Virginia and Bronco Mendenhall

[Music] welcome into the cougar tailgate where BYU fandom lives here's your host Lauren mlan how's it going everybody Broncos in town and fans don't know how to feel about it there are mixed emotions about the former boou head coach leading his knew who's onto the field at lvll Edwards Stadium later tonight while we're trying to sort out our feelings former BYU All-American soccer player and wife of Virginia's quarterback coach Jamie Beck will join me to talk about how Bronco and his staff and their families are feeling about rolling back into Provo after six years with the who but first let's get the perspective of the man who named his dog the same name as my eldest son Ben Bagley hi Ben funny story there Lauren how are you uh when when we got the dog when we got cash uh my brother was expecting at the same time and gave birth to my nephew a week later and they were going to name him cash I didn't know this um but once I named my dog cash they had to settle for Nixon and so to this day my nephew is not Nixon in my vocabulary he is almost cash what's up almost cash and into your credit you actually named your dog cash before my son was born um isn't that right yeah I think it was I think I think you had your dog yeah cash is four years old so yeah well I just dog or not I couldn't pass up the name it was a good one all right Ben everyone's been talking about it all week long what will it be like to have Bronco men inhal who helped mold the program for a decade before deciding to leave he's coming back to Provo head coach of Virginia and Bo's latest foe listen I have my own thoughts on the situation but I want to hear Ben what's been the buzz around BYU about Bronco coming into town wait who's into town come on that was good that was good no for Coach Bron yeah go ahead no the who's the yeah sorry oh ah oh if you got to explain jokes they're not funny Lauren come on stay with me well they're dad jokes they're never funny keep going oh I am a dad so I qualify there uh you know what it's it's interesting and and I'm shocked that there's mixed emotions here but then I then when you think about it not really cuz Bronco even when he was here was kind of a polarizing figure either you loved him or hate him you couldn't argue with the fact that he was productive on the field but Bronco someone put it someone put it really well on Twitter they down Bo Sports Nation and said something to the effect I'm paraphrasing here because I don't have it in front of me uh Hey I'm going to stand and cheer blah blah blah hope beu beats him and even if he was socially awkward because cuz Bronco was socially awkward especially to the media I don't I don't think he was no he was socially awkward period but he kind of had a an interesting relationship with the media and the med media is a gateway to what fans see about you and kind of read into you so that that relationship extended to the fan base and and he he was productive on the field his players loved him he did a great he did a great just built a great foundation in Independence for BYU um coming out of the Mountain West Conference but then he decides to leave and you know what once you once you leave BYU it's like oh no they're not one of us he's still one of you he's did a lot for this program all those guys love BYU they just want beat him this week and that's okay I think I think you're absolutely right Bronco was an interesting fella and fans like to say that only wins matter but they really did care about his personality and what he kind of presented to the public and he just wasn't he's just kind of more of an introverted guy and I think purposefully and colani is a phenomenal coach but I think that's one of the biggest reasons they picked colani is because he's extroverted he's really good with people and I think people were a little bit sick of that with Bronco minhaal but you cannot deny how good he was on the field and to me Ben it feels like when an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend is going to a party or function that you're going to be at you have to pretend like you don't care right you have to pretend like they never meant anything to you no I've never looked up your Facebook profile deep down you want to blow their socks off when you see them you really do you got to go on a diet right you got to go on a diet for a couple weeks you got to color your hair your makeup is perfect you're wearing the perfect outfit and then when you finally run into him them you're like oh I didn't see you there I hope I was well with your new girlfriend and even if you're happy as can be with your new boy AKA Kanani right yes you still want your ex to be jealous and I think this is how boou fans feel they just want Bronco to remember what he lost and feel like he's missing out whether he'll actually feel that way or not what do you think he's not missing out on anything and and here I'm going to tell you why number one just just kind of the introvert extrovert comic I don't know the colani is an extrovert I think that 90% of college football coaches and coaches in general would rather just not talk to the media and and do their thing on field