History of the Firesides…
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.
I first met Coach Mendenhall as a senior reporter for BYU in 2003. It was just after the Blue-White game and I had the chance to ask him a couple questions on the field with several other reporters. I was impressed by his composure, but what most impressed me was his ability to get the most from his players over the next couple years despite the struggles the team was having on the field.
Bronco is a great man and that has made him a great coach.
Thanks for the insight Gooch, I love it!
Here’s the url for the complete fireside schedule for anyone interested: http://www.byucougars.com/Filing.jsp?ID=10996
Goocher – I know they film the firesides, why don’t you get a hold of some and post. I know I would love to watch a recorded one or even a live feed.
Why did the boo-ers cause an increase in ticket prices?
I agree with Judd. It would be really nice if they could put the firesides on BYUTV. I really like hearing Bronco speak about spiritual matters. BYU’s football team has really raised the bar when it comes to being a great example of the church.
Matt- the booers caused an increase in ticket prices because I’m pretty sure that after the booing Bronco became more determined and focused to lead this program back to national prominence. Now that BYU football is “back” the seats are being filled and the principle of “supply and demand” has officially kicked in. Long gone are the days of showing up right at kickoff and buying a walkup ticket, since they’re all sold out. And good luck scalping for face value anymore. The great thing is our ticket prices are still way less than most other schools. As long as Bronco is at the helm, I’ll pay anything for a ticket to watch the Cougars.
Love this entry. Bronco is an absolute stud.
Thanks for sharing Quinn. Can’t tell you enough how neat it is to have an inside look at things.
Keep up the good work, Gooch. It looks like more people are reading and commenting on the blog. Care to comment on the rise of the “Deep Shades of Blue” blog, or is that proprietary information?
Regarding the booing–I never saw it as the fans were booing Coach Mendenhall. They were booing the decision to punt. Maybe coaches and players don’t see a difference (they’re the ones who actually had it directed at them so they’re best to speak on the subject), but I guess I see a distinction.
Gooch I enjoy your insight into the Coug’s.
A friend of mine that I always talk Utah smack with told me last night after hearing Bronco on Rome he is a now Bronco fan and he would love to see his son play one day for him. Bronco is the real deal, but I know I am preaching to the choir.
Are you kidding me? There was no reason in the world to punt that ball against Boston College. Bronco deserved to be booed. A lot of us have played football and have watched it for years. That was a boneheaded decision, no if ands or buts about it!!!! What it was telling us was, Bronco was saying “we’d rather lose by 10 than 17.” It was as stupid as Crowton saying “I’d rather win by 9 than just 2.” Plus we ended up losing by 17 anyway. Don’t rip the fans for making the proper call. Everybody knew going for it was our only chance. The point is to win the game, not lose by a closer margin. Losing by 40 is the same in the loss column as losing by 1.
The only trial that makes us truly stronger is the battle of our pride. If we can repent and then emote in a way that allows others to feel the path that we chose, then we truly can experience the blessings that we identify with strength. When we think of the distinctions between the most basic example of having strength, Heaven and Hell, we notice that the trial I mentioned about pride is the common association. In Heaven we will be blessed with Light and instruction from the Creator. In outer Darkness and Hell, we are left to our own prides. I think that being a BYU player is more thanthe athletic endeavor it is described by so many people. To represent the Gospel of the redeeming Lord in all undertaken and not only satisfy, but exemplify, the patterns that substantiate the Spirit. I have seen the signs that BYU is going to allow for a laziness and disruptive person who has accentuated the derision of code and hearthed the idol of body, from time to time. I hope that Bronco Mendenhall can take the hardest of the athletic endeavors and set a high price. I do not wish to watch Pigs roll in filth for my money, and I do not hope for the recognition of a people that believes in an agenda of agonizing. I do want the Light to be seen in though. I do want to learn from inspired men. I think a fireside is a combination of these two and a step to encouraging the people to come to the light.
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