BYU Football with Bronco Mendenhall 9-25-13


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PROVO — Losing to your rival is not easy, especially when it happens four years in a row. After BYU suffered yet another close defeat to the University of Utah last week, head coach Bronco Mendenhall said the team was extremely disappointed but anxious to get back to work and improve.

"It was a difficult loss. A lot of emotion went into the game, and lot of emotion came out of the game," said Mendenhall. "The best way to rebound and show resiliency is to get right back to work. I was thankful for a shorter week just to get back to improving our team and helping it reach its potential."

The players dedicated this week of practice to getting back on track before the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State ride into Provo Friday night.

"Our team meeting Monday was probably the most somber and disappointed group of players that I've seen since I've been the coach," said Mendenhall. "The way they then responded with the work habits necessary Monday, Tuesday, and today were reflective of their diligence and desire to improve the team rather than stay in that disappointed state. They were disappointed but anxious to do something about it."

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Middle Tennessee hails from Conference USA and is making only its second trek out west to play in the state of Utah.

"They're a good football team; fast and athletic would be the very first way to describe it," said Mendenhall. "If you put on their offense or defense, their skill players are quick, fast, and very athletic, so our fans will see an explosive offense and a really fast defense."

Balance is the key to the MDSU offense. Through their first four games this season, the Blue Raiders made 40 first downs on the and 45 more through the air. They've also accumulated 800 total yards rushing and a nearly identical 842 yards passing. Such a balanced attack makes planning defensive schemes a bit tricky.

"As a playcaller, you are not able to be quite as exotic," said Mendenhall. "When an offense is balanced like that, there's a little bit more risk in deciding what to do, when to do it, and the consequences of deciding from where to bring pressure."

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Mendenhall also touched on the status of suspended linebacker Spencer Hadley. He added more details to the recent Sports Illustrated article about the fireside the team attended before the Utah game. It was at a corrections facility in Draper, and Hadley gave an emotional speech to inmates in the prison's Substance Abuse Treatment Program.

"I felt strongly as soon as we went to the prison that Spencer had a message that might be helpful," said Mendenhall. "It's funny because when he walked in, he said he knew he had something he needed to say as well."

"I was really happy for Spencer from the standpoint that it really started his healing and added some closure where he hadn't had the chance to talk out loud about it," continued Mendenhall. "And in that unique setting, he had that chance and really helped a lot of people who could relate to having made some choices they regretted but were anxious to improve their lives."

Mendenhall added that Hadley is still on track with the guidelines the football team set as part of his suspension. He must also meet benchmarks from both school and ecclesiastical leaders before returning to the playing field.

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Defensive lineman Remington Peck made a guest appearance on the show. Even though he's only a sophomore, it seems like he's been on the team for much longer.

"I feel like I have been here forever," said Peck. "It seems like so much time has already gone by."

BYU Football with Bronco Mendenhall 9-25-13

Peck joined the BYU squad as a scout-team member in 2009 before serving a two-year mission in Rochester, New York. He's seen action at multiple positions but has finally found a home at defensive end.

"Growing up, I was able to play many positions ... tight end, outside linebacker, and defensive end," said Peck. "Outside linebacker and defensive end are closely related, so it allowed me to easily transition to defensive end."

Peck appreciates the hard work the offense is putting in by trying to go fast and go hard, but he admitted the quick pace combined with lackluster performances have limited the defense's chances to rest during games.

"There was a series when the offense went three-and-out and punted, and we [the defense] were back on the field in 34 seconds versus Virginia [laughs]," said Peck, "but we just have to buckle up and get it done."

In response, Mendenhall jokingly chimed in saying "If they don't want to play so much, then get off the field on third down [laughs]."

After holding Utah to a Bronco-Mendenhall-era best 1 of 14 on third downs last week, the defense might be taking that counsel to heart on a permanent basis.

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During the fan question segment of the show, one fan asked Mendenhall why he appeared to get emotional right before running on the field before the Utah game.

"When we pulled up to the stadium and saw all the college students there lined up all the way up and down the street and the way they greeted our team, it was really clear how much the game, the university, and the team mattered to them," said Mendenhall, "and I just for a second was thinking about how lucky I was to be the coach here."

"It was the best college football game atmosphere that I've been a part of," continued Mendenhall. "Of any home game I've been a part of since I've been here as a coach, that was the best environment and the best support that we've had."

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Jason Ludlow is a KSL Newsradio BYU intern

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