HB Arnett's 801 372 - 0819 hbarnett@fiber.net 1391 West 800 South - Orem, Utah 84058 Vol. 33, Issue 15 - November 12, 2012 Click <http://www.cougarstreet.com/products/index.php?type=450&PCID=450:0:0:0:0> Here To Order Or Renew Your Subscriptions FOOTBALL FLUFF AND STUFF Let's start with fluff. That is a pretty good description of Idaho. It was BYU doing the vandalizing of the Vandals with a 52-13 win. With the victory, BYU is now 6-4 on the season and was able to accept officially a bowl bid from the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego. The post season game is set for Dec 20 against a Mountain West Conference opponent to be named. Most likely that team will be San Diego State. Riley Nelson had a very productive final home game for BYU. The senior quarterback threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns. Not bad for the senior's final game in LaVell Edwards stadium. Fortunately for BYU, there will be plenty more games in Provo for Jamaal Williams. The freshman carried the ball 10 times against UI for 104 yards and two touchdowns before being shelved for seniors after the second quarter. Cody Hoffman also had 9 catches for 108 yards and three touchdowns. BYU was so dominant in this win that they outscored the game time temperature in the first 15 minutes of play. BYU led 28-7 after the first quarter. Game over. Now it is Game On. Things should get tougher for BYU this coming Saturday in California when the Cougars face the Spartans of San Jose State. SJSU is coming off a 47-7 drubbing of New Mexico State last week in Las Cruces. They are also sporting a very nice 8-2 record. The two losses were a 20-17 setback at Stanford and a 49-27 loss to Utah State in San Jose. Their biggest win would have to be an early season 38-34 win over San Diego State in San Diego. The game will kickoff at 8:30 pm Mountain Time and has now been officially moved to ESPN2 for national broadcast. Flights and Fights BYU will be booking flights to Ann Arbor, Michigan and Charlottesville, Virginia in the near future. Tom Holmoe announced last week that the Cougars have signed contracts for a home and home deal with Virginia and a one game deal with Michigan. The Virginia series will kick off next season with the Cougars traveling to Charlottesville to face the Cavaliers on August 31. The return game is set for 2014 in Provo on September 20 in 2014. The following year the Cougars will face Michigan on September 26, 2015 in Ann Arbor. The contract is for just one game, but Holmoe is hoping that the game will lead to future contracts similar to the situation that evolved with Wisconsin. The Virginia game to open the season next year replaces the game originally set with Washington State. The Pullman Cougars wanted out of their contract for next season to soften the schedule. They replace BYU with Southern Utah. That contracted game in Pullman will now be played in 2019. Holmoe says that he is still finalizing one or two more games for the 2013 football schedule. Because BYU faces Hawaii on the islands this year, they are allowed an extra game if they choose. That would make 13 games. We look for one game to be a home contest against an FCS team. Here is the current BYU 2013 schedule as it now stands. Aug. 31 - at Virginia Sept. 7 - Texas Sept. 14 - TBA Sept. 21 - Boise State Sept. 28 - Utah Oct. 4 - at Utah State Oct. 12 - Georgia Tech Oct. 19 - at Houston Oct. 26 - TBA Nov. 2- TBA Nov. 9 - at Wisconsin Nov. 16 - TBA Nov. 23 - at Notre Dame Nov. 30 - TBA Dec. 3 - at Hawaii Middle Tennessee State is contracted for a home game in Provo this coming season. We would project BYU to try and put the Blue Raiders sometime in November to balance out the home schedule in that month. Our projection is that the FCS (Div 1-AA) team will also appear in November. If BYU opts to sign up for a 13th game, they have several slots in which to fit the game. Fights By now you should know that Zac Stout, a reserve linebacker and Joe Sampson a starting safety for BYU, were both suspended from the team and withdrew from school for violations of team rules. I don't know much about team rules, but I do know about Mexican food. Here are a couple of my rules of Mexican restaurant dining. Never eat anything off the floor and never allow yourself to be taken to the floor. Here are a couple of You Tube videos to illustrate what I am talking about when it comes to dining and dismissals. Video <http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?next_url=/watch%3Fv%3D145q103YzRg%26featu re%3Dchannel%26list%3DUL> 1 Video <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUW6RAIP61Y&feature=related> 2 For Bronco Backers and Hackers Last week I reprinted two emails I received from two different subscribers. One was a staunch supporter of Bronco Mendenhall as the head football coach at BYU. The other was not so strong in his support of Mendenhall. After passing along the two emails, I was surprised by the response. There really is a distinct divide in the way my subscribers view the coach of the Cougars. Both sides are passionate in their points of view. Consequently, I stumbled upon