BYU pushing panic button

Brigham Young coach Bronco Mendenhall might believe this season is on the brink of getting away, and so that's why he fired defensive coordinator Jaime Hill on Saturday.

The truth is it's not only this season but the future of BYU's football program that is in grave danger of slipping away.

BYU keeps trying to convince those outside the Salt Lake City/Provo area that life is good. News releases are routinely sent out about the latest big-name opponent the Cougars will play when they go independent beginning next year.

Fantasyland, however, ends at the Utah state line.

Hardly anyone not wearing BYU blue thinks independence is the right move for the one simple question that even the Cougars' most ardent go-it-alone proponents have no answer for: What, after this season, will they play for?

With no conference championship and next to no shot to land in a decent bowl -- the top games have conference contracts -- BYU at least needed momentum before taking this extremely risky move. A 1-4 record doesn't get it.

If you're a top Mormon player, do you choose an independent BYU coming off a tough season with an uncertain future or a Utah program coming off another strong year heading to what will be called the Pac-12 Conference?

As for this past weekend's big event, the firing of Hill screams panic, especially since BYU's offense has been just about as lethargic.

"I've done what I think is right," Mendenhall said on Tuesday's Mountain West Conference teleconference. "I bear complete responsibility for the decision."

Mendenhall said the change had more to do with "capturing hearts and minds" than anything strategic.

"I've learned more in the last four weeks than in the previous five years combined," he said.

With the move to independence, the lessons are far from finished. The Cougars are only now getting a glimpse of what the future looks like.

n HURTIN' REBELS -- UNLV releases its injury report each Tuesday, and as expected, this week's was particularly long.

The effects of playing three ranked teams in five weeks is catching up.

"It's taken a physical toll on us," Rebels coach Bobby Hauck said.

Quarterback Omar Clayton is the most notable name on the injury list. He is listed as questionable with what is termed an "undetermined" injury -- whatever that means.

Hauck's policy is the weekly list serves as the only comment regarding injuries.

So until the Rebels play at West Virginia at 12:30 p.m. PDT Saturday, no one outside of UNLV will know for certain whether Clayton will play or redshirt freshman Caleb Herring receives his first start.

Another key injury is to linebacker Starr Fuimaono (foot), who also is questionable.

For a complete injury list, visit http://www.lvrj.com/hottopics/unlv/unlv_football.html.

West Virginia has its own injury concerns. Star running back Noel Devine (toe) didn't practice Tuesday, and it's unknown if he will play.

Hauck said with Devine that the Mountaineers "may be shade better, but they have people they can plug in and get the job done."

n DIVERGENT VIEWS -- Texas Christian coach Gary Patterson watched his team win two weekends ago and then drop a spot to No. 5 in The Associated Press' poll.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham's team didn't play Saturday, but moved up three spots to No. 10.

Guess which coach is for a playoff system? Surprisingly, it's Whittingham.

He also goes against the grain of his coaching brethren, most of whom prefer the additional security that comes along with half the teams playing in bowls rather than a select few in a playoff.

You know, the way it's done in every other sport.

"Until there's a playoff system, I don't think anything's real accurate," Whittingham said. But he lamented that "we're still several years from that."

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