Patrick Kinahan's BYU Blog -- Aug 20th
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Two scrimmages in fall camp are enough for Brigham Young’s football team, coach Bronco Mendenhall has wisely decided.
Before Monday’s practice, Mendenhall announced he had called off the scrimmage tentatively planned for Wednesday. The revised schedule includes regular practices the next two days and a day off Thursday.
Preparations for Arizona begin Friday afternoon.
All in all, Mendenhall made an excellent decision. At this point, the only thing a scrimmage does is increase the chance of more injuries.
“I think we know how can play,” Mendenhall said. “I didn’t think the risk was worth it at this point, with as much team work as we’re getting in practice.”
Entering the third week of fall camp, BYU is sort of in no-man’s land. It’s too early to start focusing on Arizona and most of the two-deep depth chart has been filled out.
Basically, the Cougars are ready for an opponent.
“The players that are running with the two’s [second team] on both sides, we think we’ve evaluated them correctly,” Mendenhall said. “There’s selected ‘three’s’ here and there that we might not redshirt that we were considering redshirting. Those decisions will start being made today. I’ll bring each player in and we’ll have it solidified by Thursday.”
The Cougars went through the usual practice drills Monday, with a slightly different twist. Near the end, Mendenhall called the team together and announced the rest of scrimmage portion would be considered overtime.
He told the players to refocus and forget whatever had transpired earlier in the practice. In Mendenhall’s two seasons, BYU is 0-3 in overtime games.
Other notes from Monday:
- Kicker Matt Payne sat out practice for the second consecutive day with knee tendinitis Brian Smith handled kicking and punting. Punter CJ Santiago missed practice as a procedural move before all his credits clear from junior college.
- Running back Manase Tonga spent the morning meeting with Honor Code officials. Tonga, who was arrested for running a stop sign and giving a false name to police, will be suspended for the Arizona game.
- Receiver Austin Collie returned to practice. He sat out Saturday with a hip injury.
- Linebacker Terrance Hooks is expected to rejoin the team either today or Tuesday. He was arrested in a water balloon incident last spring and also will miss the Arizona game.
- Mendenhall said defensive end Brett Denney will see time with the first team, with starter Ian Dulan moving into the inside.
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