This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Provo • A year ago, BYU football coach Bronco Mendenhall called his relationship with Utah coach Kyle Whittingham cordial and professional in a Salt Lake Tribune article outlining the feelings between the two coaches, who both started their head coaching careers in 2005.

Utah's move to the Pac-12 and BYU's dalliance with independence has done nothing to change that, Mendenhall said Monday in his weekly news conference as the Cougars and Utes prepared to battle Saturday (7:15 p.m., ESPN2) at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

" 'Professional' is the best way to describe it. It really doesn't go beyond that. I think we both tried early on but then realized I wasn't LaVell [Edwards, a former BYU coach], and he wasn't [former Utah coach] Ron McBride," Mendenhall said.

"That was such a unique relationship between those two, and in such a hostile game, or circumstance. If you were to say, 'What would be the ideal for any rivalry or program?' I would say those two. I really respect how they handled it. Kyle and I are different. So 'professional' is how I would describe our relationship."

Sorensen honored

BYU kicker Justin Sorensen is the FBS Independent Special Teams Player of the Week after kicking field goals of 30, 33 and 32 yards in the loss to Texas. Sorensen, a Bingham High product, also added a PAT and a touchback on a kickoff. Texas started inside its 20-yard-line three times due to Sorensen's kickoffs.

Injury update

Linebacker Jordan Pendleton suffered the only significant injury against Texas, slightly spraining an ankle in the fourth quarter. Mendenhall said Pendleton probably won't practice until Thursday but is expected to play against Utah.

Linebacker Brandon Ogletree (concussion) and backup safety Mike Hague (sore ribs) missed the Texas game but are expected to play against the Utes.

Briefly

The Utes and Cougars have never met this early in a football season. The earliest meeting until now was in 1958 when the Cougars beat the Utes 14-7 on Sept. 27 in Salt Lake City. … In Mendenhall's tenure, the Cougars are 7-4 against Pac-12 teams other than Utah. —

Saturday's game

Utah at BYU, 7:15 p.m.

TV • ESPN2