coaching and uh and being a a mentor to the these young men and young women in sports but media is part of the gig and unfortunately we're kind of pains and butts sometimes and unnecessary evil and some some just know how to handle that better than others um colani is really good at it although he he is I mean he is kind of elusive in answering his questions and and and that's just the way it is I I get it I understand that 100% um but as far as that whole that scenario that that analogy you painted is absolutely perfect but bronos is not missing out on anything because you know what he left here for I know this is going to hurt BYU fans a better job at the time uh I said a qualifier at the time because as BYU gets to the Big 12 I'm not sure Virginia is a better job but BYU wasn't in the Big 12 and he' pushed hard hard almost too hard to the point where he was told stop to get BYU to a power five conference when he was here he wanted it to happen then it didn't happen and he got an opportunity go to a power five conference to get paid power five money to have the power five support and assets that were there available to him and he jumped at it and he should have and I get it that that hey it's BYU and you should stay here until we fire you or you you decide to retire but but that's not what happens in the real world and Bronco had done his time here here and I think he realized that it was at the point where he was going to either is going to be diminishing returns because he'd kind of gone as far as he could with BYU or it was going to go south and instead of that he got out ahead of it got a better job got paid more money got his staff more money which is an important thing amongst college football coaches getting your staff paid and he went to an institution that was able to do that and so good for him and that and and thank you Bronco thank you for what you did for BYU we're going to try to kick your butt on Saturday but thank thank you thank you for what you did to by for BYU absolutely and I really do hope that fans realize everything that he did for the program he really did I mean sort of similar to what he did in Virginia he kind of turned around be's program and he established this sort sort of military likee mindset um among the team one of the best defenses in the country uh that got boou recognized and I think he just did a a really really phenomenal job I think he's a great coach and he really is a wonderful human being I love that he was loyal to his staff like you said that was at BYU to get them some more money and and move them up in their ranks a little bit as well and I think somebody who really does understand the college football landscape cannot blame Bronco for taking off as much as it hurts some people were glad I don't know why because he really was a great coach but uh I think if you really do understand you can't be upset and and honestly for fans I think after this game is finished whether it's a win or loss Buu fans are going to move on quickly I I think the more important impact is that Virginia is a power five program and a win would look great on their record and the fact that it's against Bronco is just kind of a bonus I don't think people will think about it much after it's over Ben what do you think is the impact of this of the actual game itself I think you you hit it pretty close uh to to the head of the N but I I think that if BYU loses there might be some hurt feelings and people might like Bronco a little bit less but that's that's any coach that comes in and beats BYU um I I just think it's frankly Broncos said it well it's like and this is like BYU fans getting angry again when they hear his press conference on Monday where he really downplayed the fact that it's BYU and the relation like he he's like I don't want to deal with the relation he didn't say in these words but he's like it's like the relationships and the whole pregame shaking hands and oh hey how's it going and coming back to campus and like he's not going to do these things but if you take that route of this is my old office and when I was here we had this and oh this is new let's go look at the new building blah blah blah that is such a distraction to what the goal for his team is and that's what he said he goes those relationships we're going to come in we'll probably do a few hugs and handshakes pregame but then our goal is to beat BYU and then after the game we'll leave and we'll go home because right now his jobs what's best for UVA in Virginia it's not reminiscing and and rekindling the relationships with Tom Homo and other people who may or may be here or might be hanging around and seeing his old players and stuff like that if he if he spends too much time doing that he's doing a to service to his team and that's kind of what he was trying to get across in the Monday press conference and BYU fans I think some B fans heard that like oh he never liked it here that's not true that's not true he's got a job to do and when you got a job to do that you're getting paid to do one thing get it done Ben I asked fans on Twitter which type of win means the most to them a win against a P5 program for the prestige and