Coach worried about BYU’s mindset

Football coaches are a paranoid lot, and things only get worse as the stakes increase.

Bronco Mendenhall, Brigham Young's generally easygoing and low-key coach, isn't immune.

Many in the media are touting the Cougars as this season's Bowl Championship Series busters. But Mendenhall worries his team is getting caught up in the hype, after reading players' quotes that have shifted from statements about "we" and "us" to talk of "I" and "me."

Mendenhall isn't big on limiting media access to the team, but he knows two-time defending Mountain West Conference champion BYU has a major opportunity this season.

He voiced his concerns in a team meeting Monday. Mendenhall fears this isn't a problem that will go away, though he said practices and other types of game preparation haven't been affected.

"It's been able to penetrate farther than I hoped," Mendenhall said during Tuesday's league teleconference. "I've had to handle outside influences more than I have the last couple of years. I don't think it's over."

Go ahead, call Mendenhall paranoid. But remember he put BYU back on top in the Mountain West largely because of his attention to detail.

The 16th-ranked Cougars open the season Saturday by hosting Northern Iowa, which might sound like a walkover. But the Panthers advanced to the Football Championship Series playoffs last season, winning at Iowa State along the way.

"I think they have enough talent to beat us," Mendenhall said. "They're well-coached, as well-coached as any team in our league."

• NO SURPRISES HERE -- Appalachian State's stunning opening-week upset of Michigan last season probably ruined any hope Utah had of sneaking up on the Wolverines on Saturday in Ann Arbor.

"That heightens the awareness, I'm sure of that, and the element of surprise and not being ready to play in the opener is completely gone," Utes coach Kyle Whittingham said. "It's certainly at the forefront of everybody's mind in their program. So that didn't do us any favors having Appalachian State go in there and whack them like they did last year."

Still, Utah could have a realistic shot at upending Michigan. Only 4-point underdogs, the Utes face a Wolverines squad that is remaking its offensive personnel and scheme under first-year coach Rich Rodriguez, who hasn't even named a starting quarterback yet.

Whittingham knows his team will be representing not only Utah on Saturday but the entire Mountain West.

"If we want to be high profile (as a conference) like we feel we deserve, we've got to win those games," Whittingham said.

• THIS YEAR'S BELL -- San Diego State coach Chuck Long was asked recently if there is a MWC defensive player that he might design an offensive game plan around.

"I think Beau Bell is the one that stuck out the most the last couple of years," Long said of the former UNLV star linebacker who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round this year. "Right now, nobody sticks out. We've still got a ways before we finally get to conference play, and by then who knows?"

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.