They’ll get here early Friday morning. A lot of the wives are kind of upset about that. My wife’s cool with it. She’s just happy she’s going. From the word on the street, a lot of wives aren’t happy about it, but, hey, at least they get to go. – BYU running back Paul Lasike
MIAMI — With 10 years of experience of taking teams to bowl games, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall decided to make a minor change this year.
Instead of having the wives of players come with the team Wednesday, they aren’t arriving in Miami until Friday. The Cougars have about two dozen married players.
The idea, Mendenhall said, is for his team to focus on preparing for the bowl game against Memphis Monday.
The Cougars held a 90-minute practice at Florida International University Thursday morning in balmy 70-degree temperatures and will practice here again the next couple of days. BYU will also participate in various bowl-related activities, like attending a beach barbecue Thursday night and taking in a Miami Heat game Friday night.
“I wanted the best chance to get as much football done before everything else hit as possible,” Mendenhall explained. “I’m sure if you look, there will be complaints. If you look, there might be praise. If you go to the players' wives, probably complaints.”
Of course, BYU traditionally has more older, married players than any other team in the country.
Senior running back Paul Lasike and his wife are parents to an 8-month-old son.
“They’ll get here early Friday morning,” Lasike said. “A lot of the wives are kind of upset about that. My wife’s cool with it. She’s just happy she’s going. From the word on the street, a lot of wives aren’t happy about it, but, hey, at least they get to go.”
Lasike, who is a team captain, said it’s a good plan.
“I think it’s a combination of being able to focus with all the boys and get those first two days of practice, which is really critical,” he said. “Then also I think there’s some issues with finances. It will be cheaper if they come down a couple of days later. It all makes sense. It will be fine.”
Defensive lineman/linebacker Bronson Kaufusi said his wife, Hilary — who plays for BYU’s women’s soccer team — and other wives are OK with waiting until Friday to come to Miami.
“A lot of the wives had finals, including my wife,” he said. “If they would have come with us they would have had to take them early. Most wives are happy they can take those finals when they’re scheduled.”
Saturday's bowl activities include a Lady's Sailing Excursion.
The bowl game is regarded as a reward for the wives just like it is for the players.
“She’s been along for 100 percent of the journey,” Lasike said of his wife. “All the wives deserve it.”
MIXED REVIEWS ON FIRST PRACTICE: When asked about Thursday’s practice, which was closed to the media, Mendenhall said it was sluggish due to perhaps the long flight, the time change or the warm weather.
“We got a lot done,” Mendenhall said, “but they looked tired to me today.”
But quarterback Christian Stewart had a different perspective.
“It was awesome,” he said. “It’s been awhile since we’ve been outside.”
When told about his coach’s assessment of practice, Stewart said, “He might have thought that because he’s a defensive guy. The offense had a great practice. We torched the defense. I’m sure that’s why he felt it wasn’t the best practice.”
MIAMI VICE LOOK: A handful of BYU coaches decided to travel to Miami in style.
Offensive coordinator Robert Anae, offensive line coach Garett Tujague, wide receiver coach Guy Holliday and defensive line coach Steve Kaufusi dressed up in attire reminiscent of the 1980s TV drama “Miami Vice" on the flight from Provo to Miami.
RETURN TO MIAMI: BYU outside linebackers coach Kelly Poppinga spent some time with the Miami Dolphins after his Cougar career. He recalled participating in the Dolphins’ annual deep fishing tournament while he was with the team.
“It’s good to be in an area like this at this time of year,” Poppinga said. “ Our guys are excited about it.”