I was hopeful that domino would fall to generate dialogue, that if the Big 12 did not get a team into the playoff, and one of the reasons being because there was no championship game, I was hoping that was brought to light. – BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall
PROVO — Looking tired after taking a red-eye flight home from a Miami Beach Bowl press conference in Florida late Thursday, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall was back at practice Friday morning with his team, which is preparing to meet Memphis on Dec. 22.
Then he fielded questions from the local media.
Mendenhall addressed numerous topics, such as the Big 12's stance regarding expansion; a couple of stunning coaching changes involving two of his best friends in the profession; his level of interest in the Oregon State job; injury updates; transfers; and losing his director of football operations to Oregon State.
Since last summer, Mendenhall has been outspoken about his desire to see the Cougars join the Big 12, and he watched with keen interest the developments of last weekend when the conference was shut out of the inaugural college football playoff.
“I was hopeful that domino would fall to generate dialogue, that if the Big 12 did not get a team into the playoff, and one of the reasons being because there was no championship game, I was hoping that was brought to light,” Mendenhall said.
Sure enough, speculation about the Big 12 expanding, and possibly inviting BYU as a member, ran rampant this week.
The coach outlined his view of the Big 12’s reaction to the snub — wanting to stage a championship game, and petitioning the NCAA to have a title game with just 10 members.
“Not sure how I’d feel if I was one of the other four leagues about that,” Mendenhall said. “There’s the idea of expanding the playoff to eight (teams). If that happens, and most of the head coaches (around the country) that were polled favored at least eight, that would be a way for the Big 12 teams to keep their money without adding any other teams to divide it amongst. Then have all the (Power 5) teams have a solution because they all get in and everybody’s happy. I’m sure they’re pushing for either one of the latter two options would be my guess.”
Asked if BYU has had communications with the Big 12 this week, Mendenhall said athletic director Tom Holmoe is the one to talk to about that.
“I’ve made it very clear. I think BYU is a fantastic fit and deserving and would add a lot to the Big 12,” Mendenhall said. “I think it’s an awesome thing. In the meantime, we’ll play coast-to-coast against anyone who will play us anywhere. The administration, I’m sure, is prepared and is doing everything they can.”
Earlier this month, Oregon State coach Mike Riley bolted for Nebraska, then Gary Andersen left Wisconsin for Oregon State. Many saw Mendenhall as a candidate for the OSU vacancy because he played for and was an assistant coach for the Beavers.
Mendenhall said he was just as surprised as everyone else about the moves by Riley and Andersen, saying Riley "always believed that Oregon State would be his last job."
Added Mendenhall: “There’s always more to a program than what appears than what you see as the brand presented to the world. … Clearly, there are things at every program that coaches really like or things they don’t like. That usually reflects the moves. I can’t really speculate other than it seems like at this time of year, anything is fair game.”
Mendenhall declined to offer much detail about how much contact there was between himself and OSU.
“When you have a successful program like we have, there’s interest almost every year,” he said. “I’ll probably just leave it at that. I’m flattered that that continues to happen. I’m just looking forward to coaching our team.”
Mendenhall confirmed that safety Dallin Leavitt is transferring. “He’s played his last game as a Cougar,” the coach said. “I hope he finds a really good place that he can have a role that he likes and that he’s happy.”
Leavitt is making a recruiting trip to Utah State this weekend, according to Leavitt's Twitter account.
Wide receiver Dylan Collie, who redshirted in 2012 before leaving for a mission, is transferring to Hawaii, Mendenhall confirmed. Collie's father, Scott, a former Cougar receiver, asked for his son's release before the season started, Mendenhall said.
Offensive lineman Brayden Kearsley has expressed a desire to transfer but he “has some academic work to do before I would consider a release for him. He’ll be here at least one more semester,” Mendenhall said.
Cornerback Trent Trammell will graduate this semester, Mendenhall said, and intends to transfer elsewhere for his final year of eligibility.
Thursday marked Zach Nyborg’s last day at BYU. He was hired last spring as director of football operations, but will now take over that role on Andersen’s staff at Oregon State.
“The players did a nice job of acknowledging him (Thursday),” Mendenhall said. “Zach did a really nice job for us while he was here. It’s a great fit for those guys (Andersen and Nyborg) to be together.”
Meanwhile, one starter that will not be available for the Miami Beach Bowl will be senior safety Craig Bills. His injury was originally a concussion, but now doctors are looking at symptoms stemming from a neck injury. “I’m not anticipating him playing in the bowl game,” Mendenhall said.