This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Provo • With the exception of the startling and to-this-point entirely successful quarterback change in the middle of the fifth game of the season, this is all starting to look rather familiar to the BYU Cougars under coach Bronco Mendenhall.
The pattern in at least four of Mendenhall's years on the job: Struggle early, perhaps get blown out in September and look bad doing it, gain some momentum around the middle of the season, and finish strong. Seemingly, the 5-2 Cougars are doing it again as they head into the easiest game on the 2011 schedule, Saturday's matchup at LaVell Edwards Stadium (1 p.m., BYUtv) against the Big Sky Conference's Idaho State.
"I think our team took another step forward," Mendenhall said after watching film of the Cougars' 38-28 dismantling of Oregon State last Saturday. "I think we are adding balance offensively, I think we continue to play consistently defensively. Our improvement is showing. ... There is a sense of urgency to see how fast we can help this team reach its potential, with five regular-season games to go."
Saturday's game against the 2-5 Bengals likely won't show a thing about that supposed progress, but ahead lurks TCU, which has owned the Cougars the past three seasons — outscoring BYU 101-17 — and surely will be the game that defines independent BYU when 2011 is in the record books.
Mendenhall said at his weekly Monday news conference that he "wasn't certain" if the Cougars would be 5-2 at this point in the season, but he believes now that the team "has a chance" to win all the remaining games on its schedule. Not counting ISU, BYU's remaining opponents are a combined 11-14. It's opponents to date are a combined 18-24, with Ole Miss having been exposed as the SEC's worst team, Texas having lost its last two games and Central Florida just mediocre, at best.
"We have a lot to play for, knowing that we still haven't played to the best of our ability yet. That to me is what the real motivation is," Mendenhall said, knowing that the Cougars are ticketed to the Armed Forces Bowl if they win all of their next five games, or just one. "Whether I expected us to be undefeated or not? Hopeful. But I think we are making progress and gaining momentum."
Mendenhall said the team's talent and execution is starting to catch up with its will, which he has never questioned, noting that the win over OSU was probably its most complete game as far as offense and defense is concerned. But there were problems on special teams that kept coaches from being totally satisfied.
He also said Riley Nelson will get the start at quarterback again on Saturday, but still refuses to say the job is Nelson's to lose.
Nelson "will continue to battle and compete, but that doesn't mean that tenure, or all of a sudden the starting job becomes his, regardless of how he plays," Mendenhall said. "So it is week-to-week, but he will be listed as the starter again this week."
Twitter: @drewjay —
Look familiar? BYU often slow out of gate
Year Rocky start Strong finish
2010 1-4 6-2
2007 1-2 10-0
2006 1-2 10-0
2005 1-3 5-3 —
Idaho State at BYU
P Saturday, 1 p.m.
TV • BYUtv