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Provo • BYU football coach Bronco Mendenhall returned to Provo late Thursday night from a cross-country trip to Miami, where he participated in a press conference to pump up the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl and told locals there about his 8-4 football team.

When he got to practice on Friday morning, he found a motivated, determined team, partly from his own doing.

"We have something to prove [in the bowl game against Memphis]," receiver Mitch Mathews said. "Coach Mendenhall came back today and said that the Memphis coaches are pretty positive they are going to win, and they are almost acting like they have won. So I guess it is a chip on our shoulder to prove them wrong."

Whatever works.

After the Cougars held their second bowl practice on Friday — offensive coordinator Robert Anae ran Thursday's practice while Mendenhall was in Miami — the head coach addressed the media for the first time since the Cougars downed California 42-35 nearly two weeks ago.

There was a lot to talk about.

Topics included whether he had any interest in the head coaching vacancy at his alma mater, Oregon State (former USU and Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen took it Wednesday), why several Cougars are leaving the program early, and his feelings about the Big 12 being snubbed by the College Football Playoff Committee and whether that could pave the way for BYU to eventually get an invitation to that Power 5 conference.

Mendenhall basically sidestepped the OSU question, saying he was continuously asked about the opening immediately after his good friend, Mike Riley, left for the Nebraska job, but not providing a definitive answer.

"When you have a successful program, like we have, there is interest almost every year," Mendenhall said. "I will probably just leave it at that. I am flattered that continues to happen. I am just looking forward to coaching our team."

Regarding the Big 12 not getting into the CFP, Mendenhall said, "To be honest, I was hoping that domino would fall, to generate dialogue."

He said he doesn't know if BYU has reached out to the Big 12 since the snub, referring questions about that to athletic director Tom Holmoe, but reiterated his stance from last summer.

"I have made it really clear: I think BYU is a fantastic fit, and deserving and would add a lot to the Big 12," Mendenhall said. "In the meantime, we will play coast to coast, and play anyone that will play us, basically anywhere. But the [BYU] administration I am sure is prepared and doing everything they can."

Mendenhall acknowledged that at least four players, including two who have never played a down for BYU, have asked to be released from the program so they can transfer.

Receiver Dylan Collie, who redshirted in 2012 before a church mission, was granted a release before this season even started and will most likely transfer to Hawaii when he returns in January.

Defensive back Trenton Trammell, a junior college transfer who was injured in 2013 and could never get on the field in 2014, is expected to graduate this month and will transfer to an undetermined school and be immediately eligible to play due to the NCAA's graduate transfer rule.

Safety Dallin Leavitt, a sophomore who played in every game except Central Florida, "asked for his release, and I have granted it," Mendenhall said. "He has played his last game as a Cougar, and I hope he finds a really good place where he can have a role that he likes and that he's happy."

Leavitt tweeted Friday that he is visiting Utah State this weekend.

Offensive lineman Brayden Kearsley is also trying to transfer, most likely to Oregon State, but Mendenhall said he won't give the Oregon native a release until he finishes some academic work.

"And so he will [probably] be here at least one more semester [to catch up]," Mendenhall said, adding that it isn't right for a player struggling academically to leave and have the school penalized an APR point because of it.

Twitter: @drewjay —

Miami Beach Bowl

P BYU vs. Memphis Dec. 22, Marlins Park, Miami, Fla., Noon TV • ESPN