Editor’s Note: The Daily Texan will count down its top 25 as part of its 2009 college football preview.
So close and yet so far.
If not for a pair of losses to Texas Christian and Utah, both nationally ranked teams in 2008, Brigham Young University might have found itself in the same situation as the Utes last year: crashing the BCS party with an unbeaten record on the line.
Instead, the Cougars were relegated to the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl, a game they lost to Arizona 31-21.
But you can count on BYU being back in the national rankings this season. Head coach Bronco Mendenhall is best known for his consistency, saving a fledgling Cougar program from mediocrity and turning it into a regular Mountain West contender in under five years.
After a 6-6 first season, Mendenhall’s teams finished in the final BCS standings in 2006, 2007 and 2008. They will be tested early in 2009 with a season opener against Oklahoma in the new Cowboys Stadium, but the Cougars have a serious chance of breaking the top 15 by the end of the year.
It goes back to consistency. In 2008, BYU’s players sported T-shirts that read, “Quest for Perfection,” and while the team ended with a 10-3 record, it indeed found perfection at home, going an unblemished 6-0 that included a 59-point shutout of UCLA.
In fact, BYU hasn’t lost at home since 2005, which speaks well of their chances in ’09.
Aside from the Sooners, BYU will face its toughest competition within the storied walls of LaVell Edwards Stadium. Florida State, Texas Christian and Utah will all have to travel to Provo, where Mendenhall is 21-3.
Whether it’s the 64,000 screaming fans or Mendenhall’s quiet intensity, teams just have a tough time winning against the Cougars on their home field.
“We look forward to playing these games as we continue to work on improving our program and building on our past achievements,” Mendenhall said of his team’s schedule, which many view as one the nation’s toughest with two out-of-conference powerhouses in the first three weeks.
Quarterback Max Hall lost his top two receivers to graduation, but if junior running back Harvey Unga can stay healthy, BYU will possess a dual-threat offense that should keep the pressure off Hall, allowing him to pick his targets.
Unga also caught 42 passes for 309 yards in 2008. Throw in last year’s second-leading receiver, All-American tight end Dennis Pitta, and Mendenhall will have a number of versatile tools at his disposal when moving the ball.
Defense remains a top concern for Mendenhall, who served as BYU’s defensive coordinator for two years, and it shows in his recruiting approach. While the head coach held out for a number of marquee offensive recruits, he has really beefed up the defense this year, snagging two experienced junior college transfers in cornerbacks Lee Aguirre and Brian Logan.
“This class is a fantastic fit for both the young men and our institution,” Mendenhall said of the 2009 recruits, who also include a top-25 linebacker and a top-15 safety. “I’m extremely excited about this particular class, not only because of their talent but also their character, intellect and academics standards.”
In addition, eight starters return on defense for the Cougars, who should be battle-tested by the time they reach the relative calm of their Mountain West schedule.
Whether or not BYU wins the Mountain West largely depends on the team’s progress over the summer and the work a few players put in to shore up the squad’s few glaring weaknesses. All of that is largely up to Mendenhall, but judging by his track record, he will have no problem molding 2009’s Cougar team into a national contender.
Team Name: Brigham Young Cougars
Coach: Bronco Mendenhall
Conference: Mountain West
2008 record: 10-3
Key Players:
- Max Hall - Senior - QB
2008: 3,957 yards passing/69.0 CMP%/35 TD/156.9 RAT
Hungry leader of a hungrier Cougar squad; will look to avenge last year’s bowl loss and improve on Heisman-esque stats. - Harvey Unga - Junior - RB
2008: 1,132 yards rushing/4.7 YPC/15 TD
Explosive but oft-overlooked back will lead conference in rushing once again.
Game to watch: Sept. 5 v. Oklahoma at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas (ESPN)
The Word on BYU: By avoiding early missteps against Oklahoma and Florida State, BYU will be poised to challenge last year’s conference winner, Utah, for a shot at the Mountain West title and a place in the league’s history of BCS busters.
