From the outgoing head coach to the students who help tear down drink tables and equipment carts after practice, everyone around Weber State football would have rather been winning football games.

But with the Wildcats 3-7 this season and sporting a 1-5 record in the Big Sky Conference, change arrived Monday when Weber State asked third-year head coach Mickey Mental to start packing his bags.

“It’s an unfortunate situation, obviously, to have something like this happen during the season. But I think the main message is that our goals stay the same,” junior defensive tackle Matt Herron said. “We’ve got two games left as this 2025 team — two rivalry games, for that matter — so there’s still a lot to play for.

“It’s about us and what we can do in these last two games to send the seniors out right.”

ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

The top headseat now goes to 42-year grizzled veteran Brent Myers, who is tasked with captaining the ship for the final two weeks as interim head coach. The longtime offensive line coach has been WSU’s associate head coach since 2014.

Myers said after Tuesday’s practice that he’s addressed the team several times, understanding the big boat that everyone now shares.

“You learn in life that you’re going to go through storms, and this is a storm that we have to deal with. And, that no matter what happens in the next two weeks, you have to finish what you started,” Myers said. “My emphasis with them was to have them stay together as a team and be able to accomplish something for our seniors.”

Myers agreed that it’s impossible for each coach and player to ignore the possibilities of what happens next. The process to hire the next head coach is just beginning, launched a few weeks ahead of schedule, so to speak. It’s impossible to know what the future holds for any or all players, or any and all assistant coaches, and it’s not unreasonable to wonder if a majority of both groups will be somewhere else next season.

“That’s the thing that I’m worried about. I don’t want them to do that. I want them to stay in the moment where their feet are and take care of the business that they have to take care of this week, next week,” Myers said. “And then we’ll deal with that when that day comes. That’s what I’ve been trying to (impart) and I know I’m doing that myself.”

So for now, it’s about what’s going on between the sidelines and up and down the hash marks. First up is a trip to Idaho State, then a finale at home against Northern Arizona. Herron said he’s glad, in the team’s current situation, that they get to finish with “trophy games.” Both ISU and NAU have possession of the rivalry trophies associated with their series against Weber State.

“The rivalry part of it’s coming,” Myers said about what’s on the agenda this week. “No question, because I’ve been involved in the rivalry for a long time. It’s a cool deal. It is a lot of fun.”

Since Mental had double duty as head coach and offensive coordinator, the Wildcats need a new playcaller. That job goes to tight ends coach Robert Conley. Myers said the former offensive lineman, who has also coached running backs, is in a good position to call plays since Conley already has his hands in the run game, pass game and blocking schemes.

The offensive staff met into the twilight hours Tuesday morning to plan the path forward.

“We’re gonna have a little bit different approach offensively, defensively, and special teams,” Myers said. “Not that it’s anything that we haven’t done already, but we’re going to try to utilize some scheme to help put our players’ best foot forward, is the way I would say it.”

Nobody’s oblivious to what lies ahead, but Myers is leading with positivity and expecting the program to follow.

“I’ve had all my mentors and coaches call me, and they’ve all said, “Hey, this is not an easy position you’re in. But enjoy it, because you’re coaching and you get to be with your guys. And that’s a big part of it,” Myers said. “We have to compete, and we gotta go and do the very best we can to play the best we can. And that’s all we can expect of them.

“And, try to get them to understand that they’re good enough. They’re good enough to win, but they’ve got to believe.”