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Inside Cougar Report: Notes from Crowton, Bronco |
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Dick Harmon | Tuesday, December 17, 2002, 4:19 pm
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These are rough reporter notes from a teleconference that ended at 4:30 p.m. today.
Gary Crowton... rough notes from teleconference call.
After careful consideration.... Bronco best fit for us.. excited about Bronco being here.. told me he's coming.. lkes his intensity.. like his discipline focus and knowledge of the game... and looking forward to working with him..
Offered him the job today... talked it over with his coach.... and he accepted te job..
The timing from BYU's standpoint.. good time right now.. right before Christmas.. we'll have time to talk and discuss some players and situations and our procedure and put together a game plan to get defense installed and working... Bronco wanted to coach iin a bowl game and it will be fitting to have him coach him in that ball game.
defensive staff changes? ... Bronco and I will sit down and discuss what we're going to do.. Go over the staff. He will interview all the staff.. if he feels a good fit we'll keep it the way it is. if . if he wants to make changes then we'll discuss it and if I agree. will be one or more changes....
Bronco will be on payroll on january first or third will be on the payroll... said wanted to wait through the bowl season before I discussed it with Bronco.... and do some other guys during that time... but as soon as Ken made his announcement people started to call him and it was disruptive for him at New Mexico..Rocky called me and gave me permission to talk to Bronco since it was disruptive to keep getting phone calls about the job opening.
Overriding factor.... picked..... Bronco.. I know him. I've coached with him and were 9-2 when with him and did a great assisgnment with his assignments off the field.. with toughness, firm dispostion, discipline and helped us to get better. We can use that here and have familiarity with that.... facin the defenses we faced this year they did a great job against us, frustrating Matt Berry a little bit...well, a lot. He made me very confident with the scheme... felt comfortable with the chemistry and relationsihp... didn't always have the best chemistry this year and hopefully he can help us with that..
How much will change.. it will be difference.. Much more aggressive style.. I'm aggressive by nature and that style will be different, it will be different... Bronco and I will sit down and talk about it... Certain personnel groups and defense presented to me will be flexible and we want to get the best 11 guys on the field.. wherether more DLs, LBs .. safties.... it will have the flexiblity to maximize our personnel....
One thing I know about Bronco... if you can understand that... not too many hours away from his family is a situation is that he's a very intense person and while he's working he is very intense but spending time away from his family is a concerned.. He will spent the proper time... I'm a family man... know it keeps them fresh and focused on things important to football...
Guys we're recruiting we'll continue.. if guys we need to add to the board that might be a possibility. we'll look at that.. but the guys we are recruiting we'll continue... guys he's recruiting and he'x excited about those guys also...
Bronco Mendenhall rough notes...
Why do you leave UNM for BYU. Very difficult decisoin in terms of time invested in the program as a winner. Recognize the tradition of BYU football, the facilities, the players and my family is also there and an underlying factor is relationship with Gary Crowton.
How did coach Long handle it? I visited with coach Long. At beginning of conversation it was very difficult for both of us. As we discussed it longer coach Long was very understanding about the decision. He ultimately thought I was doing what i thought was best. Once he understood that he was very supportive.
What does it mean to coach in this bowl game and get it over with? Matters a lot. Tried everything imaginable to make this happen quick and easy so focus would be in the players and our bowl game. Grateful for coach Long to let me get this done. Difficult to see our team play without me here. Anxious to get back to the process of playing against UCLA.
How much do you know of personnel at BYU? When I was at interview, coach Crowton went over all the personnel. I can't say at this point what strength or weaknesses are but after the bowl game
What about staff here? The agreement between coach Crowton and myself is that upon my arrival in Provo I will interview coaches on my staff and make a recommendation to him after that.
Family.. Father and mother in Alpine with a horse cutting operation. Brother Matt has a home in California and in Alpine. Brother Marty lives in Pleasant View near Ogden. No question i am closer to my dad. grew up working side by side working on the ranch.. A member of the Cougar club. but decision came down to my wife and I. Family is a factor but my wife and I made the decision.
Contract? I won't disclose but defer to coach Crowton. I made up mind before that if offered I would take it.
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