We mean in the years that he personally coached the BYU defense. (And they weren't perfect but generally speaking) - FIRE - you don't demonstrate fire consistently, you don't play. I remember him roaming the sideline, gathering the defensive players together at critical moments - goal line stands and stuff - making it clear they could perform well beyond their natural ability if they were intense enough - that's Coach Mendenhall on defense. Intense! Tough hits, hard open-field one-on-one tackling, swarming defense, pressure constantly on the quarterback, holding no quarter, NOT to be DENIED...