Best BYU sports weekend of the year

Every year during the short span when BYU's football and basketball seasons overlap, we are treated to one weekend when both squads play big games.
In 2007, it was BYU's fourth-and-18 win over Utah in the gridiron, coinciding with the BYU hoopsters upsetting No. 6 Louisville and taking No. 1 North Carolina to the wire during a hardwood tourney in Las Vegas.
The 2008 offering comes Saturday as the 16th-ranked BYU football team plays Arizona in the Las Vegas Bowl and the unbeaten basketball Cougars face No. 18 Arizona State at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
If Lee Cummand and company can beat the Sun Devils, the Cougars will vault into the Top 25 with an 11-0 mark and likely be ranked in the Top 20 when they host No. 10 Wake Forest on Jan. 3. That'll be a fun one.
BYU's football team looks to end on a positive note and earn a third straight 11-win season against an Arizona team that runs similar offensive and defensive schemes to the Cougars.
The B-ball tips at 2:30 p.m. on FSN. The gridders take the field at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
It's a feast worthy of the holiday season. And if the Cougars go 2-0 on the day, we'll all be wearing by smiles when we show up to church Sunday.
Enjoy.

Keeping you posted

Is BYU still alive for a BCS bid?

Question 1: Is BYU still alive for a BCS bowl berth after an embarrassing 32-7 loss at TCU?
Answer: Yes.
Question 2: Do the Cougars deserve that?
Answer: No.
Simply put, BYU did not look remotely like a BCS caliber team in last Thursday's loss in Fort Worth.
The Cougars are No. 21 in the first BCS standings of the season. Five other non-BCS conference teams are ranked above the Cougars, including Utah (No. 11), Boise State (12), TCU (14), Tulsa (19) and Ball State (20).
Here's what needs to happen for the Cougars to get into the BCS Top 12 by the end of November and pass the handful of teams above in the BCS-buster mix.

1. BYU must win out and win convincingly.
2. Utah must beat TCU and lose to BYU. A loss by the Utes against New Mexico is also possible, but may not actually help the Cougars' cause. Beating an 11-0, Top 10 Utah team would look a lot better for the Y on Nov. 22.
3. Boise State must lose. The Broncos have an extremeley soft schedule, so this isn't likely. The best bets to give BSU a game are San Jose State this week, Nevada on Nov. 22 and Fresno State on Nov. 28. Too bad the Bulldogs have gone down the toilet since the loss to Wisconsin.
4. Ball State and Tulsa must lose. Ball State faces nothing but MAC fodder. Miami (Ohio) and Central Michigan will need to play outstanding games to have a shot. As for Tulsa, an Oct. 26 home game against Central Florida and a Nov. 1 road trip to Arkansas are the "toughest" obstacles against a junior-high caliber schedule. A trip to Houston on Nov. 15 could be a mild test.

In short, the odds are long for BYU to get back in the mix. If the Cougars win out, they will be ranked in the Top 12. But passing the teams above them, especially if those teams keep winning, isn't likely.
Looks like another December trip to Vegas or maybe a return to Fort Worth (ughh).

Where does the UCLA game rank?

What a difference a week makes. After a 28-27 win at Washington, BYU got nothing but bad publicity after blocking a late extra point to beat the Huskies. Now? Well, a 59-0 thrashing of UCLA does wonders for one's resume.
Just how good was the UCLA win? Well, it's not only drawing big talk from ESPN and other national outlets, but fans are still buzzing days later.
This win has to rank up there with the most enjoyable, most impressive victories in BYU history. Yes, UCLA may prove to be terrible and could certainly finishing below .500. But for now, this win is tasting mighty sweet.
In my lifetime, only a handful of other BYU wins compare to Saturday's show of dominance. The 1990 win over No. 1 Miami is right up there. The 1997 Cotton Bowl win over Kansas State was sweet, as were the last two years against the Utes. The dramatic opening win over Texas A&M in 1996 stuck with me, as did BYU's 2001 miracle at Rice-Eccles.
All were great for different reasons. Some for the magnitude of the win, others for the late dramatics. As for UCLA, the overwhelming nature of the victory made this one a sight to behold.
In more than 20 years of watching BYU, I've never seen a first half to match this one.
Hopefully, that won't be true in a few weeks.
Dominating wins over Wyoming, Utah State and New Mexico are up next. Then we get a treat when the Cougars visit TCU on Thursday, Oct. 16. Maybe that contest will make my "most memorable" list.
Only time will tell. But until Saturday, it's time to soak up BYU's leaving the Bruins in ruins as Jeff Call put it in Deseret News.
Good times. Good times.

