Tuesday practice report

Just got back from Tuesday’s spirited practice. Clearly, this team is energized after Saturday’s big win over UCLA, but it seems to be working hard and not taking anything for granted.

Coach Bronco Mendenhall left the practice field while I was interviewing players, so I was not able to talk to him today. He is tentatively scheduled to be on the Jim Rome radio show tomorrow (I heard 11 a.m., Mountain Time, but not completely sure). That should be an interesting interview.

As for practice, Austin Collie was running a little bit of option (as a QB) and throwing some passes. Who knows when (or if) we’ll see that in a game. The Cougars did some special teams work — kickoff coverage and returns, in particular. Mitch Payne handled the kickoffs. Word is that Justin Sorensen is being held out due to a groin or hamstring injury (after kicking off seven times last Saturday, no wonder). Like I said, I wasn’t able to talk to Bronco today, so I’m not sure of Sorensen’s status.

I talked to offensive line coach Mark Weber for a story I’m working on about the offensive line. He said this line is “potentially the best I’ve been around.” That’s high praise, considering he has been in the business 30 years and coached a Outland Trophy winner (UCLA’s Kris Farris) and a first round NFL pick (Fresno State’s Logan Mankins).

Seems everybody these days is talking about BYU. Arizona Coach Mike Stoops talked about the Cougars’ performance against UCLA during the Pac-10 media teleconference Tuesday. The Wildcats play the Bruins this Saturday.

“You’ve got to look at what (UCLA) did against Tennessee. Both [games] carry the same weight in our eyes,” Stoops said. “We have all been in games where things go out the window. BYU was relentless throughout that game, one of the best games I’ve ever seen a team play.”