strength of schedule a win against an instate rival like Utah or Utah State so bragging rights for the rest of the year or a win against the former coach uh kind of for the reason I talked about earlier to make them feel like they're missing out on something better than what they left us for and 61% of fans said can you guess what what do you think your guesses Ben uh a win against Rivals exactly yeah 61% % said inate rival over a P5 win that I mean given Utah like Utah is kind of the whole package deal you are they they playing the Pack 12 we've seen what they did this year that's true yeah do we even there's the shot there it is but really Utah is kind of the package deal Kyle winingham former BYU player and he I believe he was a he checks all three boxes he that's nice good job good job by kutah 85 to8 six he was a a graduate assistant I believe for BYU technically was a coach P5 and inate so but I I think even Utah State means more to a lot of BYU fans than than a power five win 38% said power five win and just 1% set a win against a former coach so I I can't say that I'm surprised by the results but man people are so so passionate about beating Utah it it really does make her break a SE shock to you no it's just it's just it really does make her break a season for some fans so it seems like Bronco coming into town is just a fun storyline but really doesn't mean a terrible amount to fans what do you think uh I think it means something to him in the moment um a game week but once you once you juxtapose it and compare it to Utah it it pels in comparison to to what fing in my opinion I I'm not a fan so I I can't speak to that but I'm you know I love when I play the I'm not a fan card uh but but like I just think that in my experience everything pels in comparison to when you talk about Utah week it just does it just it's the way that the fans are hardwired Ben I want to know what you as not a fan as you always point out which I love yeah think what do you really think about how or how do you feel about Bronco coming into probo how do you feel about it great I I I I was sad I was sad that when he when he first got the job he looked at the series say we're never going to play this game I'm happy that he's playing this game cuz he didn't have a choice and if it was up to him he still wouldn't play this game but he's being forced to which is awesome and it makes a great story and I'm doing the radio pregame show right here on BYU Radio talking to ryy Nelson former player for Bronco Bronco still is a big part of his life that's going to be a big part of the show so spoiler alert if you tune in to the pregame show on Saturday you will hear a lot of us talking about Bronco coming back to Provo and I love it and I think it's just going to be so much fun and that's saying something the fact that he wanted this game to be canceled he did not want to play it there I mean there's some em it's not CU he's scared don't don't say that people it's not cuz he's scared it's just it's it's awkward I get it no it is awkward absolutely but I'm just saying that it's some emotion it's some emotion coming from Bronco menal and I think that adds a little bit of intrigue uh for this game all right Ben thank you so much my friend for coming on phenomenal as usual as always my pleasure and just because I am a fan of one thing the Raiders are in first place AFC us and AFC the end wow congrat congratulations celebr you can all right that's right coming up former BYU soccer All-American Jamie Beck joins me and oh yeah she's also the wife of former boou quarterback coach and current Virginia quarterback coach Jason Beck she'll give us a scoop on how the who are feeling about coming back to P toown this is cougar tailgate [Music] welcome back to cooker tailgate I'm Lauren mlan it's an interesting feeling for fans when a former head coach and his staff who made such a big impact on the boou program returned to town as members of another team but how are the who's feeling coming back to lel's house joining me now is someone who has strong ties to both schools former BYU allame American soccer player and wife of Jason Beck Virginia's quarterback coach Jamie Beck Jamie so good to be able to talk to you again thank you so much it's so good to be here um just love that I'm able to have this opportunity to talk with you today did you ever think you'd be on BYU Radio again or any BYU channel honestly no I was joking with Jason last night I was like I'm actually a little nervous I don't think I've done an interview since my playing days at BYU soccer so you know this is super fun but also a little nervous I'm a little rusty so hopefully you know this goes pretty smooth ah you'll be amazing and for those who don't know Jamie she was an absolute incredible soccer player for BYU so you need to go look up uh some of those highlights the fact that she is Jason's wife is just kind of an afterthought right no I'm just kidding you guys you guys are like the ultimate power couple it's so awesome uh first off how are you and your family doing we're doing great we're enjoying all the beautiful fall colors in Charlottesville right now everyone is in full-time school and sports