Memorable BYU Football Moments During Bronco Mendenhall Era
Oct 28, 2021, 12:20 AM | Updated: 12:29 am
Brigham Young Cougars head coach Bronco Mendenhall waves to the crowd after the game in Lincoln, NE Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015. BYU won 33-28 on a last second touchdown pass. (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
(Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah – Bronco Mendenhall is making his return to Provo to face the BYU football program he spent 11 years guiding as the head coach.
UnRivaled host Alex Kirry (Weekdays, 3-7 p.m. on The Zone powered by KSL Sports) posted a tweet that got thinking back to Mendenhall’s time at BYU. Kirry tweeted, “What was your favorite BYU Football moment during Bronco’s time at the helm?”
What was your favorite #BYUFootball moment during Bronco’s time at the helm? I’ll go first. pic.twitter.com/cg9MC8SZ42
— Alex Kirry (@AlexKirryKSL) October 26, 2021
Mendenhall had loads of success at BYU, winning 99 games in 11 years as the head coach. In addition, he brought toughness and accountability that was sorely lacking during the tail end of the Gary Crowton era.
He was elevated from defensive coordinator to head coach in December of 2004. Mendenhall beat out Lance Reynolds for the head coach position. Had Mendenhall not been named the head coach, he was likely headed to UNLV to become the DC for Mike Sanford down in Vegas. What a wild turn of events that ended up becoming, right?
Throughout Mendenhall’s time as BYU’s head coach, there were a lot of memorable moments. Here are some that stand out to me from Mendenhall’s time at BYU.
The return of the Stretch Y
When Mendenhall was hired as head coach at BYU, he wanted the team to return to its roots with the stretch, oval Y helmets, and traditional royal blue uniforms. Remember, at this time, BYU was only six years into its new phase of navy blue and vegas tan as the primary colors.
With my old buddy Bronco coming to town this week I just wanted to remind everyone that if it wasn't for him this beautiful iconic logo would not be the primary athletic mark for BYU Athletics. He brought it back from the depths of hell. Thank you Bronco. pic.twitter.com/wa545qlj1L
— Dave Broberg (@BroberDave) October 26, 2021
BYU was okay with returning to the traditional uniforms but wanted them to be navy blue, not royal.
Without Mendenhall, BYU might still be rocking the navy blue and tan that fans grew tired of in a hurry after three consecutive losing seasons. But also, tan? BYU thought they could become the Notre Dame of the west with that look. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the right fit.
Bronco got BYU back to its tradition.
Bronco-isms
There were a lot of quotes that were distinct to Bronco Mendenhall’s era at BYU. Terms such as “Position Mastery,” “fanatical effort,” “will over skill,” “fully invested,” and others became fixtures of the BYU football culture.
Don’t forget “Tradition, Spirit, Honor,” we’ll hit on that a little bit later.
Bronco’s first road win at New Mexico
It’s hard to imagine now, but New Mexico was a solid football team back in the mid-2000s under Rocky Long. BYU entered the 2005 game in Albuquerque as a touchdown underdog. To make matters worse, BYU would be without one of their top players in Fahu Tahi at running back.
BYU came into the game with a 1-3 record, and fans were turning on Bronco Mendenhall after an embarrassing 31-10 loss to San Diego State the previous week.
I remember listening to the KSL NewsRadio postgame show and a caller phoned in after the loss to SDSU saying, “We have witnessed the death of BYU football. The team is going 1-10 this year with the only win coming against an I-AA team.”
The New Mexico game changed all of that and played a significant role in shaping the identity of Mendenhall’s tenure.
On the Friday night before the New Mexico game, Mendenhall organized BYU’s first fireside. Only 13 people showed up to that first fireside gathering.
The next day, BYU pulled off a 27-24 upset victory over Mendenhall’s mentor in Long and his Lobos. From there on out, BYU began started to believe they could win and the firesides remained throughout the rest of Mendenhall’s tenure the night before road games.
Beck to Harline
This moment doesn’t need much of an introduction. BYU’s last victory against Utah in Salt Lake City came courtesy of John Beck connecting with Jonny Harline on the game’s final play. The touchdown gave BYU a 33-31 victory over the Utes and launched a bunch of new ringtones on Cougar fans’ flip phones.
