torn pectoral muscle, received the same honor presented by the Poinsettia Bowl folks for Wyoming. … The Cougars are 13-20-1 all-time in bowl games, and have played 30 different opponents in 34 bowl games. They've played Ohio State three times, Oklahoma State twice, UCLA twice and the other 27 opponents just once. … Despite their losing record in bowl games, the Cougars have outgained opponents 13,184 yards to 12,178.
Twitter: @drewjay —
Cougars' untidy bowls
2015 Las Vegas Bowl • Utah 35, BYU 28 Cougars fall behind 35-0 in turnover-filled first quarter before impressive rally. 2014 Miami Beach Bowl • Memphis 55, BYU 48 Memphis QB Paxton Lynch accounts for seven TDs in the brawl-marred 2OT tilt.
2013 Fight Hunger Bowl • Washington 31, BYU 16 Cougars outgain Huskies 473-316, but are doomed by special teams play.