mode so we are busy and just living life you know to its fullest right now how old are your boys now so the twins are six and a half and my daughter is 10 so lots of energy and lots of attitude from my daughter these days but they are also so sweet and fun so yeah it's a good group those pre-teen girls are scary uh you you mentioned how gorgeous Virginia is it really is such a gorgeous part of the country I noticed you like to hike and be outdoors what would you say is one of your favorite things about living out there yeah it is just honestly so beautiful out here every season there's just something you see new every time and um yeah I love to be outside hiking there's this beautiful hike I do pretty consistently it's called Humpback Rock and you hike through the mountains and very Rocky path and at the top is this beautiful Overlook of the Blue Ridge Mountains and we tried to do that you know handful times a year um and it's just such a good workout and it's worth it at the end to get those views oh I love that so much it really is gorgeous all right Jamie let's go back six years when Bronco was hired as head coach at Virginia and brought Jason in a bunch of other guys with him what was that like for you guys to have to suddenly pick up everything and head completely on the other end of the country to the east coast you know the initial feeling was actual like surprise and shock that it was actually happening Bronco was leaving I mean I think that was kept under the radar pretty good so it was a shock to everyone to even hear that um and once we kind of wrapped our heads around what was happening and we were called by Bronco to come along uh Jason and I's first first together was yes absolutely um and that was no knock on BYU or wanting to leave for any reason in particular it was just we love Bronco we love working for him and it was such a great opportunity for Jason professionally and for our family to come out here and to experience a new campus a new uh community and a new part of the country we had never been and my kids were really little when we left BYU my daughter was four and my boys were under under a year so that part was probably the hardest transition was uh leaving the West Coast close to family close to friends close to everything familiar and comfortable and so to come out here it really stretched Us in so many ways individually and as a family to grow together and just experience this journey together it's been incredible so far how long before I I can imagine that was just an incredible adventure for you guys like you said everything is unfamiliar how long before you felt like the staff and you their families really settled in with whose Nation you know I think we got pretty lucky with our situation and if anyone's familiar with the coaching world and the job and all the ups and downs of it you know that people rotate through coaching jobs pretty frequently and most of the time coaches take jobs by themselves or they only bring a couple people with them so I think it was a really unique experience to come with basically Bronco's entire staff all the families all the kids um and to have that kind of support for such a big move I think feeling connected and um easy transition was was felt right away because we had each other to lean on and the community and the university embraced us immediately they were all so excited to not only have Bronco there to you know Kickstart their program but to have all these families and kids um representing UVA but also just bringing uh new energy to to UVA and so I think we all felt pretty connected right away and there wasn't any time to like not feel um feel part of being you know a UVA who I love that so much and and you're right that really is such a unique situation to be able to have so many of you traveling together to a new place so you kind of just have this built-in family we were talking about earlier in the show how the impact Bronco had on BYU's program and his staff was just just immense but it was kind of hard to get to know Bronco the guy if that makes sense so from your perspective what was it about Bronco menen Hall that made it I guess sort of an easy decision for you guys I mean obviously you're moving up to a P5 program there's in more money there's other situations but just about Bronco himself what was it about him that made it an easier decision for you guys to kind of pick up your family and go yeah that's a great question um for me and Jason personally um I think knowing Bronco a little bit more from behind the scenes than a lot of fans or media get to see is we saw saw a sight of him that was very family oriented he's very loyal to his staff and his families and to us the security of that and the welcoming point of him you know being so warm to all the families and wanting us all to go made it super easy to CH to say yes and follow him and we knew uh following Bronco would be a great decision both professionally for Jason and for our family I love that and you guys mentioned that the ception from the fans has been incredible and BYU or sorry not BYU Bronco and staff really have done some incredible things at Virginia what would you say is one