Cougars say goodbye to seniors

Rain and snow is in the forecast for Provo, Utah, on Saturday night, but when Brigham Young takes the field, the Cougars will be thinking about sunny San Diego.

BYU (5-4) can clinch a date in the Poinsettia Bowl with a victory against Idaho (1-8). The game will be broadcast at 7:15 p.m. on ESPNU (Cable 320).

Twenty-four seniors will be playing their final home games at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

Four Cougars in particular will leave a lasting impression on coach Bronco Mendenhall, including linebacker Uona Kaveinga from Hawthorne, Calif.

"I still remember Uona committing to me in my office but then not coming to BYU," Mendenhall said. Kaveinga chose to play at Southern California, but when coach Pete Carroll left for the Seattle Seahawks, Kaveinga changed his plans.

"We were practicing for a bowl game in Las Vegas, and Uona shows up," Mendenhall said. "I remember walking around the (Valley High School) track with him after he was released from USC, and he expressed an interest in wanting to come to BYU."

Kaveinga has started two seasons for the Cougars at middle linebacker, playing next to departing senior Brandon Ogletree from McKinney, Texas.

"Brandon is the reason we are playing defense the way we are," Mendenhall said. "He only knows one speed in games, in practice, in walk-throughs and in meetings. He loves to play, and he asks that of his teammates."

For the second straight season, Ogletree leads the Cougars with 72 tackles - 21 more than his closest teammate.

Ezekiel Ansah is another defensive standout Mendenhall won't soon forget. The senior defensive end from Accra, Ghana, came to BYU to run track in 2009. Once in Provo, Utah, he decided to try football, and despite having never played before, he made the roster in 2010.

"He is one of the most phenomenal stories I've ever been a part of. This is just the beginning for what he's going to do," Mendenhall said. "If he chooses to continue playing, he will play for a long time."

Ansah is 6 feet 6 inches tall and 270 pounds and is being touted as a possible first-round pick in the NFL Draft by a variety of scouting services.

Saturday is also the final home game for quarterback Riley Nelson. The senior from Logan, Utah, took over the starting job midway through last season. He has struggled with injuries and consistency this year but remains the heart and soul of the team, Mendenhall said.

"Riley is one of a kind," Mendenhall said. "He has a competitive spirit that is unmatched. There is nothing he won't do to make a play. He absolutely loves being in the heat of battle."

Nelson will reunite with the Idaho defensive line Saturday. Last year, the Vandals knocked him out of the game in the first quarter with a punctured lung and cracked ribs. Nelson was hospitalized for two days.

■ SAMPSON SUSPENDED - Starting free safety and kickoff returner Joe Sampson has been suspended for violating team rules. The senior, who started eight games and had 33 tackles, has withdrawn from school.

Seldom-used sophomore linebacker Zac Stoudt was also dismissed from the team.

■ 100 GAMES - Saturday marks Bronco Mendenhall's 100th game at BYU. The Cougars are 71-28 during that span and 5-2 in bowl games. Mendenhall ranks second in school history behind Hall of Famer LaVell Edwards in wins and games coached.

■ BYU-VIRGINIA - The Cougars will kick off the 2013 season at Virginia on Aug. 31. The Cavaliers will play in Provo in 2014. Next fall figures to be the toughest schedule in school history, one that includes Virginia, Texas, Boise State, Utah, Wisconsin, Notre Dame and Georgia Tech.

■ BYU-MICHIGAN - The Cougars and Wolverines will meet in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Sept. 26, 2015. UNLV and Michigan were scheduled for that day, but the Rebels agreed to move their game to Sept. 19 to accommodate BYU.

■ HOOPS TONIGHT - Dave Rose begins his eighth season as BYU's basketball coach tonight when the Cougars face Tennessee State in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. The game will be televised on BYUtv (Cable 352) at 6 p.m.

Rose is second all time at BYU in victories with 185. The Cougars have reached the NCAA Tournament six consecutive seasons.

Dave McCann is a news anchor for KSL television in Salt Lake City and play-by-play voice for BYU sports on BYUtv. He is also the host of True Blue, which airs Mondays at 5:30 p.m. on BYUtv. He can be reached at dmccann@ksl.com or on Twitter @DaveMcCannKSL.