Funny moment in the MWC coaches teleconference today when an out-of-town reporter who shall remain nameless asked Utah coach Kyle Whittingham why Utes running back Eddie Wide has "Wide In" on the back of his jersey. Whittingham explained that it actually says Wide III because Wide is the son of Eddie Wide, Jr.. The reporter then said she thought it was to show that Wide is an inside receiver, as opposed to an outside receiver. Did I mention that he's a running back?——————————————- BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall wasn't asked about the names on the backs of his players' jerseys, but he did entertain a lot of other questions. Not surprisingly, most were about the rotating quarterback system he employed against Washington. "I think it went as good as could be expected. I think both players made good decisions. I think they moved the ball effectively and I think they really cared first and foremost about our team and our production. And if I were to change anything right now it would be to simply help them improve their execution and their position mastery as the rest of our team is doing. But I wouldn't make any significant changes after Week 1," he said. More from the coach: On why BYU has been successful against Air Force: "I am not certain that there is any one particular reason. I breathe a sigh of relief every time we are done playing against the Academy because of how hard their kids play and how well-coached their kids are. I think you have to be smart when you play the Air Force. I think you have to be physical when you play them and I think certainly you have to execute at a high level. Regardless of who is playing them, whether it is us or anyone else, if you can do those three things at least you have a chance. And that's what we will emphasize, and hopefully we can execute and give our team its best chance to compete." On the similarities between AFA players and BYU players:"I think anyone would see [the similarities] if they took a moment to reflect. Their kids aren't going to the academy just to play football. They are going there also to provide service and have a career in the military, possibly, so much like the kids come to BYU. Many list faith as the first reason why they come here — not the football program. So anytime there's a greater purpose, or some other reason, that you do things, and then football becomes secondary, most likely you are going to get a similar type of young person. And I really have a lot of admiration for Air Force in the way the coaches have devised schemes and strategies that give those kids the very best chance to compete. Right now, they will be one of the best teams we will have played. They go to a bowl game every year. It is really fun to see, and I respect the job they are doing."On whether AFA will find it difficult to prepare for two quarterbacks: "Between the two of them, you have a pretty diverse span of talents and strengths. When you combine then, then yeah, there is some difficulty in preparing for them.....If that can possibly extend the preparation time for an opponent, or create a little bit more uncertainty, then that might be a byproduct we are getting."On why it could be difficult to prepare for a freshman: "Most of the time in my preparation as a def. coordinator, preparing for a freshmen, we really didn't acknowledge what they were capable of physically. That might sound like an exaggeration, but we were more focusing on [the fact that] they are freshman. And usually freshmen don't make the best decisions. And if we could create stressful environments for them over time, they might make a play or two, but they would make a few bad decisions as well. That was our hope." On whether he expects AFA's Reggie Rembert to play: "Kind of as a program philosophy, we always believe you ought to prepare for a program's very best players at each position. And that usually covers you bases in terms of your preparation, rather than conceding that they won't have a given player. So we will be aware of it certainly. But we will prepare like Reggie will be there. We hope he is in terms of his health and that he's OK. I think that's always the safest way to prepare." On what Riley Nelson and Jake Heaps need to do to improve: "From Riley Nelson's perspective, just the sheer grit and determination and emotionally leadership he provided the team was very impressive. His toughness showed with a number of runs he had, not only scoring runs, but getting key first downs. And he made good decisions about where he was delivering the football. If there was anything that needed to be improved, possibly, from Week 1, there were a few balls that could have been more accurate, as there are for probably any quarterback. But he graded very high, and he had an effective game, besides one or two throws that could have been more precise. In terms of Jake Heaps, he threw the ball very effectively, and he managed our run game very well. A lot of times our run game is based on what look our opponent gives us."On the offensive line's play Saturday in not allowing a sack:"It is essential. And when young quarterbacks have a chance to survey the field, maybe take an extra half-second or second to read out the play, it lends to their confidence and helps make them more secure. It is much different than if they are running, scrambling, trying to avoid pressure. ....So really, one of the most important strengths, and the key determinants of our play on Saturday, was the play of our offensive line and the way they protected our quarterbacks."On whether he was surprised that the Cougars had no turnovers: "I was surprised, and I was really gratified that both kids made such great choices because again, there will a couple plays that may have been forced here or there, and a couple of balls they might have had a chance to intercept. And we did fumble one after we had hit the ground by a returner. So we did dodge a few bullets, but we were relatively clean, not only in turnovers but penalties, which was uncharactericist and maybe unanticipate by me. I thought we would be sloppier, so I was encouraged by that." On whether this is the last time BYU will play Air Force: "Our AD is working with Air Force's AD. We would like to continue to play, if possible, just because of the respect I have for the academy, and the type of kids there. I think it is just a really good rivalry, and a fun game to play. So I am certainly thinking more long term than short term in terms of breathing a sigh of relief. It doesn't take away any anxiety going into the game. "I think it is just a good game to have on the schedule. So we are hopeful that we might be able to continue work something out on a nonconference, preseason basis."On whether it is tough for receivers to deal with lefty throws of Nelson and then righty throws of Heaps: "I think the difference is not so much whether they are lefthanded or righthanded, but the word you used, laser. Jake has a strong, accurate arm, so it might be simply a velocity difference between the two quarterbacks and not having played receiver, and not really being an expert in that area, I am not sure I could comment other than it would make sense to me that there might be difficulties switching from one to the other."On whether there is a BYU position group that needs to play better: "I think the entire team played fairly consistently and about at similar levels. I think maybe the most visible levels to improve, there were a few balls that were dropped by our receivers, I don't think that meant they had a poor football game. But obviously you hope to eliminate as many mistakes as possible. So if we could make one or two more critical catches, I think that might be something that I would mention."