New Mexico HC Bronco Mendenhall after Day 1 of spring practice

pry good first official practice for you since 2021 I mean how do it feel being back out there for you felt really good uh like my team they're willing they try hard and they're eager and I think uh hopeful and confident at the same time of what lies ahead but also they realize the amount of work that uh lays ahe but I'm really pleased and just so much fun to be out with them today how do you feel like your to build the culture to yeah I think that'll be a great answer as or a great question as you ask the players but the culture is coming I love accountability I love discipline I really like effort uh and I like success and none of those things come without really really hard work and so we ask for a lot and this program Demands a lot and but with that comes results I think that's what everybody wants you mentioned that you like the team and some of the qualities like about them on the field is there anything that stands out um in terms of the actual on the field play that you like you know I think with the players that we've added in addition to the ones that we have um there's a nice mix there's a nice balance and there's enough depth currently um to start our program we'll have to add more players we'll have to add more depth but I like the commitment I like the ability and I like the mindset of the guys that I've seen so far in those um you mentioned depth position wise is there any group that's really standing out to you a running back group I really like a running back group um there's three really good players there um we have them on the field sometimes one at a time sometimes two at a time sometimes three at a time but that groups that are really nice job so far is there anything special about this time of the year when it does come to to Spring practice and kind of just growing a program from this yeah Fresh Start um everybody's undefeated at this point um history of programs history of teams doesn't matter um each team and each staff gets to redefine what their goals are what their expectations are uh and what their future is I love that part in January you mentioned um that you were pleased with what you had seen at the start of that kind of 8we conditioning period what were kind of your final takeaways from that 8we period much like I just said this team is willing they're eager they're hungry and they're trusting they believe in myself and our staff that we can help uh and vice versa what the work e work they're putting in the mindset they're bringing um and the way they're willing to learn that's a good combination to start a program red was um red was often today white was defense but uh you know turquoise are those guys non- cont or injured what's kind of the deal um injured or limited other guys inys I think I saw Everett and um Taven in that group who else is in there man that would be one of those things if I had all my notes in front of you I'd give you an accurate answer but I'm not sure so over these next few weeks um what's going to be the biggest thing what are you kind of looking forward to see from these guys we we're just starting from scratch and so assignments and effort and execution and position mastery and culture and then doing it again assignments and effort and execution and pH Mastery in culture and that takes a long time um uh but yeah I'm persistent and I have really high standards and but the players want that and so yeah it's a good start so as you're kind of implementing all those new things and you know building that new culture how hard is it to kind of do all of that while also installing you know your you know your schemes yeah it's just one of the challenges but um it's not new to any new staff it's not new to myself and for teams that have transitioned between coordinators um it's not uh it's not unsurmountable it is a challenge but it can be done coach um released a story today that has a list of the principles or major tenants of your program um I know it's still very early but in terms of the Buy in from your team you know top to bottom with regard to those principles how's that going it's going really well uh as they learned what they are and how they're applied and that they're real we don't put anything up on our our walls that isn't real those principles have guided my life they've guided hundreds of other young people's lives and they've led to a lot of success and so the players have that to go on as a starting point and then as they learn and apply and learn and apply and get feedback they'll become more ingrained in everyone in our program so you sp in the past about Devon um but now that you're kind of you know getting your hands on him a little bit more what's going to be the biggest thing for just developing him still man second year oh it remains to be seen but he's Dynamic he's smart he's capable he has natural leadership skills he can make all the throws and I love his decision making so so much to work with in a positive way offensively and defensively what are the schems you guys have identified you're going to work with um with the Personnel that you have right now yeah it's it's a great question and one that I'll answer in a unique way so I think as soon as you name something it's easier to fight and so I like our schemes to be unnamable our coordinators might name them in some way uh but I believe in who first then what and as we continue to see who we have the schemes more to leverage that rather than try to jam players into an existing pattern I like to see what we can do and then be creative and so you can expect that you spoke about the running back room and how much you like what you had in there right now we saw a little bit of Eli Sanders kind of in the wild cat can you just speak to what you you know you have there in the back and what you have there in terms of an athlete too Eli's tough he's Dynamic he's experienced um ja and Jacobs same thing when you put them with Andrew Henry three really good football players that's been really fun to see coach do you enion a scenario where you play multiple is something would you like to settle I prefer to settle on one and run with that but we have played multiple before again I love leveraging um who we have and maximizing the ability of any existing group of people and so that that will play out not only over the spring but through the fall and possibly game by game based on a what injuries look like performing well but I prefer one yeah uh to this point uh Justin holiday is uh really doing a nice job in terms of competition and making plays and just work ethic again we've had one spring practice so in terms of context way way early but I've liked what I've seen from him so far pretty dramatic turnover from last year to this year on the offensive line in some ways I mean I think the first team I saw on the routes on air period was pretty all transfers um what's your read on how deep that group is right now and what you guys have there in terms of quality options I like the group we brought in nine transfers and so we basically replaced an entire 2D and I think that we evaluated assessed and targeted the right players so I'm encouraged saw some nice stuff from Isaiah Jones today as well can you speak to what you have there in terms of the receiver and two Isaiah is long he's tall he's experienced transfering from from Syracuse you had Caleb bford to him as well and then you put Luke weong and EV s with them um there's there's a nice combination and really really like Nick tro from what I've seen from him spring game is set for April 20th what's kind of the formatting that you have in mind for that yeah subject subject to change uh but really uh the number one offense and the number one defense will be on opposite teams the number two offense the number two defense will be on opposite teams and will'll arm up and then play football based on the roster size and the health of our team at that point it'll really determine how many plays as we go uh but this team needs to play as much football as possible needs to play as much football in our stadium and uh adding fans and adding that environment looks like matters and so that's what and we didn't talk to you after the schedule release but I'm curious what you thought of you know how it plays out on a week toe basis with conference opponents and then the pretty unique scheduling quir of three by- weeks at this point yeah never never experienced anything like it uh starting with only five home games and seven on the road I've never had a season where you didn't have at least six and six never had two by weeks in a year let alone three um a lot of that is uh I would chalk it up to transition and inheriting a program and inheriting circumstances and then using that as a reference point to move forward we'll make the best of all of it bi weeks can help the schedule is what it is it's tough It's great um there's a lot of parity in our league and I am optimistic are you still open to adding a 13th game or you Nixon at this point uh yeah I am open to adding 13th game hard at this stage it has to be the right onent and the right circumstances thank you very much