Coach Mendenhall has said time and time again that the most important thing in life is not football. He’s also wise enough to see that the only way that we will get enough publicity to get people interested in the Church is by winning football games. Coach has talked to the team on numerous occasions about the importance of playing from a different place so that when others watch us play football they will notice something different about us, then upon further inquiry we will be able to speak about how we live. There should simply be no separation from the type of person you are in your family, business life, church life, etc. I don’t care if you are a welder or a CEO, just go out there, put the shoulder to the wheel and be the best welder or CEO you can possible be. While you’re at it, do everything  possible to live an exemplary life with the intent that others can see the happiness living the Gospel brings.

During the 2005 season we started out 1-3 and we were going on the road to New Mexico.

Coach decided at this point to start doing firesides before every game. Most other collegiate teams in the country spend their Friday nights resting up for the game and going over last minute details. Coach has taught us, from the time he was named the Head Coach, that our spirituality was the most important aspect of BYU football. With a team that was struggling to win ball games, and a young and inexperienced coach feeling a tremendous amount of pressure from a very demanding fan base, this was a risky call. I want to send a shout out to all the fans that booed Coach Mendenhall in his first home game in 2005. I mean it’s alright if you are thinking to yourself, “I’ve watched a lot of football games in my life and I have never seen a team punt the ball from the opponents’ 40 yard line,” but to boo the guy…  more discretion could have been shown. All of you out there who are mad about the ticket price increase can thank those dudes that booed that day against Boston College.

So, back to my point, with the team’s back against the wall at 1-3, Coach decided to really show the team and the fans that this was truly the most important aspect of our program. He faced a lot of criticism from people (even within the organization) that thought that we needed to spend less time on service projects and the idea of giving away our Friday night pre-game time to put on a fireside, seemed a little too philanthropic to a lot of folks who wanted more W’s.

I think I remember Coach Mendenhall stating that this decision was the program’s tipping point. He showed the players that he firmly believed that if we focused on spiritual things and lost our program in the service of others, that everything would turn out alright. Up until this point we had heard Coach talk about the importance of doing the right things off the field but he made a declaration this day in Albuquerque, and it was the shifting of the tide.

That night in New Mexico the players and Coaches talked in front of maybe 25 people and it was announced in every church and stake in the area. Two years later when we returned to New Mexico, after 2 winning season the seats were filled in the largest Stake Center in Albuquerque. Since New Mexico in 2005 there has been a fireside before every single game and Bronco’s record as a Head Coach has gone from 1-3 to 28-7. Coach really believes that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important aspect of the BYU Football program and he demands (as he should) that the players strive to live up to the high standards established by the University and the Church. So if you’re looking for something to take your kids to on a Friday night, call up to the Athletic Department and get direction to where tonight’s fireside is being held.

One thing that I found very interesting was that he talked about BYU’s peculiar recruiting process and how he prefers to recruit players with a solid character, not just 4 and 5 star recruits.  Then he mentioned that he prefers working with BYU players and probably wouldn’t like working with some of the more talented 4 and 5 star recruits at the larger, more accomplished universities.

He also mentioned how BYU’s players are involved with church callings, wives (or the pursuit thereof), and the rigors of being a student at BYU.  It was a very positive interview and great exposure for our program.  I particularly love that Coach is Coach no matter who he’s talking to.  He says the same stuff in team meetings, interviews, and firesides.  He doesn’t change his opinions when addressing different audiences.  It is really refreshing.

Coach talked about how the Washington call was the right call according to how the rule reads in the handbook, and if he thought otherwise he would stated his opinion as such.  He also talked about the efficiency of BYU’s practice schedule.  Our staff lends itself to follow the motto of perfect practice for a shorter period of time, rather than just beating on each other for hours and hours during the week.  The Cougs just get into the work hard and fast, then pack it up and go home.  They maximize their time on the field by practicing with a specific goal and purpose in mind, not just simply to  be on the field because they have to be.

It was a great interview and if you didn’t hear it, download it here: