Provo » There will be no excuses about the lack of mental preparation or excitement for the BYU Cougars in the Las Vegas Bowl this year.

Talking to the media about their Dec. 22 matchup against 8-4 Oregon State of the Pac-10 (6 p.m. MST, ESPN) for the first time Monday, the Cougars said they will be ready this year because they are excited about their opponent and the way the regular season ended -- with a 26-23 win over rival Utah.

"Last year, we were a little let down, losing the way we did to Utah and thinking like, oh, we are going to get a fourth- or a fifth-place team from the Pac-10," defensive end Jan Jorgensen said Monday.

Last season, Arizona beat BYU 31-21 in the bowl.

"I think we tried to practice as hard as we could. But I just think emotionally and mentally we were a little disappointed with what we had done. ... But I think this is different. We are coming in on a high -- we just beat our rivals and we are getting another ranked opponent, and I think we are excited to play."

More on Max

BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall addressed media members' questions Monday about quarterback Max Hall 's postgame anti-Utah tirade on Nov. 28.

He said Hall's comments didn't surprise him, but acknowledged "Max didn't use great judgement, and expressed those sentiments and thoughts in front of a public format. And that in and of itself was discouraging and disappointing. However, he has grown from it."

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