PROVO — When Kelly Poppinga heard the stunning news, he was at his in-law's cabin in Schofield, sheetrocking the basement.
It was last Saturday, the day after BYU's humbling 31-16 loss at Utah State. Poppinga, a former BYU linebacker who now serves as a graduate assistant on the Cougars' staff, found it hard to believe what assistant coach Nick Howell was telling him over the phone — defensive coordinator Jaime Hill had been fired.
"I was very shocked," Poppinga said. "It was over (LDS) Conference weekend and it was one of our days off. Not a call I was expecting. Very surprising, not knowing what was going to happen next in the program."
Head coach Bronco Mendenhall, who took over defensive coordinator duties, called a staff meeting Sunday morning. That's when Poppinga received his new assignment: coaching the outside linebackers.
Previously, Poppinga had been helping out the inside linebackers. He now oversees the outside 'backers in place of Howell, who is the new secondary coach. On Monday, Mendenhall told reporters that Poppinga "played middle linebacker in this defense, knows it very, very well. And he knows the culture that I love."
That's how Poppinga sees his new job. It's kind of like sheetrocking the defensive mindset. It's re-establishing a culture and tradition, like the one he played for at BYU in 2006 and 2007, when the Cougars posted back-to-back 11-2 seasons and captured outright Mountain West Conference championships.
"That's my role right now, to establish that culture that's faded away over the last couple of years," he said. "It's a culture of playing with phenomenal effort, enthusiasm, flying around, having fun and causing havoc. That's been lost over this season. Last year, it was there in spots. Now, it's got to be re-established. I think really that's my main role right now, to get that culture back that was here 3-4 years ago."
How did the program lose that culture?
"It's just the leadership. People do things in different ways. Coach Hill had his own way," Poppinga said. "The thing with coach Hill was, he was a really big X's and O's guy. He's very smart, very intelligent. It kind of depended on the rest of coaching staff to keep that culture going without coach Mendenhall having his hand and foot in everything. That's what I attribute it to."
This week's meetings and practices have been a "drastic difference" compared to just a week ago, Poppinga said. Everything has been "completely turned over, flipped over, washed over, whatever you want to call it. It's just like we've turned over a new leaf and we're a whole different team right now. Everything is like a clean slate. We're starting from scratch. In the past, the results have been good, right? So hopefully, by doing those things, good things will happen on Saturday (against San Diego State)."
Reality is, right now the beleaguered BYU defense is ranked last — out of 120 teams — in college football in rush defense. For Poppinga, it's a painful statistic.
"That digs deep. As a linebacker, that's you're No. 1 goal — to stop the run," he said. "We have not been able to do that once this year. Our pillar is allowing less than 100 yards rushing per game. It's a big emphasis. If they give up one yard, they're held accountable in practice.
"It was like a bloodbath (Tuesday). The standard and mindset was set, and hopefully it translates (into success) on Saturday. San Diego State can run the ball. They have a really good running back, and it's going to be another big challenge for us."
Mendenhall is counting on Poppinga and Shaun Nua, another graduate assistant who was shifted from offense to defense this week, to instill toughness in the defensive players. Poppinga and Nua know exactly what it's like to go through Mendenhall's demanding practices.
"We've wanted to punch the dude in the face for making us do something over and over and over again," Poppinga said. "He knows that. He smiles about that. He laughs. He thinks it's great. He's trying to break you and he wants push you to limits you don't think you can reach.
"That's what's so great about this guy. After (players are) done, they come back to the program, and that's what we appreciate, is that he did that to us. Hopefully, now we can do that to these players — push them to limits where they don't think they can go. Hopefully, it amounts to being successful on the field."
What makes this challenge even tougher is the Cougars have been decimated by injuries. Both of BYU's starting outside linebackers, Jordan Pendleton (knee) and Jameson Frazier (broken thumb), are out for a few weeks. Among those filling those two positions include true freshman Kyle Van Noy, junior Aveni Leung-Wai (who was switched this week from inside to outside linebacker), junior Jadon Wagner (a former defensive lineman), and junior Zeke Mendenhall (a converted safety).
"We've got some guys who have never really played that position who are going to get their feet wet right away come Saturday," Poppinga said.
Despite Poppinga's new responsibilities, he remains a graduate assistant. But he's looking at this new assignment as a chance to show what he can do so he can become a full-fledged member of the BYU coaching staff.
"I'm grateful for this opportunity and very, very hopeful that it's something I can take advantage of and run with it," he said. "Hopefully, by the end of the season, after (Mendenhall) re-evaluates it, I'll be one of the guys considered for the job. I hope I can prove myself over the next 7-10 weeks."
That may depend on how his players respond to the process of re-establishing Mendenhall's defensive culture.
Cougars on the air
San Diego State (3-1, 0-0 MWC) at BYU (1-4, 0-1)
Saturday, 4 p.m.
LaVell Edwards Stadium
TV: The mtn. Radio: 1160 AM, 102.7 FM
e-mail: jeffc@desnews.com