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Bronco Mendenhall on first four years as BYU coach
By Mark Beck
LDS Church News
Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009
Brigham Young University head football coach Bronco
Mendenhall spoke to a gathering of BYU alumni Friday night at the school's
Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center.
In his address, which aired on BYUTV, Mendenhall shared experiences from his first four years as the head coach, and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to coach at BYU.
"I couldn't be more grateful for the chance to be BYU's football coach, in a program and institution that represents far more than football," Mendenhall said. "It simply wouldn't be worth it to do this job if it wasn't about more than football."
Mendenhall spoke of the unique mission of the BYU football program.
"I share this quote from President Hinckley to every recruit who comes into my office.
'Here we're doing what is not done in any other major university in which I am aware. We're demonstrating that faith in the Almighty can accompany and enrich scholarship in the secular. Its more than an experience, it's an accomplishment. And the products of this effort show in your lives' qualities, not otherwise attainable.'"
BYU football coach Bronco Mendenhall speaks Friday night at the Hinckley Alumni House. Photo by Stuart Johnson, Deseret News.
Mendenhall spoke of the
responsibility of the football team as the most visible part of the
university.
"Are we the most important? No. Are we the most visible? I think so," Mendenhall said. "That simple understanding had a lot to do with our mission statement as a football program, 'to be the flag bearers of Brigham Young University through football excellence, embracing truth, tradition, virtue and honor as a beacon to the world.' Are those high ideals? Does that make us a target? Absolutely. Is that reason to back away from them? Absolutely not."
Mendenhall concluded his remarks by sharing the approach he takes towards his job.
"Am I called to this position? No. Is it my job? Yes. I don't know how else to do it, other than treating it as a calling."
In his address, which aired on BYUTV, Mendenhall shared experiences from his first four years as the head coach, and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to coach at BYU.
"I couldn't be more grateful for the chance to be BYU's football coach, in a program and institution that represents far more than football," Mendenhall said. "It simply wouldn't be worth it to do this job if it wasn't about more than football."
Mendenhall spoke of the unique mission of the BYU football program.
"I share this quote from President Hinckley to every recruit who comes into my office.
'Here we're doing what is not done in any other major university in which I am aware. We're demonstrating that faith in the Almighty can accompany and enrich scholarship in the secular. Its more than an experience, it's an accomplishment. And the products of this effort show in your lives' qualities, not otherwise attainable.'"
BYU football coach Bronco Mendenhall speaks Friday night at the Hinckley Alumni House. Photo by Stuart Johnson, Deseret News.
"Are we the most important? No. Are we the most visible? I think so," Mendenhall said. "That simple understanding had a lot to do with our mission statement as a football program, 'to be the flag bearers of Brigham Young University through football excellence, embracing truth, tradition, virtue and honor as a beacon to the world.' Are those high ideals? Does that make us a target? Absolutely. Is that reason to back away from them? Absolutely not."
Mendenhall concluded his remarks by sharing the approach he takes towards his job.
"Am I called to this position? No. Is it my job? Yes. I don't know how else to do it, other than treating it as a calling."
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