some remarks by Mendenhall during last Wednesday's coaches show with BYU broadcaster Greg Wrubell that gives both sides something with which to support their viewpoints. Here is a partial transcript of remarks by Mendenhall during the show. When asked by Wrubell how he felt about winning 72 percent of his first 100 games and how that compares favorably to LaVell Edwards and his winning percentage, Bronco said this: "I care a lot about that part (referring to the comparison to LaVell), not only while we're talking about winning football games, that is a byproduct really of representing the school and bringing the right kind of young men here and living to different standards than really the rest of the world does in college football and that is what I care most about that we are able to win in addition to that, that's something that I would hope that Coach Edwards is proud of and we just nod and say that is good." Then a fan in attendance asked the following question. "What individual personality trait or characteristic in a player to you feel best translates to success on the field and which current player do you feel possesses that the most?" Bronco's Answer: "I really like the question from the standpoint of there's a fantastic book that there's a lot of research that has been done that's called Talent is Overrated. That meaning, that it pretty much documents the fact that those who try the hardest end up having the most success. So I would say work ethic and diligence and if I were to say if there was anything I would like our players to learn through our program, more than athleticism more than being able to jump high run fast or lift a lot of weights, if they will learn to work and be diligent and resilient than I think, man, when they are in their jobs, when they are handling marriages, when they are handling the kids and different challenges, then we will have contributed to some of their success. And in terms of which player, I don't think I could name a specific player but what I would encourage anyone, especially the younger kids that are listening, how hard they work or how hard they try really matters, it matters a lot to me and every time, not sometime, I'll play someone that tries harder than someone that is more talented because it is just what I respect most." Click the accompanying link to hear the entire content of the show. The first question by the fan is towards the end of the show. Cougar <http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=22882886&nid=498&title=cougar-tracks-byu-f ootball-with-head-coach-bronco-mendenhall-week-10> Tracks: BYU Football with Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall, Week 10 BYU Teetering on a "Post" Mortem Crisis Never has a guy who didn't play for two years and now will never play again, been so critical to the success of BYU basketball this coming season. Chris Collinsworth was a classic "coulda, shoulda" case for Dave Rose and his Cougars. The 6-9 former player from Provo HS was expected to be a big boost in the post for BYU when it came to rebounding and defending opposing bigs. He also was expected to be good for some points in the paint. That won't happen now. After two years of continuing injuries, his career came to an end this fall because of medical issues. The timing of the termination of his career was unavoidable and unfortunate for Dave Rose and his plans for this coming season. It left BYU and Dave Rose with just one legitimate post player for this season in Brandon Davies. Granted, Davies is a special post player, but heaven help the Cougars in games where he is limited by foul trouble or injury. Good Player Nate Austin is currently not a post player. He is a good player, but based on his performances, he is not currently a post player. He is tough and can take charges in the open court and under the basket, but so far he has not proven that he has any legitimate post moves or scoring prowess in the low post with his back to the basket. He also hasn't proved as yet that he can defend a legit opposing post player. He is valuable because of his outside shot, hustle and all out effort, but his scoring is mostly from the perimeter. He complements Davies, but he currently is not a replacement for Davies in the post when BYU needs a legitimate post player. Ian Harward, the only other post option on the roster, has some skills, but as yet, they are not ready for prime time in the post. Davies, Austin and Harward are the only real size on this current roster. In those games that Davies is either AWOL or awful because of injury or fouls, the absence of Collinsworth for this season will be readily apparent. Also readily apparent is the fact that Dave Rose knows the cupboard is getting bare for bigs. It is no accident that this Wednesday, he will be signing 5 players to early letters of intent. Four of those five are 6-8 or bigger. See below for more on the early signing period. It also wasn't a capricious decision to invite Bronson Kaufusi, the 6-7, 260 pound defensive end for Bronco Mendenhall, to join the team in late December. Kaufusi was an accomplished post man in high