BYU QB John Beck evades the Utah pressure and finds Jonny Harline all alone in the end zone to beat the Utes in 2006. https://t.co/4kU961CZ7hhttps://t.co/tfW4nb59bI
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) April 4, 2019
Back-to-Back Mountain West Conference Championships
The early years of the Bronco Mendenhall era got off to a fast start. Armed with future NFL talent at multiple positions, Mendenhall’s leadership was the perfect match with BYU’s 2006 and 2007 seasons talent.
As a result, BYU won back-to-back Mountain West Conference titles and had a perfect league record in those two years.
In 2008 and 2009, the following two years had moments of brilliance, but Utah and TCU stood in the way of other conference crowns.
Taking over as defensive coordinator
After starting the 2010 season with a 1-4 record and struggling against some of the nation’s best quarterbacks (Jake Locker, Christian Ponder, Colin Kaepernick), Bronco Mendenhall fired defensive coordinator Jaime Hill.
Mendenhall took on the daunting challenge of being a defensive coordinator again, while also juggling his numerous responsibilities as head coach. It worked.
The following week against a good San Diego State team, BYU pulled off an upset with Mendenhall ditching the traditional coaches Nike polo in favor of a gray Dri-Fit shirt that read, “Band of Brothers” on the back.
BYU finished the season 6-2 in their final eight games in 2010, holding their opponents to an average of 14.8 points per game in the wins.
24 points
Knowing that BYU had recruiting disadvantages from being a faith-based institution outside of the BCS conferences, Mendenhall took an analytical approach to figure out trends that would lead to victory.
Bronco identified 24 points as the benchmark for success. The numbers prove to be successful for BYU.
Re: Bronco's 24-point pillar, BYU has not scored more than 23 points in any of its last nine losses to P5 foes.
— Greg Wrubell (@gregwrubell) December 15, 2015
In the 21st century, BYU is 155-23 in games where they score at least 24 points. That’s an 87% winning percentage.
Mendenhall still incorporates the 24-point model at Virginia along with +1 in turnover margin and +5 in field position.
Win over Oklahoma to open Jerry’s World in 2009
One of the greatest victories in BYU football history took place under the watch of Bronco Mendenhall. BYU took down No. 3 Oklahoma in the first game ever played at Cowboys Stadium (now AT&T Stadium), home of the Dallas Cowboys, in 2009.
September 5, 2009
–@mxrd15 finds McKay Jacobson for the game-winning touchdown as #20 BYU upsets #3 Oklahoma 14-13 in the 2009 season opener.
–#gocougs #byu #byufootball #byufootballthrowbacks pic.twitter.com/BPiBIwwwRE— BYU Football Throwbacks (@ByuThrowbacks) July 17, 2021
The BYU defense brought Oklahoma’s high-powered attack led by QB Sam Bradford and TE Jermaine Gresham to a complete halt. Bradford suffered a shoulder injury after a hit from BYU LB Coleby Clawson.
BYU’s offense led by senior QB Max Hall led a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter to secure the upset win.
Independence is not sustainable.
When BYU declared its football Independence in the summer of 2010, there was a lot of uncertainty with the move.
BYU wanted to make it work, and looking back on it now, with their future set on the Big 12, Independence served its purpose.
But Mendenhall knew BYU needed to find a way to get into a BCS/Power league.
On numerous occasions, Mendenhall stated that Independence wasn’t sustainable. He was getting dealt schedules that featured blueblood brands each year and he had a tenth of the resources in his program as the teams he was trying to get wins against.
Mendenhall even publicly went to media outlets in Texas, stating his and BYU’s desire to get into the Big 12 Conference.
He knew what BYU needed.
“Roscoe Mendenhall”
For some reason, in 2011, ESPN occasionally referred to Bronco Mendenhall as “Roscoe.” Maybe it was because ESPN forgot BYU existed the previous five years under the horrible Mountain West TV deal.
Wonder if Bronco Mendenhall brings his brother Roscoe along… pic.twitter.com/1b3sDnbsUi
— Jarred Schiff (@schiffhappens) December 4, 2015
Yeah, we’ll go with that.
Suspenders Boy
Moments after BYU lost to Utah not once, not twice, but three times in the 2012 game, Utah fans stormed the field to celebrate the win over their rival. As Bronco Mendenhall and his team were leaving the field, Mendenhall was approached by a Utah fan wearing suspenders.
