This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Provo • BYU's outdoor practice field wasn't exactly turned into Provo Country Club on Thursday afternoon, but a visitor couldn't have been blamed for thinking he had stumbled across something other than a spring football practice.
Pop music blared from the loudspeakers part of the time, the Cougars practiced without helmets for the entire two hours, and coach Bronco Mendenhall left practice for about 45 minutes to spend some time in his office with a middle-age couple.
"It looked easy, but it wasn't," said sophomore receiver Brett Thompson, noting how the first 40 minutes were spent on a conditioning and teamwork drill that Mendenhall calls "Perfect 10s."
As for the lack of helmets, Mendenhall said the Cougars practiced like they normally would, but he wanted to change things up a little bit and keep players fresh knowing that they will have Friday off and participate in a 40- to 50-play scrimmage on Saturday.
"I just had them take their helmets off," Mendenhall said. "It is amazing just what a little change like that will do just in terms of guys feeling like they are faster or healthier than what they are."
Thompson said the players loved the change.
"I have never done that in all my years playing football," he said. "It actually felt pretty good, especially with our game coming up, our spring game. Yeah, it felt good."
The scrimmage is open to the public, and admission is free. It will begin around noon and go until 1 p.m. The first 4,000 fans will receive a limited edition 2012 schedule card featuring players on this year's team.
Most of the starters, healthy or not, will not play, including quarterback Riley Nelson.
"Hopefully each quarterback that plays will get two series, so it will be number of series, which will probably be eight, or number of plays, whichever comes first," Mendenhall said.
Running backs ready
Although they haven't been able to show much this preseason because a lot of offensive linemen are missing camp, BYU's running backs have been impressive, Mendenhall said.
"Well, we've got some good players [at running back]," he said. "Mike Alisa, I really like the way he looks. I think Juice [Josh Quezada] has had a better spring than he did fall last year. I think [rugby star] Paul Lasike has shown he is capable. David Foote isn't currently practicing. I like him as well. Then you get to Adam Hine, and then the freshman [Jamaal Williams] coming in. So there will be enough."
Mendenhall said Alisa probably won't see action Saturday because he's battled a sprained ankle in camp, but that Quezada will play quite a bit.
Briefly
Mendenhall said Ziggy Ansah, the converted track star, is going to play both outside linebacker and defensive end this season, "because he can do both." … Mendenhall said the Cougars will practice three more times next week, but that Saturday will mark the last time the players will be in full pads this spring.
Twitter: @drewjay