Hard to top this day for BYU, MWC

Simply put, it was the greatest -- and most enjoyable -- half of football I've ever seen. Offense, defense, special teams: Everything went virtually perfect for BYU in a 59-0 rout of UCLA.
And the Cougars weren't the only Mountain West team to come away victorious against a Pac-10 foe on Saturday.
Incredibly, the MWC went 4-0 in its matchup with the Pac-10, including UNLV rallying from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to take a 23-20 overtime win over No. 13 Arizona State.
TCU shredded Stanford 31-14 and should crack the Top 25 before the month is up. Even New Mexico, which has looked terrible this season, managed to beat a solid Arizona team 36-28.
Four-and-oh against the Pac-10 is sweet. Of course, nothing tops 59-0. From the three UCLA fumbles in the second quarter to the blocked field goal to Max Hall's record-tying seven touchdown passes, it was a day that left Cougar fans with hoarse voices and wide smiles.
Next true test: TCU in October. By then, BYU should be 6-0 with a Top 10 ranking.
Should be fun.

Scoring on the Bruins

While "Lockergate" continues to eat up local and national headlines, BYU's game against UCLA is just four days away.
What looked like a probable Cougar win during fall camp and the first half of the Bruins' opener against Tennessee, has become possibly the toughest test BYU will face in 2008.
The biggest challenge Saturday? Scoring points. BYU's offense is averaging nearly 35 points per game thus far, but don't expect the Cougars to reach that tally this week.
Far too many fan predictions have BYU reaching the 30s. Don't count on it.
Scoring more than three 3 TDs against a tough UCLA defense that is very familiar with our offense will be a tall order. With athletic corners, the Bruins can man up BYU's receivers and stack the box to take away the running game.
That means there will be more pressure on BYU's defense to make the stops it struggled to make against Washington. Fortunately, Kevin Craft is no Jake Locker and UCLA's more conventional approach (i.e, less QB creativity) will be easier to stop.
I see this game in the 20s, with one the loser probably not escaping the teens on the scoreboard.
UCLA has the better defense. BYU has the better offense. UCLA has outstanding coaching. BYU has an outstanding system in place. Both have special teams standouts.
The factor that slides the edge to BYU is the fact the game is at LaVell Edwards Stadium. But this'll be another heart-stopper.
Prediction: BYU 23, UCLA 17

We just witnessed the value of home-field advantage

Closer than it should have been. That's the best way to sum up BYU's 28-27 at Washington on Saturday. Yards, first downs, time of possession. All were dominated by the Cougars for much of the game. Still, it came down to the final play.
Why? Two reasons: Turnovers and Pac-1o officials. BYU's interception before the half cost the Cougars a likely 21-14 lead at intermission. And Harvey Unga's fumble at the goal line would have put BYU in control and on its way to a probable double-digit win.
The Pac-10 officials missed one holding call after another, missed an intentional grounding on the Huskies' final drive and the review officials missed overturning a bobbled catch on the sideline that kept the final drive alive. On and on.
The funniest part of the day? FSN announcers Barry Tompkins and Petros Papadakis going nuts about how the officials cost UW the win. My wife actually laughed out loud at that. The officials played a key role in giving UW a chance to tie that game. In fact, if they call the final drive right, UW never gets to the 3-yard line to set up Jake Locker's TD.
Crazy day, indeed. But the fact BYU overcame its road woes while losing the turnover battle and getting the raw end of a few game and officiating breaks, is something significant.
Two-and-oh. UCLA's next. While the narrow nature of the win won't aid BYU's cause in the polls, a convincing win next week puts the Y right where it needs to be.

Another perfect prediction?

