Romp over Texas has BYU looking to college football's 'in' crowd for an invite

AUSTIN, Texas – The beat-down done and over, Bronco Mendenhall stood out in the middle of Darrell K. Royal Stadium here, its 100,000 seats now cleared out ... except for the raucous BYU fans.

The Cougars coach wore a small grin that spoke to profound pride. He took time to slowly circle around, staring at each corner of the cavernous place, at the entire scene. His program's fans had flooded the front rows as his players ran a victory lap, slapping their hands and basking in a moment – BYU 41, Texas 7 – that college football's power brokers would tell you couldn't or shouldn't occur.

"I just was so happy for our team," Mendenhall said later. "It was a great night for BYU. A great night. So much about leadership, there is a lonely element to it. So it is fun to look up and see so many people enjoying themselves."

This wasn't just an impressive woodshed beating of the Longhorns. It wasn't just BYU's second consecutive blowout road victory to start the season (it beat UConn 35-10 last week). This wasn't just a sign to the playoff selection committee to keep an eye outside the five major conferences for a contender.

"We're serious," defensive back Robertson Daniel said. "And we plan on playing every game like this."

[Related: BYU's Taysom Hill hurdles Texas defender on touchdown scamper]

This was more. This here was a show of force, a cannon blast across the bow that BYU isn't going anywhere no matter its independent status or the idea that some conferences are encouraging its members to not schedule the Cougars, that somehow playing these guys wouldn't be considered a "major" opponent.

Yet Kansas or Colorado or Purdue would.

College football has tried and tried to leave BYU in the dust but here the Cougars were Saturday, completely humiliating Texas in every facet of the game, including talent. Here they were with another star-in-the-making quarterback in Taysom Hill (18 of 27 passing for 181 and 99 yards rushing with three TDs).

And here they are, still looking for a major conference membership slot, looking every bit like a major conference force, all with Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby up above taking it all in.

"I don't really know what message it sends," Mendenhall said. "I know the way I can influence BYU being respected nationally is to schedule as many of these games as I can. Eventually, that will take care of itself.

"I don't intend to go into the ADs' office and lobby and hold up signs," he said. "I'd rather just schedule and play."

Still, this was special. It was the University of Texas that was ground zero for the last rounds of conference realignment that helped weaken the Mountain West and influenced BYU to declare its independence and hope for a more a stable future.

Now here they were, in the belly of the beast, steamrolling the 'Horns for the second consecutive year.

"It'd be fun to do that every week," Mendenhall said of the challenge of such a schedule. "Certainly it would be a tremendous challenge. BYU has made tremendous progress as a program, and I'm excited about this particular year and the future."

He should be. This is a good team with the potential for great. Yes, Texas is bottoming out as Charlie Strong tries to rebuild it, but this wasn't close, and this is still Texas.

And BYU is still BYU. There is size and toughness and skill and organization all over the board. Mendenhall arrived with a perfect plan and then made what he called three quick adjustments after his offense kept stalling. Soon, the onslaught was on.

"It always has been big-time football," Mendenhall said, noting recruiting remains strong because of what he, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints offers young people.

"For those kids who have high moral standards, are strong academically and want to play big-time football as well, it's a great choice."

So sure, he was going to take a second to savor it. Everyone in blue and white was. Fans chanted, "BYU, BYU" into the warm Austin air. Assistant coaches hugged and high-fived. Players whooped it up. BYU-TV did a live standup from one corner that was drowned out in cheers.

The program that was supposed to crumble looks as strong as ever.

"We're one of the only teams in the world that can pull it off because we have such a unique institution and such a unique fan base and such a unique faith," Mendenhall said. "And with that comes passionate support. We have our own TV network. We have an exclusive deal with ESPN.

"The world has recognized what we have," he continued. "The world of college football has not touched us with the inclusion wand yet. So we'll just keep doing our thing and maybe that will happen."

Mendenhall spoke about 20 minutes after the game, yet outside, back in the big stadium, the fans were still screaming. Inside the locker room, the players were, too.

BYU beat the living heck out of Texas and you couldn't blame a single one of the Cougars for trying to shout it out to the world as they soaked it all in.

"Step back for a moment," the coach said. "Enjoy it."

He then broke into another smile of satisfaction, his faith rewarded all over again.

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