school. He will have trouble scoring in the low post at the next level, but he is big enough, tough enough and mobile enough to bang, bruise, push, shove,,rebound and defend smaller players in the post. He is Rose's answer to the unexpected Collinsworth departure. The fact that Rose even invited Kaufusi to consider playing basketball this year, says volumes about what he thinks about his post play after Davies. Go-to Post Player Rose's incredible run as BYU's head coach has been accomplished because he has always had a post player he could go to. It gave him points and made the perimeter game much more viable. There was Trent Plaisted, Keena Young, Noah Hartsock and now Davies. Other past post options included Chris Miles. With Davies in the post, I expect a very big year for the Cougars. He is the real deal. Just how real will be revealed in those games where he is limited by fouls or injury. Those will be the games where the loss of Collinsworth will also be realized. With only one real game under the Cougar's belt, is it too early to project in the post for next season? It's never too early. Mark Pope, BYU's assistant coach, had made Davies into a much better post player by teaching him some new moves and expanding his low post scoring abilities. Hopefully, he can teach some low post moves to Austin and Harward between now and next season. Isaac Neilson, the 6-11 post player who signed two years ago out of Mission Viejo HS in California, will also be back for next season. He is currently serving an LDS mission in Alabama. In my opinion, however, the two best post prospects and options for next season aren't even on campus. That would be Eric Mika and Luke Worthington. Mika is absolutely the real deal. The issue for him is not low post scoring and talent but when he begins his service as an LDS missionary. His original intention was to play a season and then leave. He now has a different option in leaving right out of high school. In the big picture, that would be a good thing for Rose and the program because it would mean that Mika could play four consecutive seasons after serving his mission. Play or Go? It will be interesting to see what Mika does. If he plays a year first, it should be indicative of what Rose thinks of his post prospects for next season. Last year, he wasn't high on his guard play for this season and urged Cory Calvert to enroll and play a year before leaving on his mission. Calvert was originally going to serve before enrolling. He could also encourage Mika to play a year before leaving. One new post prospect will be here next year. Luke Worthington. He has already stated that an LDS mission is not in his plans. Worthington is a low block scorer. That is what he does. He also currently is an offensive tackle for his high school football team in Wisconsin. And of course Rose can always look to the lottery to hit the post player jackpot. Jackpot in this case is Jabari.as in Jabari Parker. He is not a post player and more of a forward, but like Magic Johnson, Parker can play any and all positions. If he signs with BYU, we expect him to serve an LDS mission right out of high school. There will be many who think it is way too early to be fretting about the post for next season, but I guarantee that it's not too early for Dave Rose to be thinking about it and doing something about it. He had an answer in Collinsworth, but now the question has changed. It should be interesting to see what shakes out. FIVE EXPECTED TO SIGN WITH BYU Dave Rose will be adding five new players to his aviary and arsenal this Wednesday on early signing day. He will be getting only one bird in hand, however, with the remaining four prospects most likely opting for LDS mission service anywhere from the bush of Australia to the bustle of Amsterdam, Atlanta or Antofagasta. Here are the five high school players who have said they will be signing with BYU this Wednesday. The early signing period in basketball is from Nov. 14 to Nov. 21. Nick Emery.Jimmer Fredette may still be in the shackles of Keith Smart, the coach at Sacramento, but Emery, who reminds many of Fredette in high school, has the green light to hoist it up anytime after crossing the half court line. Like Fredette, he is a shooter and scorer and has proven it during a high school career and AAU ball during the last three years. At 6-2, Emery can use the physical maturity that a two-year Mormon mission will provide. He can score at will in high school (Lone Peak HS), but will need to be stronger at the next level in college. Eric Mika.There was a reason that Mika, a 6-9 post player from Lone Peak HS in Utah, went from an unknown to a big-time prospect on the national recruiting scene. He proved he can play this summer on the AAU circuit. Now he gets to prove and punish Utah high school teams this season. BYU fans have started a "Free Jimmer" campaign to get the former BYU star out of Sacramento. They should have also organized an "Eric in Exile" campaign last season for Mika. He had to sit out last season as a junior because of a transfer ruling by the UHSAA that was a definite letter of the law