PROVO — After Texas A&M formally told the Big 12 Wednesday that it is leaving that conference, speculation heated up once again about the possibility of BYU replacing the Aggies.
In recent weeks, the Cougars have frequently been listed as a candidate to join the Big 12.
Questions from the media prompted the school's athletic department to issue a statement Wednesday afternoon:
"There is much speculation right now regarding conference affiliation that seems to change by the hour. Commenting on such conjecture is not productive and creates a distraction for our program. As we enter the 2011-12 athletic season, BYU is focused on the opportunities ahead. We are excited about our relationship with ESPN as a football independent and our affiliation with the West Coast Conference. The university will have no further comment."
Meanwhile, coach Bronco Mendenhall and his team are busy preparing for the season-opener Saturday at Ole Miss.
Following Wednesday's practice, Mendenhall fielded questions about BYU's future, and explained that he likes that the program is playing as an independent, and that he's immersed with getting his team ready for the Rebels.
"I've been asked about it a number of times. I'll let (athletic director) Tom (Holmoe) handle most of that," Mendenhall said. "Who knows the way it will play out? But I really like where we are right now."
Mendenhall added that he hasn't been discussing the situation with Holmoe.
"I really don't plan to until maybe after the season," he said. "There's too much to focus on."
The coach added that he hasn't talked to his team about what's going on with conference realignment and that it's not a distraction.
"You hear about (conference realignment), but at the end of the day, we're happy with where we're at in independence," said quarterback Jake Heaps. "If another opportunity comes calling, you never know what happens. That's up to Tom Holmoe and the rest of the administration here at BYU. We're just told where to play and we're going to do the best of our abilities to go play there. It doesn't really matter to us. We're going out there playing great teams. It really doesn't impact us as players."
Heaps also said the talk has not been a distraction. "We're playing Ole Miss. That's the only thing we're worried about. Everything else, it doesn't matter. We don't even talk about it."
Earlier in the week, Mendenhall said that superconferences could be coming to college football and that he would like to prepare the program to be included as an automatic BCS qualifier at some point.
Mendenhall reiterated that again Wednesday.
"I think if we play the way that I'm expected to coach, and the way to prepare this team, that maybe inclusion will come by how we play," he said. "Knowing right now, the standards are very high for us to get in. But what if you play really, really well for the next three seasons? Maybe that could be revisited."
UP-AND-COMING: Asked about which of his players have progressed most on the defensive side of the ball, Mendenhall mentioned two — sophomore linebacker Kyle Van Noy and junior linebacker Ezekiel (Ziggy) Ansah.
"Kyle through ability made a lot of plays for us in critical situations and showed a lot of promise a year ago," Mendenhall said. "To this point through camp, he's been if not the most productive defensive player, the most consistent defensive player. He hasn't missed a single day and has had a very impressive fall camp. That's been really fun for me to see."
Mendenhall said Ansah may have a role in nickel situations.
"He's a player that a year ago we had to help him put on his equipment because he didn't know how to dress himself, to now where he actually is becoming assignment-sound and learning a lot about the game and might be able to help us."
OLE MISS/OKLAHOMA: BYU right guard Braden Hansen was asked if the Rebels reminded him of any team he's played in the past.
"I remember my freshman year, watching film on Oklahoma and seeing how athletic and how quick and how fast they were," he said. "Watching Ole Miss' defense, I felt very similar as far as how athletic, how quick and how strong they were up front."
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