Mountain West: BYU out to show its league belongs in BCS

Let's cut through the Mountain West white noise, shall we? All the world isn't a stage for neglected, overachieving underdogs. Don't forget the most tradition-rich, recognized, accomplished program in the league. When a certain cable network wanted a perfect match to open the new Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, it sought out Oklahoma and ... BYU.

Remember the Cougars?

"Take it from this perspective," coach Bronco Mendenhall said, "the game was earned."

BYU's fifth-year coach rattled off the reasons why: Mendenhall has dragged the program out of the muck of a run of scandalous honor code violations. Only a handful of teams have won more games than BYU (38) over the past four seasons. There is an ongoing 18-game home winning streak. Oh, there's that little thing about BYU being its league's most well-known name brand. Anyone remember that national championship in 1984?

The Oklahoma game happens to be the biggest for BYU since the 1990 Miami game in Provo. That day, Ty Detmer and crew defeated the Hurricanes 28-21. The possibilities are endless for the league and its flagship program. An upset victory would be one of the biggest in Cougars history, create a kickoff to a possible undefeated season and make BYU the No. 1 BCS buster. Even a close loss doesn't exactly ruin the Cougars' dreams.

The thing is, they believe they can pull it off.

"I viewed it much like a postseason bowl game," Mendenhall said. "Is there a risk that we aren't undefeated and aren't the BCS buster? I think that would be a very shortsighted view. My interest now is building the program over the long term. I was willing to trade off possibly an undefeated season ... for the lessons we need to learn to have a great season."

•  MWC: Conference | All-Decade Team | Bleacher Report | Podcast

Cougars fans have had to sit by and watch Utah, and to a lesser extent TCU, get the attention while their program has steadily improved. This season-opening Oklahoma game, then, is their BCS bowl. Who cares if they're team is doing it in reverse?

"The expectations at BYU, so we're all clear," Mendenhall said, "is to win every game at home, win the state championship (vs. Utah and Utah State), win the conference championship, go to a bowl game and win that bowl game with young men who go on missions, have great grades and represent the church at the highest level."

If that sounds like Mendenhall is throwing it in the face of outsiders, you might be right. While TCU is the preseason pick to win the Mountain West, BYU might be 1A. Quarterback Max Hall is a Heisman candidate. The last 10 senior starting quarterbacks to finish the season healthy at BYU have won conference championships. Tight end Dennis Pitta is coming off a 1,000-yard season. The offense is balanced by 240-pound tailback Harvey Unga. BYU also has the Mountain West's career sacks leader in defensive end Jan Jorgensen (24).

In short, BYU is back up to the level it was at under LaVell Edwards. Mendenhall has won two conference titles in his four seasons. There was a 16-game winning streak that was snapped last season. During an eventual 32-7 loss in October at TCU, the coach looked around the locker room and realized he hadn't addressed a losing team at halftime in more than a year.

"What's happening right now is remarkable," Mendenhall said.

Even as the only I-A coach named Bronco, Mendenhall hasn't gotten the proper attention. As the defensive coordinator at New Mexico from 1998-2002 he helped develop Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Urlacher. Mendenhall held the same position at BYU when Gary Crowton resigned as head coach following the 2004 season. After a rather messy search -- the job was first offered to former BYU linebacker and then-Utah defensive coordinator Kyle Whittingham -- Mendenhall got the gig.

Both coaches have thrived. Whittingham went undefeated at Utah in 2008. Mendenhall cleaned up the BYU program and won -- quickly. They have split their four meetings as head coaches.

Considering his early success, the 43-year-old Mendenhall could be the new Edwards in Provo. He has gotten results and is refreshingly candid. The coach never apologizes for the missionary program that allows BYU to have older players at the end of their careers but ravages each recruiting class. The majority of recruits go off to far-flung, two-year missions.

The next mission is for the Cougars to break through and incorporate those three little initials in their résumé. That's what the offseason was about for the entire conference. The Mountain West aggressively pursued BCS automatic qualifier status. In the process it proposed an eight-team playoff that benefited mostly the Mountain West.

The status remains quo until at least 2012, when the league could earn an automatic BCS berth on a trial basis for two seasons if it meets a number of complicated standards. Having Utah go undefeated and three teams in the top 25 in 2008 was a good way for the league to kick off a four-year window during which the five non-BCS conferences will be evaluated.

"What's the difference between Notre Dame's history and BYU's history?" Mendenhall asked. "Why do they have an automatic bid and why doesn't BYU? If you look at storied programs and tradition, where is that line drawn? BYU's success over time would equal or exceed any automatic qualifying school in the country." Mendenhall and AD Tom Holmoe together are taking a new aggressive scheduling approach to raise the program's BCS profile. The Cougars will also play Florida State this season (Sept. 19 in Provo). The trip to Dallas to play OU has led to some feelers from other cities wanting BYU for a neutral-site game.

"There will be a given game that will be a tipping point," Mendenhall said, "or there will be a year, finally, where the accumulation of wins becomes so strong where you have to acknowledge [the greatness]. I don't know which will come first, but I've decided to take a more aggressive approach.

