PROVO — If enthusiasm counted for tackles and sacks, BYU's defense on Tuesday would lead the league and rank somewhere in the top 25.
In reality, aside from the whoops and hollers that ended drills in the indoor practice facility, the Cougar defense, however aligned, faces a major rebuilding task this spring and summer, starting with a new line and revamped secondary.
BYU hasn't been above .500 in four years, hasn't defeated its chief rival in four seasons and hasn't won a bowl game in a decade.
Still, enthusiasm rules in Day 2 of BYU spring drills. Players are talking of titles, a BCS bowl and wins, however thin their credit score.
One of the enthusiastic players leaving the field Tuesday afternoon was sophomore linebacker David Nixon, a Texan who started as a freshman before leaving for an LDS mission two years ago to Ecuador. There, he lost 20 pounds, received treatment for a parasite before returning to BYU for winter semester and is now trying to get his old starting job back.
Nixon represents a risky well Bronco Mendenhall is dipping into and banking his future upon in Provo. Mendenhall is empowering returning missionaries, recruiting and signing mostly LDS players (24 of 25 signed in February) and even offering scholarships to missionaries in the field of service he has never seen before, like Tallahassee, Fla., cornerback Brandon Bradley (serving in Sao Paulo, Brazil).
In two months, Nixon has put on nearly 25 pounds (197 to 223) by hitting the weight room and eating five times a day, a diet that includes fried burritos from a 24-hour Mexican fast food hangout called Beto's and meat-rich Tucanos restaurant in Provo.
"I've got to get my legs back, my feet underneath me, but I'm benching as much as I did before my mission, from 225 to 305 pounds," Nixon said.
An army of missionary guys? Nixon said Mendenhall, who issued T-shirts with the writing "Band of Brothers," is simply exercising faith in players.
"It's a risk," Nixon said. "Going on a mission hurts you a bit. But there are blessings you receive because of it. In the long run, he's putting faith in us. On a mission you do hard work and that transfers to football. I'm glad to be back and excited to be on this team."
Moments after the squad screamed itself still following practice, Nixon explained all the emotion.
"We're going to win," he said. "There is no doubt in my mind and everybody has the mind-set we're going to win and take the Mountain West Conference championship outright. No doubt about it.
"The mood in the locker room is a lot cleaner. Having prayer before practice is how it should be at BYU. And it's got me excited. Our team has turned into a more mature team I think. We've grown up. We're not going to settle for mediocrity.
"The spirit around here is awesome. The mood has changed a lot since I was here two years ago. I told my parents the other day I'm stoked. I've never been on a team that was so excited about a season. It's looking good, really good."
Nixon figures with Mendenhall using four linebackers, it fits him swell.
"I can use my speed to blitz on the outside or fall back into coverage," he said. "Before, it was tough to blitz against (offensive linemen) Eddie Keele and Jake Kuresa with three linebackers. I love it. "
He said he wants to start but will just take a role to be a part of it all.
"If starting comes my way, I'll take it," he said.
Nixon still hadn't cooled down as he headed through the doors to the outside, a team shout ringing in his ears.
"It fits me perfectly," he said. "I'm excited."
Even for a Texan, Nixon proclaimed a lot.
E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com