This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Well, it has been an interesting day, to say the least.

As I'm sure you've read or heard by now, BYU football coach Bronco Mendenhall is saying goodbye to Provo and hello to Charlottesville, Virginia.

In an announcement that shocked everyone I have spoken to over the last eight hours or so, Mendenhall agreed to become the new football coach at the University of Virginia and cash the $3.25 million annual paycheck that comes with that title at the Atlantic Coast Conference school.

Holmoe said it will be him, and him alone, who chooses just the fourth BYU football coach since 1972. No search committee, no meddling from the BYU administration. Just him. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Asked what he is looking for in a new coach, Holmoe said the head coach of any sport at BYU must be a member in good standing in the LDS Church.

"I am looking for leadership, expertise, someone who has a great connection with the players and can bring the best out of the players. It is important to be fully aligned with the mission of the school. Recruiting is a huge part these days.

Maybe eight years ago, the LDS recruits would go to BYU. Now everyone wants LDS recruits. You've got to fight like crazy to get them. We want someone who understands the academic requirements here, the honor code requirements here. That's [what we think] would be a great candidate for us."

Holmoe acknowledged that BYU couldn't have matched what Virginia offered Mendenhall. He said BYU can't pay its new coach Power-5 type money, citing the discrepancy in television revenue and the like between Power-5 conference teams and Group of 5 conference teams.

Mendenhall said he has made a recommendation to Holmoe regarding his successor, a person on his staff, but stopped short of telling reporters who that person is.

As mentioned before, BYU had Mangum, Mathews and Kaufusi on hand at the news conference to answer questions. Here are some of those questions and answers:

Mangum on whether he wants any offensive assistant coaches to stay:

"Absolutely. You know, I love coach [Jason] Beck so much. I had a chance to talk to him on the phone, and obviously that is another bummer that comes along with losing a head coach is there is the chance of losing other coaches as well. And I am really close to coach Beck, and he's helped me a lot. It would be tough to lose him as well. But it is the world we live in, and we don't have control over those things. We just have to do our best with whatever we have in front of us.

I am feeling a lot of feelings of gratitude for the coaches and what they've done for me."

Mangum on his overall feeling with Bronco leaving and the player most affected by the news:

"Just like every player on the team, we all felt a feeling of sadness, because coach Mendenhall meant so much to us, just not for what he does on the field, but for how he helps us off the field. I was thinking about it, and he has been a coach since I was 10 years old, basically since I started watching BYU football. To think about him gone is kind of a sad feeling, because he has meant so much to this program and this team, and to me personally. So, I am going to miss him a lot. I am super grateful for the opportunity he has given to me to play this year, and for all the lessons that he has taught me.

There's kind of a pit in my stomach, because I am going to miss him a lot.

I haven't thought about who is going to [replace him]. We are still focusing on the bowl, but I am just very grateful for the opportunity I have had to be here with coach Mendenhall. He will be missed."

Mangum on what kind of coach the program needs to move forward:

"I think everything that coach Mendenhall embodies, and that is character, that is hard work, determination. That is what he instills in us. I have no doubt that whoever comes in will have the same qualities. This is a special place, so whoever it is, we will be excited to play for because we understand we play for a lot more than just football. Coach Mendenhall has taught us that. He has instilled in me that football is more than just a game. But also that there is more to life than just football.

I look over at that wall: the mission of BYU football has been and will always be to change lives through football excellence. And that's what coach Mendenhall is all about. So, I have no doubt that the new coach who comes in will continue that because of the great opportunity we have here at this great institution.

Like I said earlier, I haven't thought about that yet. But when the time comes, that won't change our attitude to keep fighting, to keep working. If anything, it will inspire us more to honor him and apply that in our daily lives."

Mathews on how the news will affect them in preparing for bowl game:

"One of the first things that I thought after hearing the news from coach Mendenhall immediately was, 'I can't wait to play in the bowl game, because of how hard we are going to fight for this guy.' That is something that will happen. There will be a new level of fight in us for coach Mendenhall. I can honestly say that. No matter who we are playing, we want this guy to get that win. We want to send him out that way to show him and this program how much we are going to miss this guy, and really pay tribute to him through how we play.

I really do think that he has done so much for this program, and there will be an added level of intensity and commitment this week. Of course there will be chatter: what's going to happen? But on the field for practice and especially the game, there will be a new level of intensity and focus and commitment for him to send him off with a win."

Mathews on whether they want Utah as an opponent:

"Like coach Mendenhall said, whoever it is, the best opponent possible. There are great options. But yeah, of course, to re-live that rivalry with Utah would be awesome. It would be a special thing, playing USC, Cal, whoever it is would be awesome as well. But of course with the rivalry, keeping it here, would be awesome to re-live, for sure."

Mathews on his friend Taysom Hill's upcoming decision whether to return or transfer:

"I don't know his decision, I don't know exactly what he is going to do. Yeah, I am a good buddy of his and I am sure we will talk about a lot of things after the season. But I don't know what his decision is. I didn't get to see him after. But no matter who it is, we have got great players on this team next year, and that coach will be lucky to have this guy [Mangum] next year, and the rest of the guys on the team. This is a special team in terms of leadership, and that's why we've been able to do the things we've done this year, and whoever comes in next is very lucky and will have a smooth transition because of the leadership we have on this team. It will be fun to see."

Bronson Kaufusi on his reaction as a player with a father on the coaching staff:

"For me, I love coach Mendenhall. He has turned me into who I am, and who I am going to be, and so I just felt a strong feeling of, I am really going to miss him. I am going to miss him here at BYU and I know that where ever he goes, going to Virginia, they are really lucky to have a coach like coach Mendenhall. … So growing up, my dad being a coach, I know how it is. I know this time of year comes around and changes start to be made. But overall, for me, as a player you always tend to be a little selfish, think about ourselves, but the thing about coach Mendenhall, he is definitely going to be missed. But I know where ever he goes he will be great, and for him I know it is a great opportunity."

Kaufusi on how the program has changed under Mendenhall:

"Bronco, he came in and changed everything. Where the program is at is great, and it will continue to get better. That's one of the attributes of a great leader is when they leave, can the boat still sail? I know Bronco is a great leader, so I know this team, this program, will continue to progress and really improve."