This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the last day of September, a month that saw the BYU football team play just three games. Remember, the opener at Virginia was played on Aug. 31. Of course, the Cougars play at Utah State on Friday (6 p.m., CBS Sports Network), but today's news concerns the Georgia Tech at BYU game on Oct. 12. Kickoff time for that game is 5 p.m. MT. It will be televised by ESPNU.
Also Monday, BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy earned the Independent Defensive Player of the Week award.
Here are a couple of follows from Friday's 37-10 win over Middle Tennessee State that you might be interested in: A piece on how teammates such as JD Falslev have quarterback Taysom Hill's back; A summary of all the suspensions and injuries that have weakened the Cougars as they prepare for the Aggies this week. Here's what Bronco Mendenhall said when asked about Hill's progress on Friday: "We were hopeful. We have to continue to work hard to protect him, No. 1, so his eyes can remain downfield. And then, when he delivers the ball on target, like he is, then we catch it and secure it. So I think we took a step forward in that area." If there was a positive note to the one-game suspension of receiver Cody Hoffman, it was that Ross Apo emerged a bit, after having caught just three passes in the first three games. Apo caught four passes for 38 yards."Yeah, I think a week ago Mitch Mathews started to emerge," Mendenhall said. "I told him that in practice this week and I think that continued. Skyler [Ridley] as well. I also ought to say Ross [Apo]. I thought Ross had a presence, especially early in the game, that we hadn't seen for awhile. So I thought that was positive." Hill on the other receivers stepping up in Hoffman's absence: "Yeah, I love those guys, and when I found out Cody was going to be out, I didn't worry about it one bit. I had conversations with Ross and Mitch and those guys, and I said, 'this is your opportunity, man. Let's take advantage of it, I trust you, and step up. And that's what they did."