The kid in suspenders felt big and bold when Mendenhall was at a distance, but when Bronco stepped towards him, you saw the fear overcome the kid. Mendenhall then walked off the field, being escorted by security. Suspenders was lucky that happened because it probably wouldn’t have ended well for well.
I’m not sure whatever became of suspenders boy after that night at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Tradition, Spirit, Honor Jerseys
Who knew an innocent Picture Day in 2013 was going to garner national headlines. But that’s what happened when BYU rolled through the IPF wearing jerseys that had one of the words from a popular Mendenhall phrase, “Tradition-Spirit-Honor.”
Players took it hard, including some of the prominent stars of that 2013 team like Kyle Van Noy.
Bulletin board material: I still haven't forgiven Bronco for this …
Beat Virginia, BYU. pic.twitter.com/3V9J80JvKh
— Lucho (@EchelonCopy) October 25, 2021
Bronco’s intentions with the move were in a good place as he wanted the nameplates to represent the program’s core principles. But once he surprised the players with the jersey change, they did not like it at all.
It was like that gif of Gob Bluth from Arrested Development saying, “I’ve made a huge mistake.” That’s probably how Bronco felt at that moment at Picture Day.
Talked to my team tonite. They want to wear tradition spirit honor on jerseys for homecoming only. Last names for rest of the year. PERFECT!
— Bronco Mendenhall (@UVACoachBronco) August 9, 2013
Later that evening, Mendenhall gave the players the chance to voice their feelings about the move. In the end, the names returned. BYU did have one game with Tradition-Spirit-Honor on the back of the jerseys in 2013, a homecoming win over Georgia Tech.
Texas dominance
Taysom Hill ran for a record-setting 259 yards to lead unranked BYU to an upset 40-21 victory over No. 15 Texas for those who need a refresher. That night cost former Texas Defensive Coordinator, now Miami head coach Manny Diaz his job in Austin.
September 7, 2013: @BYUfootball rushed for 550 yards (Taysom 259, Jamaal Williams 182) in a 40-21 win over Texas. #KSLSportsArchive #BYU pic.twitter.com/NIDv972W6N
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) September 7, 2020
It also was the beginning of the end for Mack Brown on the Forty Acres. The legendary head coach resigned after the conclusion of the 2013 season.
Texas hired Charlie Strong as their head coach to “Put the ‘T’ back in Texas” in 2014. But, even in Austin, Texas was no match for Taysom Hill. BYU steamrolled through the Horns 41-7. Hill passed for 181 yards and ran for 99 yards and three touchdowns.
TAYSOM HILL QB1
2014: BYU beats Texas 41-7 in Austin
— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 20, 2020
One of those three touchdowns became an iconic moment in BYU football history. With 12:17 remaining in the 3rd quarter and BYU up 6-0, Taysom hurdled Texas defensive back Dylan Haines as he scampered into the endzone.
Texas fans still can’t forget what Taysom did to them after all these years.
Mangum’s Miracles
BYU opened the 2015 season at Nebraska in Lincoln. The performance Taysom Hill was putting together against the Cornhuskers had people in Big Red country thinking, “Are we looking at this year’s Heisman winner?” Taysom was that good.
But it was short-lived as Hill went down with a lisfranc injury.
September 5, 2015: @BYUfootball pulled off a miracle at Memorial Stadium at Nebraska. As @tannermangum completed a last second pass to @mitchmathews10 for a game-winning TD to defeat the Cornhuskers.#BYUFootball #BYU #GoCougs #KSLSportsArchive pic.twitter.com/EdmEKp0XT5
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 16, 2020
To replace Hill was true freshman QB Tanner Mangum months off of the mission field in Chile. Mangum immediately made a name for himself by completing a hail mary to wide receiver Mitch Mathews at the end of regulation. The Cornhusker faithful were stunned. A freshman QB snapped their 28-year streak of winning the season opener.
The following week, Mangum found Mitchell Juergens with less than a minute remaining in regulation for a touchdown against nationally-ranked Boise State. Back-to-back miracles. Overnight, BYU and Tanner Mangum became a massive storyline around the national college football landscape.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