decision. Lone Peak won the state championship last season in a cake walk without any post presence in the middle. Now they get to do it again with the Mika icing applied to that cake. Lone Peak has been a player on the national stage for years. Now they are starring on that stage with a legitimate big man to go along with Nick Emery and T.J. Haws. Lone Peak is currently rated No. 6 in the preseason high school national rankings. Luke Worthington.Dave Rose is getting a bang and body player in the 6-8, 235 pound Worthington. It is no accident that Worthington is a top high school offensive tackle for Homestead HS in Wisconsin this season. He likes to hit people. His best work on the court is around the basket where he scores in the low post and uses his body to bang people around. There is nothing sophisticated about his game. He is not a finesse player. He is a banger and somebody BYU needs for the future. Jakob Hartsock.The 6-7 younger brother of former Cougar Noah Hartsock needs to get bigger and stronger to be a factor in college. He will have two years on an LDS mission to get some physical maturity to make that happen upon his return. Out of Bartlesville HS in Oklahoma, Hartsock is a scorer like his brother before him. He has a nice mid-range jumper and at the high school level can also take the ball inside. Braiden Shaw.The least hyped player of this group, Shaw still has what BYU wants. They want his body. He is 6-8 and has decent athleticism. At Eagle HS in Idaho, his stats haven't been off the chart, but Rose and his staff are signing this kid because they think he can be a player at the next level. He is ticketed for an LDS mission before enrolling at BYU. BASKETBALL BRIEFS BYU opened their season officially with an 81-66 win over Tennessee State in Provo last Friday night. The Cougars were led by Tyler Haws with 22 points. Brandon Davies, after not getting post touches in the first half, had a very productive second half. He tallied 16 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks. The Cougars now face Georgia State tomorrow night in the Marriott Center before heading out to Brooklyn for a couple of marquee matchups on Friday and Saturday in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at the new Barclays Center arena. Georgia State is coming off an opening game loss at Duke 55-74. The game against the Cougars will be televised live Tuesday evening on BYUtv. In Brooklyn, BYU will face off on Friday against Florida State. Tipoff is set for 5 pm Mountain Time. The game will be televised live on truTV. Saturday, the Cougars will face the winner of Notre Dame and St. Joseph's. Tipoff is tba, but the game will also be televised live on truTV. The Seminoles lost to South Alabama 76-71 last week in Tallahassee. They face Buffalo tonight, also at home, in a game televised on ESPN3. Notre Dame is coming off an opening season 58-49 win at home over Evansville. They face Monmouth tonight in a game that can also be seen on ESPN3. St. Joseph's will open their season tonight at home in Philadelphia against Yale. COUGARS CONTINUE IN COLLEGE CUP The Lady Cougars soccer team continues its march towards the NCAA College Cup. BYU, with one of the four No. 1 seeds in the 65-team field, knocked off Utah State last Saturday afternoon to advance to the field of 32 teams. The Cougars hosted the first round match against the Aggies and will again host the second and third rounds of the tournament. BYU will face Auburn in Provo on Thursday, Nov. 15 at South Field. The game will be televised by BYUtv and begins at 6 pm Mountain Time. A win over Auburn and the Cougars will then host the winner of Marquette vs. Princeton on Saturday. If BYU advances to that game, it too will be broadcast by BYUtv. A sweep this week and it puts BYU in the final eight of the tourney. So far the NCAA has held true to its seeding and allowed BYU to host games. They have made concessions to allow the Cougars to not have to play on Sunday. The final championship game is set for Sunday 2, but if the Cougars get that far, the game will be moved to Monday, December 3. What we are going to watch is what will happen if the Cougars get to the final eight. We will be very surprised if they are still allowed to host that game even if they remain the higher seed in their portion of the bracket. Television Timetable BYU vs. Georgia State (B-Ball) Tuesday, Nov 13 at Provo Tipoff: 7:00 pm Mountain Time TV: BYUtv BYU vs. Florida State (B-Ball) Friday, Nov 16 at Brooklyn Tipoff: TBA TV: truTV BYU vs. San Jose State (F-Ball). NOTE CHANGES Saturday, Nov 17 at San Jose Kickoff: 8:30 pm Mountain Time TV: ESPN2 BYU vs. Notre Dame or Saint Joseph's (B-Ball) Saturday, Nov 17 at Brooklyn Tipoff: TBA TV: truTV BYU vs. UT-San Antonio (B-Ball) Wednesday, Nov 21 at Provo Tipoff: 7:00 pm Mountain Time TV: BYUtv BYU vs. New Mexico State (F-Ball) Saturday, Nov. 24 at Las Cruces Kickoff: 1:30 pm Mountain Time TV:ESPNU and ESPN3 BYU vs. Cal State Northridge (B-Ball) Saturday, Nov 24 at Provo Tipoff: 7:00 pm TV: BYUtv BYU vs. Montana (B-Ball) Wednesday, Nov 28 at Salt Lake City Tipoff: 7:00 pm Mountain Time TV: BYUtv