After nailing the BYU-UNI outcome last week, I venture for another perfect score prediction as the Cougars travel to Washington to face the reeling Washington Huskies. Seattle Times writer Jerry Brewer had a great column on the current state of UW football. My favorite section:

In one peculiar moment Monday, (Jake) Locker said he thought the team may have been "overconfident" entering the Oregon game. He thought it might've contributed to the flat performance and said, "We have to understand we can't just show up and beat anybody."
Prodigies say the darnedest things. If a few good weeks of practice made the Huskies overconfident, then America's youth really do have a problem with entitlement.
The only thing more humorous than Locker's words was the vote of confidence Willingham gave to punter Jared Ballman, who struggled against Oregon: "I think he can do some exciting punting."

Hopefully BYU's defense allows Ballman the chance to do plenty of "exciting punting" on Saturday. My guess? Locker will get his yards against a young BYU defense. But he won't be able to consistently move the chains enough to generate long scoring drives.

BYU will give up between 17-30 points in this one. The key will be the Cougar offense finding a rhythm against a Pac-1o team, even one as bad as UW. If Harvey and Fui get going, BYU will have too many weapons and will outpoint the Huskies. If not, we're in for a barnburner.

Beat the Huskies, and things get really interesting with a ranked -- and suddenly more scary -- UCLA team coming to town Sept. 13. A 3-0 BYU will surely be flirting with the Top 10. But to be 3-0, you have to be 2-0 first. And Saturday's game is no gimmee, considering the venue and BYU's recent nonconference road struggles.

My call: BYU 31, Washington 24. The game kicks at 1 p.m. MT on FSN. Enjoy.

5 Reasons BYU wins/loses at UW

This is the big one. Actually, it's the first of four "Big Ones" on BYU's 2008 football schedule. On the Quest for Perfection, the biggest obstacles to an unbeaten record and BCS bid are Washington, UCLA, TCU and Utah. The first of those four takes place this Saturday in Seattle, a place the Cougars are 0-3 all time.
Below are five reasons BYU will lose to the Huskies and five reasons the Cougars move to 2-0.

5 Reasons BYU loses at Washington

1. History: Not only is BYU winless in its previous trips to Washington (including the lone loss in a 14-1 season in 1996), but the Cougars have lost NINE straight nonconference road games. History is not on the Y's side this week.

2. Jake Locker. Mobile quarterbacks can give a defense headaches, especially a defense as green as BYU's. The Cougars made a couple key assignments miscues against Northern Iowa. If that happens again, UW could put up some points Saturday.

3. Overconfidence. It's apparent, and it's been admitted by coaches and players, that BYU was overconfident entering the UNI game. Another "cruise-control" effort or even a few plays of going through the motions could bring a premature end to an unbeaten run.

4. Turnovers. Five fumbles (four lost) against the I-AA Panthers is a bad sign. Against a more talented Husky team, it could be fatal. BYU needs a healthy Harvey Unga all game to avoid having backups in the game too often. Against UNI, J.J. Diluigi and Wayne Latu coughed up the ball to kill promising drives into UNI territory.

5. Pac-10 officials: If the game is remotely close, BYU could be in trouble as Washington will get the bulk of the breaks and the calls. One or two plays/calls could spell the difference if this road opener is tight in the fourth quarter.

5 reasons BYU wins at Washington

1. They're due. The Cougars finally appear to have the experience and the coaching to overcome their early-season road woes. A stellar performance in Seattle puts those demons to bed once and for all.

2. Max Hall. Hall was crisp and sharp in the opener, outside of a couple errant throws to Austin Collie. Going 34 of 41 for nearly 500 yards in an opener is a sign of incredible things to come for the junior, who could pick apart UW's secondary all afternoon.

3. Weapons. UW's defense struggled to stop Oregon's high-powered offense. While BYU lacks the team speed of the Ducks, the Cougars actually have more weapons and more experience offensively than Oregon. A questionable Husky defense will have nightmares matching up with Unga, Collie, Pitta and Fui Vakapuna, who adds one more weapon after sitting out the opener.

4. Lessons learned. Bronco Mendenhall said he was grateful for the miscues against UNI. He's hoping a humble BYU team comes to practice ready to listen and learn this week. If it happens, BYU will be prepared and play with an edge on Saturday.

5. UW issues. Washington looked confused and unprepared against Oregon, outside of some decent play in the second quarter. With problems on offense and defense, a coach on the hot seat in Tyrone Willingham and a restless fan base, the Huskies just aren't in a position to beat BYU right now. A few early miscues could bring out the boo birds and aid the Cougar cause.

