Speaking to a gathering of Brigham Young University alumni Feb. 13, BYU head football coach Bronco Mendenhall shared experiences and lessons about his first four years at the helm as well as the mission of the BYU football team. He also spoke about his journey from being a young college football player who detested BYU, to becoming the man who has led the Cougars to four consecutive bowl appearances, two conference championships and three consecutive 10-win seasons.
Coach Mendenhall told the audience gathered at the school's Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center that he was grateful to be at BYU.
BYU head football coach Bronco Mendenhall speaks at the Hinckley Alumni House on an Alumni Association Broadcast titled, "an evening with Bronco Mendenhall. Friday, Feb. 13, 2009 Stuart Johnson, Deseret News
Deseret News
"I couldn't be more grateful for the chance to be BYU's football coach, in a program and institution that represents far more than football," he said. "It simply wouldn't be worth it to do this job if it wasn't about more than football."
He spoke of the unique mission of the BYU football program.
"I share this quote from President Hinckley to every recruit who comes into my office. 'Here we're doing what is not done in any other major university in which I am aware. We're demonstrating that faith in the Almighty can accompany and enrich scholarship in the secular. It's more than an experience, it's an accomplishment. And the products of this effort show in your lives' qualities, not otherwise attainable.'"
Coach Mendenhall spoke of the responsibility of the football team as the most visible part of the university.
"Are we the most important? No. Are we the most visible? I think so," he said. "That simple understanding had a lot to do with our mission statement as a football program, 'to be the flag bearers of Brigham Young University through football excellence, embracing truth, tradition, virtue and honor as a beacon to the world.' Are those high ideals? Does that make us a target? Absolutely. Is that reason to back away from them? Absolutely not."
Dee Allsop, President of the BYU Alumnin Association (left) along with BYU President Cecil O. Samuelson (right) presents BYU head football coach Bronco Mendenhall as an Honorary BYU Alumnus. Mendenhall later spoke at the Hinckley Alumni House on an Alumni Association Broadcast titled, "an evening with Bronco Mendenhall. Friday, Feb. 13, 2009 Stuart Johnson, Deseret News
Deseret News
He shared a story of being a high school football player who wasn't recruited by BYU, and how that fueled his disdain towards the institution, joking that "the only reason I chose to play at Oregon State was because BYU was on their schedule," but later acknowledged that he "wasn't prepared or qualified enough to be at BYU."
Coach Mendenhall concluded his remarks by sharing the approach he takes towards his coaching the Cougars.
"Am I called to this position? No. Is it my job? Yes.
"I don't know how else to do it, other than treating it as a calling."