"We're not looking to take anything. We're looking to earn it."

Offensive Player of the Year

Max Hall, QB, BYU: Ah, to be a senior quarterback at BYU. It has been at least 35 years since a senior starter who finished the season didn't win the conference title. The Arizona State transfer could have one of the all-time seasons for a Cougars quarterback. As a junior, he pitched 35 touchdowns and completed almost 70 percent of his passes.

Defensive Player of the Year

Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU: Logic dictated that Hughes should have ran, not walked, to New York City for the NFL Draft. The lithe DE led the nation with 15 sacks while forcing six fumbles and getting two interceptions. Hughes, though, wants to please his parents by earning his degree and a Mountain West title as a senior.

Predicted order of finish

1. BYU: Mendenhall has won 32 games the past three seasons while winning two Mountain West titles. This year's team is loaded and gets TCU and Utah at home. If the Cougars upset Oklahoma in the opener, watch out. This could be a season for the ages. Hall is the Mountain West's best at his position. Defensive end Jan Jorgensen is the league's career sack leader. Must-see game: Nov. 28 vs. Utah. After Oklahoma, it's Church vs. State. The Utes come to Provo in the regular-season finale, and the Mountain West title and a BCS berth could be on the line.

2. TCU: Coach Gary Patterson specializes in taking high school running backs and turning them into defensive terrors. Get ready, then, for Hughes to cause more damage. Hughes was handed a defensive number after a high school career as a tailback. Safe to say he took to his new position. TCU's defense led the nation last season. It will remain in the top 10 this season. Must-see game: Oct. 24 at BYU. TCU's defense destroyed Hall and the Cougs 32-7 last season.

Poll Who will win the Mountain West? 3% Air Force   43% BYU   2% Colorado State   1% New Mexico   2% San Diego State   23% TCU   1% UNLV   21% Utah   2% Wyoming   Total Votes: 4869

3. Utah: Losing quarterback Brian Johnson, kicker/punter Louie Sakoda and defensive end Paul Kruger won't hurt as much with 24 redshirt freshmen returning, not including three players back from missions. Must-see game: Sept. 19 at Oregon. This is more about the Ducks, who play Boise State in the opener. Utah could force them off the radar before October.

4. Air Force: It has been a seamless transition from Fisher DeBerry to Troy Calhoun, who has won 17 games in his first two seasons in Colorado Springs. The option offense continues to be the great equalizer. The Falcons should win the Commander in Chief's Trophy again. Beyond that, we're wondering if Air Force is the team that started 8-2 in '08 or the one that lost its last three. Must-see game: Oct. 10 vs. TCU. Considering the Falcons have to travel to Navy, Utah and BYU, this is must-win as well as must-see home game.

5. UNLV: Mike Sanford likely saved his job by winning five games last season. Bowl eligibility is a definite possibility this season. That's saying a lot for a program that has had one winning season in the last 14. Ryan Wolfe is the leading returning receiver in the league (88 catches, six touchdowns). Must-see game: Oct. 17 vs. Utah. The second of back-to-back home games against BYU and the Utes; is it too much to ask the Rebels to win one of these?

6. New Mexico: First-time, first-year coach Mike Locksley has made his share of waves since arriving in the high desert. He injected some energy in what had become a lazy program. He used his recruiting prowess to snatch a few players from the Washington, D.C. area. The loss of recruit Emmanuel Yeager is huge. Yeager left school recently to go back to D.C. Must-see game: Sept. 26 vs. New Mexico State. A refreshing meeting between two African-American coaches on the I-A level. The Aggies' DeWayne Walker matches his defensive wits against Locksley, an offensive guy.

7. Colorado State: Steve Fairchild took the Rams from 3-9 to 7-6 (and a bowl win) in his first season. That tied for the most wins since 2002. The defense must get better after giving up 30 points per game. A veteran offensive line could spring junior tailback John Mosure for a big year. Must-see game:Sept. 6 at Colorado. This intrastate rivalry is always entertaining. Don't hand this one to the Buffs so fast.

8. Wyoming: Dave Christensen and his spread offense blew into Laramie from Missouri, promising more appealing football. Problem: There isn't much offensive talent. Wyoming's offense averaged less than 13 points per game last season. There's no one on the roster close to resembling Chase Daniel. Must-see game: Sept. 12 vs. Texas. Maybe the altitude will slow down the 'Horns because the Cowboys won't.

9. San Diego State: Still trying to figure out why Brady Hoke made this lateral move from Ball State to take this job. Sure, Ball State wouldn't bump up salaries for Hoke's assistants. Is that a reason to go to the worst program in the Mountain West? Hoke does have some familiarity with the area, having recruited the West for Michigan and Oregon State. Must-see game: Sept. 19 at Idaho. The last time the Aztecs were 2-1 after three games was five years ago. Beating Southern Utah and Idaho is succession after opening at UCLA would be baby steps toward success.