A few things that'll happen Saturday

I've already written my opening-game predictions on this page. This entry is about specific things I believe will happen on Saturday as BYU tangles with UNI to open a promising 2008 campaign.
Here's five things that'll happen between 4 and 7:30 p.m. MDT Saturday.

1. Vic So'oto will have a sack, but will also miss an assignment that leads to a long play by Northern Iowa.

2. O'Neil Chambers will mishandle and drop one kickoff and/or fumble the ball on a return. Greg Wrubell has warned us about how Chambers catches the ball up around the face mask. Chambers may fulfill his guarantee of a kickoff/punt return for a TD this fall, and he'll have one great return Saturday. But he'll also commit a key miscue.

3. Austin Collie will take five snaps at QB. He'll run four times and throw once with some success.

4. BYU will lose one offensive lineman for the game, but not the season-ending variety of injury.

5. UNI quarterback Pat Grace will have more success running than he does throwing. RB Corey Lewis will run for 80-90 yards and one score as UNI reaches double-figure scoring.

Most importantly, BYU wins the game. Today I'll say 42-17.

Game 1: BYU-UNI prediction

Game week is here. The opener is usually the most-anticipated game of the season. With it being Northern Iowa this year, that takes a little off the first-game luster and has folks looking ahead to Washington and UCLA. But UNI is good. At today's media luncheon, linebacker David Nixon called Panthers running back Corey Lewis the best RB the Cougars will face this season. He also praised receiver Johnny Gray. Both are preseason All-Americans in the Football Championship Subdivision.
While Bronco Mendenhall compares UNI to Eastern Washington, a team BYU beat 42-7 last year, it's important to remember that EWU trailed just 14-7 late in the first half. UNI is better than EWU and will hang around for much of the opening half. But not for the whole game.

Here's how I see the game going, with a quarter-by-quarter scoring breakdown.

End of first quarter
BYU 10, UNI 7.
Cougars score early and add a Mitch Payne field goal. But a defensive miscue lets Gray get free for a score.

End of first half
BYU 24,UNI 7
Cougars start to take control with balanced offense. Defense settles in. 14-0 edge for Cougs in quarter No. 2.

End of third quarter
BYU 34, UNI 10
Panthers add a field goal, but Cougars score 10 more.

Final score
BYU 41, UNI 17
Lewis breaks off big run for Panthers' second TD. Cougs win big in opener.

I played the game out video-game style today and BYU won 49-21. Max Hall went 13-for-25 for 357 yards and four touchdowns. Lewis scored all three of UNI's TDs, ripping off some long runs. But BYU ran well with Unga and, other than some surprising picks thrown by Hall, controlled the game. It was tied 14-14 at one point, though.

Here's to Saturday. 4 p.m. The Mtn. (channel 616 on DirecTV).

This'll get you pumped

Every year, right about late May or early June, I get whipped into a Cougar football frenzy. Just when a think I can't wait any longer, fall camp begins. And that's great for a week or so, but somewhere during Week 2 of fall camp, the itch for camp to end and the season to begin reaches unbearable levels.
Then came this exchange between Bronco Mendenhall and the media after Saturday's second fall camp scrimmage. If this doesn't get you pumped for Aug. 30, nothing will.

Greg Wrubell: "If you were a defensive coordinator lining up against (Dennis) Pitta and (Andrew) George week to week, your thoughts?"

Bronco: "Depends on if Harvey (Unga's) in the game or not. And if Harvey's in the game, you'll have problems."

Wrubell: "And you'll have Harvey in games."

Bronco: "Exactly right. So I think people are going to have problems."

Holy buckets. BYU's offense is going to be good. Scary good. Hearing this exchange sent me back to my the 2007 Cougar Diary highlight DVD. Then I put up my BYU flag outside my home (a tradition on Game Day) just to get a look at it. Then I got my kids pumped and educated for Aug. 30.

Less than two weeks to go. BYU. Northern Iowa. Lavell Edwards Stadium. It all begins. Our Quest shirts have arrived. DirecTV's been installed. It's go time.
I, for one, can't wait.

