LAS VEGAS, Nev. — While typical pregame preparation for the 64 major college football teams involved in bowl games this season were activities such as team meetings, game-film review and relaxation, the BYU football team went its own way.
Less than 24 hours before kickoff of their Las Vegas Bowl matchup with the University of Oregon, BYU players filed into the Las Vegas Nevada Redrock Stake Center to conduct a fireside Wednesday, Dec. 20, for an overflow congregation.
Is that a good way to prepare for a big game?
"It's the best way," responded BYU head football coach Bronco Mendenhall as he was striding, with wife, Holly, into the stake center. "It acknowledges the source of our strength and our purpose."
The BYU football team started holding pregame firesides in 2005, and in coach Mendenhall's second season, there has been one the night before every game. For added measure, the Cougars held two in Las Vegas — one when they arrived on Sunday night for members of the east side of the city and the second for members on the west side.
In addition, the team divided into two groups Tuesday for service projects. Assistant athletic director Duff Tittle said one group visited a boys' and girls' club and helped about 90 children build gingerbread houses. The other group, he said, painted in an old hotel used as a homeless shelter.
Following the service projects and firesides, the Cougars took the field in Sam Boyd Stadium and downed Oregon 38-8.
Assistant coach Brandon Doman is the fireside coordinator for the team and said for road games he works with priesthood leaders in the area to organize the event. He said wide receiver Matt Allen, as a member of the team's leadership council, is the fireside program coordinator, giving willing players the opportunity to speak or share musical talent.
The pre-Las Vegas Bowl fireside program was typical. Offensive lineman Walter Kahaialii accompanied himself on the guitar in a musical solo. Defensive back Corby Hodgkiss spoke of the faith his family is exercising as his younger sister is going through a serious illness. Linebacker Cameron Jensen shared experiences from his mission to Russia and exhorted all young men to prepare to serve a mission. After speaking, Brother Jensen sat at the piano and accompanied the players in singing "Army of Helaman." Then coach Mendenhall and his wife spoke. Players gave the opening and closing prayers.
Unique to the fireside were remarks from BYU President Cecil O. Samuelson who is also a member of the Seventy.
Attending the firesides is optional for team members, said BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe. But, he added, it's something the coach wanted to do. He believed that his teams were prepared physically, mentally and emotionally, but that spiritual preparation would be important as well.
During the firesides, the speakers talk about being disciples of Christ.
In Las Vegas, coach Mendenhall summed up the overall message that the game, while important, was secondary. He emphasized in his talk, "In terms of priority, what we're doing tonight is our priority as a football program. It is our priority as disciples of Christ. It is our priority as members of the Church. And it is our responsibility to share what we have with others."
Brother Holmoe said that when the team travels, the locations of the firesides are always filled with young men and young women as well as children and adults.
"A lot of parents have said it's good for them to bring their kids to see a side of athletes that most of the time people don't see," he said.
He told of a family at the fireside in Boston before BYU played Boston College. When the father said he had driven up from Virginia, he was asked, "So you came for the game?" He replied, "No, we came for the fireside." Brother Holmoe said they didn't even have tickets to the game.
Because of its mission, BYU has an added spiritual nature. Coach Mendenhall has emphasized this mission for the football team. President Samuelson said he is asked if it makes him nervous to have a football coach who quotes scripture. He said he replies that besides the voice of his wife, Sharon, there are 15 voices (the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve) that he listens to very carefully. He said, "They're very pleased that coach Mendenhall quotes scriptures."
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