of your favorite Traditions uh that the who's have as their fan base and their student section oh man I mean game day at Scott stadium is so much fun um this is really the only game day experience my kids remember they were so little when we were at BYU and so they don't remember any of the games there so this is like their home their Stadium these are their boys on the field playing um so we get so excited for home games and at Scott Stadium it's just electric on game day and one of my favorite Traditions is after every touchdown or field goal everyone in the stands um students families parents everyone puts their arms around each other and we sing the good old song and it is just the best everyone Embraces each other we're as one you know like you said the fourth side we're all in this together and we sing this song and just the sense of community and belonging and I mean it's just incredible and we we finally have learned it it took us about a good year to learn it it's it's hard learning new fight songs and School songs every couple years but we have the good old song down and so we have a great time doing that after we score so what what is the town like where the University of Virginia is in what is it big is it small what's it like over there you know I would describe Charlottesville as a big city but kind of the small City feel um I mean there's lots to do there's like we talked about hiking and getting out tons of nature stuff but we have a great downtown area with lots of shopping and food um I mean the homes around here are beautiful because everything covered in trees and Greenery and the community like the actual people and Charlottesville are just good to the core um that southern hospitality love um acceptance and being there for you is just unmatched I mean moving into our neighborhood I've you know never met such kind giving people our first day in our home I had like three different neighbors bring cookies and dinner and you know offer babysitting and it was just the reception was Unreal and it's it's sincere and it's just um it's amazing to be a part of oh I love that so much you guys deserve it and and people really are incredible I I I think that's how it should be all right Bronco was at BYU for a decade Jason was there for two years before heading to Virginia what's been the sentiment among Bronco and staff coming back to probo after six years you know just speaking of mine and Jason's conversations we've had and just kind of the general Vibe around you know the families and stuff I don't think there's anything but excitement and you know just that anticipation of game day no matter who we were playing but I mean you can't deny the Deep ties and Roots all the staff and Bronco has to be while even some of the families like you know that have the wives that have graduated from there and even some of these uh coaches kids have gone there so there's so many Deep Roots and ties to BYU so I think you know you'd be lying if you said there wasn't some sentimental emotion involved with it but I think with Bronco and the staff they're just so focused and professional about it that I don't think they're going to let that get in the way and they're gonna you know be prepared to play another game this Saturday and I think it'll just be an amazing environment to be in and I know they're going to get a warm welcome and be excited to to be back at Lalor Stadium that's awesome and and I wouldn't expect anything different from those particular guys that to be as professional as possible but I know they all have big hearts as well so I think it's going to be a fun night so you're not able to make the trip but just to even watch Virginia play BYU on TV has to be a little surreal to watch L you know your guys in Virginia on the field at level Edward Stadium what what have you been feeling leading up to this game yeah I mean just kind of mixed emotions it's weird like being an alumni from there and just having so much love for my cougars I always I mean Jason and I always cheer for BYU obviously when we're not playing them but we always watch BYU's games we cheer for them we want them to do well and to win so um you know it's obviously gonna be different this Saturday we obviously want our who's to win but it's gonna be fun to watch from home also hard to watch because you know I always want to be there to support Jason uh in person at as many games as I can and I just hope they you know enjoy the experience and enjoy the energy that they're going to feel in that stadium and bring home a win and some good memories absolutely I I love it I love that perspective all right former boou All-American soccer player and wife of Jason Beck Virginia's quarterback coach Jamie Beck Jamie thank you so much for taking the time with me today you are incredible absolutely I'm so glad I was able to join you and that does it for us today thanks again to Jamie Beck and Ben baggley for coming on the show with me you can join the cougar tailgate virtually of course every Saturday at noon mountain time or download rate and review our podcast on Apple TuneIn Stitch your Spotify or on Bo radio.org it's game day baby this is cougar tailgate [Music]