Foes could be friends for Cougars

Two main factors will decide whether BYU plays in a big-money BCS bowl game this winter. First and foremost is how the Cougars themselves play. But second, is how their opponents fare against other teams. BYU ascension in the polls could be affected by the successes or failures of the teams on their 2008 slate.
Here's how The Cougar Zone sees BYU's opponents faring this season. By season's end, we'll be sure to hear about how the Cougars' two wins over Pac-10 teams don't mean much since both teams have losing records. Hopefully, BYU is firmly in the Top 10 by then and can prove itself in a BCS game.

Northern Iowa (10-2)
Wins: South Dakota, South Dakota State, Southern Illinois, Nicholls State, Illinois State, Youngstown State, Indiana State, Missouri State, Southern Utah
Losses: BYU, North Dakota State

Washington (5-7)
Wins: Stanford, Oregon State, Notre Dame, UCLA, Washington State
Losses: Oregon, BYU, Oklahoma, Arizona, USC, Arizona State, California

UCLA (5-7)
Wins: Arizona, Fresno State, Washington State, Stanford, Oregon State
Losses: Tennessee, BYU, Oregon, California, Washington, Arizona State, USC

Wyoming (7-5)
Wins: Ohio, Air Force, North Dakota State, Bowling Green, San Diego State, UNLV, Colorado State
Losses: BYU, New Mexico, Utah, TCU, Tennessee

Utah State (3-9)
Wins: Idaho, San Jose State, New Mexico State
Losses: UNLV, Oregon, Utah, BYU, Nevada, Fresno State, Hawaii, Boise State, Louisiana Tech

New Mexico (7-5)
Wins: Texas A&M, New Mexico State, Wyoming, San Diego State, UNLV, Colorado State, Utah
Losses: TCU, Arizona, Tulsa, BYU, Air Force

TCU (9-3)
Wins: New Mexico, Stephen F. Austin, Stanford, SMU, San Diego State, Colorado State, Wyoming, UNLV, Air Force
Losses: Oklahoma, BYU, Utah

UNLV (4-8)
Wins: Utah State, Iowa State, Colorado State, San Diego State
Losses: Utah, Arizona State, Nevada, Air Force, BYU, TCU, New Mexico, Wyoming

Colorado State (2-10)
Wins: Sacramento State, San Diego State
Losses: Colorado, Houston, California, UNLV, TCU, Utah, BYU, New Mexico, Wyoming, Air Force

San Diego State (4-8)
Wins: Cal Poly, San Jose State, Idaho, Air Force
Losses: Notre Dame, TCU, New Mexico, Colorado State, Wyoming, BYU, Utah, UNLV

Air Force (5-7)
Wins: Southern Utah, Navy, UNLV, Army, Colorado State
Losses: Wyoming, Houston, Utah, San Diego State, New Mexico, BYU, TCU

Utah (10-2)
Wins: Michigan, UNLV, Utah State, Air Force, Weber State, Wyoming, Colorado State, TCU, San Diego State
Losses: New Mexico, BYU

Passing the baton

The wait is over. Saturday, the Cougars kick off fall camp and the famine of BYU football information will officially end. Yes, we still have to wait a few weeks for a real game, but that wait is more manageable with daily BYU info filling the Web.
For most of this summer, The CougarZone has been the most updated BYU blog in the Internet. But with fall camp beginning, it's time to take a back seat. For your daily camp fix, I recommend Greg Wrubell's Cougar Tracks.
While Greg's Daily Download is a thing of the past, his blog with feature camp reports and audio from his daily interviews.
Your next best bet in Jay Drew's Salt Lake Tribune blog. Of the three major papers covering the Cougs, Jay has put the Trib in front this summer with the number of blog entries. The Deseret News and Daily Herald, of course, are great sources as well, with the Herald providing the most regular print coverage.
We now know where BYU will begin the regular season in one of the polls that counts. With a No. 17 spot, the Cougars are in a great position to reach the Top 12 in the BCS standings, even with an early loss.
But here's to perfection.
Once the season gets going, The CougarZone wants to deliver what you most want to see/hear. Last fall, we offered the weekly Fully Invested audio show, a 10-15 minute program including sound bites from Bronco Mendenhall's media luncheon and commentary on the previous game and the coming one.
If you'd like to see it again, just vote in our poll. If you'd rather see something else, let us know.
The time is not far distant. Thanks for reading this summer. Check back often and enjoy fall camp.

