When we showed up for practice, it was encouraging to see how much energy, poise and focus and how excited we are to play and get this last win for coach Mendenhall. – BYU receiver Mitch Mathews
PROVO — With Bronco Mendenhall on his way out at BYU, and uncertainty surrounding which assistant coaches will stay or go — though offensive coordinator Robert Anae said he is leaving with Mendenhall and taking three assistants with him — all while athletic director Tom Holmoe conducts his search for a new head coach, even Elvis sightings on campus couldn’t have made the situation with the football program any more bizarre.
Yes, Elvis was in the building, and on campus, Wednesday, as Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl officials formally invited to Cougars to the Dec. 19 game against Utah and held a press conference in Provo. The bowl’s Elvis impersonator posed for photos with players during the day.
Fortunately for BYU, it returned to the practice field Wednesday in preparation for the bowl game. It was the first of five practices in Provo before the team leaves for Las Vegas next Tuesday.
“We’ve had a pretty unique couple of days and for what I saw at practice today, I was encouraged,” said Mendenhall, who accepted the Virginia job last Friday, then said Monday that many of his assistants likely will be following him to Charlottesville. “We need a sense of normalcy. It was a relief to get back to practice and play the same roles we’ve been playing and fall into what we’re used to. The last little bit has not been what we’ve been used to. We all crave consistency. It felt good for everyone to get back to (practice) today.”
“This week has been something new for all of us. A coaching change is never easy,” said senior wide receiver Mitch Mathews. “When we showed up for practice, it was encouraging to see how much energy, poise and focus and how excited we are to play and get this last win for coach Mendenhall. Yeah, guys have questions about who’s going to be the coach and who’s gone and who’s coming in. But when we step on that practice field, that’s what shows up in the game. It’s a sign of how excited we are for the game.”
“We want to win. Ups and downs, that’s all part of college football. Anything can happen,” said senior defensive lineman Bronson Kaufusi. “But when you step on the field, everything leaves and you’re there with your teammates. You want to do your best. Everyone’s focused because we want to go down there and win.”
Besides Anae and three of his assistants who are leaving, it’s still unclear which defensive coaches will be leaving BYU.
Former Cougar Brady Poppinga, whose brother, Kelly, is BYU’s inside linebackers coach, wasn’t sure of his brother's status as of Wednesday.
“I don’t know if Kelly even does. He’s been offered to go with Bronco to go to Virginia,” Brady said. “I’m sure Tom Holmoe, and whoever will be hired, would want him to stay. He’s a BYU guy through-and-through. His heart lies in Provo but his loyalty lies with Bronco.”
On the head coaching search front, one potential candidate, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, is apparently no longer a candidate.
Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday that Bevell won’t interview for the job.
"They've got to do their job and get ahead and get their decision made, so Tommy (Holmoe) is going to keep working at it," Carroll said. "Darrell would be an awesome choice for them, but he's not available. He's going to run with us and do what we're doing. (BYU) has recruiting and all kinds of stuff, so just the timing isn't going to fit for them."
Meanwhile, another candidate, Oregon State defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake, has not interviewed for BYU position, The Oregonian reported Wednesday.
And Stanford’s director of defense, Lance Anderson, was in Utah Wednesday on a recruiting trip. It is not known if he interviewed with BYU.
Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo likely won’t be available for a formal interview until after the Army-Navy game this Saturday.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, a BYU alum, is also considered a candidate for the job. Of course, he’s preparing his team for the Las Vegas Bowl.
Money could be a factor in the hiring process.
Mendenhall’s earnings were around $2 million per year at BYU, according to sources close to the program, and his successor could receive a similar amount. Whittingham earns $2.6 million per year at Utah, Niumatalolo is paid $1.6 million annually at Navy and Sitake receives $730,008 per year at Oregon State.
Another big issue could be how much the school is willing to pay its assistants.
Meanwhile, the USA Today reported Wedesday that Virginia is “treating $1.185 million buyout to BYU for Bronco Mendenhall as non-interest loan to be forgiven in equal increments over five-year contract.”
Mendenhall’s deal at Virginia includes a $3 million salary pool for assistants, an increase from $2.5 million during the 2015 season, according to USA Today.
Is BYU willing to pay “market value” for its coaches?
"These days there are pretty much two camps," Holmoe said last Friday. "You have the college football playoff conferences. With the revenue stream from TV these days there is quite a bit more revenue coming. We are prepared to go out and find a great coach to carry on the traditions here and be very, very competitive in our salaries. But you are talking about two different groups."
Mendenhall said that the head coach at BYU can’t make money a main priority.
"If someone expected that at BYU, they would not be aligned with what’s realistic," he said. "Part of coaching at BYU is what you gain through the experiences and who you become because of that. Yes, there is a market-value part, I went through it, but if that is what you end up being hung up on, you will not be effective here for very long. That has to be understood because there are plenty of other things that add value here besides that. It takes a pretty unique perspective.”
EMAIL: jeffc@deseretnews.com