Meikle returns
On the final day of two-a-days, receiver Nate Meikle found his way back on the field.
A senior who caught 36 passes for 292 yards last season, Meikle has been held out of contract drills for much of fall camp due to injury. In his place, freshman Mike Hague has been impressive.
But coach Bronco Mendenhall is glad to have Meikle back. "It's felt there's been a missing piece for a while. There's been a lot of attention with Mike Hague. The best way for Mike to learn and for our team to move forward is to have Nate back. It felt a lot better."
Bad snap day
Saturday's scrimmage featured a couple of errant snaps from center in the shotgun formation. Monday's practice featured more of the same.
Mendenhall admitted it is a concern.
"It's not resolved to this point. We need to continue to work on it and get it solidified because those snaps kill drives, they cause turnovers and, in general, they give the appearance of an offense that isn't executing at its highest level."
After practice, offensive line coach Jeff Grimes had all of his linemen practicing their shotgun snaps with the quarterbacks.
"Everyone's trying to get that down," said tackle Dallas Reynolds. "You can't have that happen in a game. It's better to happen here and work out the kinks rather than have it happen in a game."
Out of sight
Mendenhall likes to reward players who give all-out effort every day in practice, and there are two defenders who have made an impression with their performance in the place of injured returning starters.
Safety Cole Miyahira has been seeing the majority of reps with the first-team defense as Dustin Gabriel has been out with headaches, while cornerback Ben Criddle has done the same in place of Kayle Buchanan (shoulder).
"Ben has had a great camp and Cole has played his best football since he's been here over the last few years when he's had a chance to run with the (first team)," Mendenhall said. "That will certainly be acknowledged."
Voice from past
One of Mendenhall's goals since he became head coach in December 2004 has been to reconnect with former players and help them feel part of the program. Occasionally, he has former players speak to his players.
Prior to Saturday's scrimmage, safety Derwin Gray, who is now a pastor, took his turn.
"His remarks were very, very appropriate. What I appreciate is when given an opportunity, whether it be Vai Sikahema or Glenn Redd or Steve Young or Ty Detmer or Gabe Reid or Justin Ena or Chad Lewis, you can definitely tell that they've put some thought into what they're going to say," Mendenhall said. "They speak from their heart when talking to our team, and that comes across more than anything else. Our players pick up on that, maybe not as much as even what the message is, but it's very clear that these players aren't stopping by just to say hello. They have a specific and vested interest in this program. The way it's presented is to the point and from the heart. That, in and of itself, is a good reminder for our players to know there have been others that go before them and to remember those voices."