No frequent flyer miles for these Cougs

Remember the 2000 season? LaVell Edwards final year? Sure you do. It's hard to erase that type of season from the memory. There were the lowest of lows -- the home losses to Mississippi State and SDSU -- and the highest of highs -- the amazing comeback at Virginia and the original late-game fourth-and-forever play to beat Utah.
But one other thing dominated the discussion that season.
Travel.
Week 1: BYU travels 1,830 miles to Jacksonville to play Florida State.
Week 2: BYU travels 1,790 miles Charlottesville, Va., to play Virginia.
Week 6: BYU travels 1,830 miles to Syracuse, N.Y., to get plastered by the Orangemen.
Eight seasons later, BYU is harboring BCS hopes. And talent, experience and coaching aren't the only things on their side. The schedule is pretty friendly as well.
BYU leaves the state of Utah just four times this fall and two of those trips are to the neighboring state of Colorado. There's also the short jaunt to Seattle to play the UW Huskies. Those three trips combined add up to fewer miles than any one of the East Coast trips taken by the 2000 squad.
The fourth trip is a flight to Dallas/Forth Worth, a trek of less than 1,000 miles to play the Horned Frogs.
BYU will play eight games in the Beehive State -- six in the friendly confines of LaVell Edwards Stadium, one in Salt Lake and one in Logan.
Certainly the jet lag and general fatigue that plagued the 2000 squad won't be around this season.
Another factor: The 2000 team opened with three straight road games. BYU's only consecutive road trips in 2008 fall on the final two weeks of the regular season with short trips to Air Force and Utah. And this year's team leaves the state only once in the first six weeks with four home games and the pseudo home game at Utah State.
Those travel factors could be key to getting BYU over the top and over those pesky 1-2 starts. Take a glance at the schedules for the power teams from the BCS and you'll see 7-8 home games and road trips that span no more than a state or two.
Travel takes a lot out of a team. But that's not a worry in 2008. So if/when BYU finishes its undefeated season, don't forget to thank those quick in-state bus rides and short flights.

'I didn't think it was possible'

As previously reported, I had the chance to have dinner at Legends Grille with BYU players Mitch Payne, David Nixon, Matt Bauman and Harvey Unga. The dinner was an early birthday surprise for my friend and fellow Cougar fan Troy Nield of Twin Falls, whose wife set up the event. The whole experience was a blast.

We ate, we visited, we laughed, we got a few autographs. And as the evening was winding down, Troy told me, "I didn't think it was possible to make me an even bigger fan. But this did it."

Why? Because BYU's players aren't just great athletes, they're great people. And great company. While Payne and Nixon came solo, Bauman brought his wife and Unga brought his fiancee. They were all gracious, cordial and very open with this room of 25 strangers.

Bronco Mendenhall says he loves walk-ons for their character and heart. Turns out his scholarship players possess the same. And that's the biggest reason BYU is 22-4 over the past two seasons and poised for a run at a BCS game. It's also one of the big reasons I am proud to be a BYU fan and a BYU alum. With players like Nixon, Bauman, Unga and Payne, the program is in good hands.

And like Troy, this week's dining experience left me a bigger fan than ever before.

Photo caption: Pictured, from left, Mitch Payne, David Nixon, birthday boy Troy Nield, Matt Bauman, Harvey Unga and me, Mike C., pose after dinner at Legends Grille.

Every 12 years ...

BYU is due. Look at history. Do the math. Something special will happen this year. Why? Well, something special happens to the Cougar football program every 12 years. At least, that's the pattern going back four decades.

1972: BYU hires LaVell Edwards as head coach. Edwards goes on to earn a 258-101-3 overall record, a .722 winning in percentage in his nearly 30-year career.
1984: BYU goes 13-0 to claim its first and only national championship.
1996: BYU goes 14-1, sets a Division I-A record for wins in a season and beats Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl, the program's first and only New Year's Day bowl game.
2008: ???

Don't be surprised if BYU fills in those question marks with something like: BYU goes 13-0, beating Texas in the Fiesta Bowl.
I'll tell you one thing, I can't wait for 2020.

Smells a bit like 1996

There have been some great BYU teams in the past 20 years. But no team in that span came closer to perfection than the 1996 squad. Why is that significant? Well, turns out the 1996 campaign has a number of similarities to the coming 2008 season. For starters, both the 1996 and 2008 schedules feature early home and away games against foes from BCS conference as well as a game against a I-AA (now FCS) team. In 1996, BYU beat Texas A&M at home, hammered Arkansas State and lost at Washington. This year, it's UCLA at home in Week 3 after Northern Iowa in the opener and a trip to ... drumroll please ... Washington.
In 1996, BYU had a second-year starter at QB who happened to be a transfer student. In 2008, BYU has a second-year starter at QB who happens to be a transfer student. The upside in '08? Steve Sarkinsian's first season at BYU saw him throw 20 TDs to 14 picks on a 7-4 team. Max Hall's debut year: 26 TDs to 12 picks on an 11-2 team. If Hall' Year 2 goes as well as (or better than) Sarkinsian's, BYU may follow the 1996 pattern and play a bowl game in January. Here's a quick summary of how the 1996 roster stacks up against the 2008 squad.

Quarterback

Sarkinsian was an incredibly accurate passer. Like Hall, he wasn't known for his running ability, but had a knack for making plays. Sarkinsian complete almost 70 percent of his passes as a senior, tossing 33 touchdowns to just 12 picks. We'll give Sarkinsian a slight edge overall, but BYU's offense is in very good hands this fall.

Running back

The Cougars were loaded in the backfield in '96 with Brian McKenzie as the bruising back and Ronney Jenkins as the speedster. Mark Atuaia and Dustin Johnson added depth, blocking and receiving ability. The 2008 team is likewise loaded with Harvey Unga, Fui Vakapuna and Wayne Latu. Playing the role of Jenkins is redshirt freshman J.J. Diluigi. If he lives up to the hype (and his performance in the spring game), BYU should be just a solid at RB and FB as the 1996 team. Had Manase Tonga been eligible, this year's team would have the upper hand.

Receivers/tight ends

It's hard to top Chad Lewis and Itula Mili at tight end. While BYU has been at tight end factory, those two were possibly the best duo in a long list of talented TE tandems. If Andrew George steps up a bit, he and Dennis Pitta could have a season reminiscent of Lewis/Mili. At receiver, K.O. Kealaluhi led the 96 team, with Kaipo McGuire as the possession receiver and James Dye as the speedster/deep threat. This year's team has Austin Collie (a combo of K.O. and Dye) and Michael Reed (this year's Kaipo) to lead the way. To match the effort of the 1996 Cougars, BYU will need a third receiver like Spencer Hafoka, Luke Ashworth (if he stays at WR), Reed White or Tyler Kozlowski to step up.

Offensive line

Justin Johnson and Larry Moore led a great group in 1996. But it's hard to imagine a deeper and more talented line than the 2008 version. BYU struggled at times under new line coach Mark Weber in 2007, playing under expectations. But with talent throughout the two-deep, look for big holes for the backs and plenty of time to throw (i.e., fewer blind-side hits on Hall). Give 2008 the edge here.

Defensive line

Henry Bloomfield was a monster in '96 and a young Byron Frisch made plays at well. In 2008, Jan Jorgensen is the leader with plenty of talent around him in Ian Dulan, Brett Denney, Russell Tialavea and transfers like Tevita Hola and Bernard Afutiti. If those two contribute, this year's line will be better and deeper than its 1996 counterpart.

Linebackers

Advantage: 1996. Shay Muirbrook, Brad Martin, Spencer Reid and company were talented, experienced and tough. There's talent in 2008, but most of that talent has yet to prove itself. Bryan Kehl and Kelly Poppinga will be missed. This year's group is capable -- leb by David Nixon, Matt Bauman and Shawn Doman -- but unspectacular. Yet.

Secondary

Remember Tim McTyer and Omarr Morgan. Enough said. The '96 team was better hands down. Eddie Sampson, Lane Hall and Ben Cook were capable as well. The 2008 secondary will prove better than expected, but it could take some time for experience and talent to gel into success. Scott Johnson and Brandon Howard are talented, while David Tafuna and Kellen Fowler have experience. BYU needs Andrew Rich and Brandon Bradley to make a big contributions if the secondary is to succeed.

Overall

Both the '96 and '08 offenses are/were loaded. From QB to RB to WR and OL, there's not a weakness. BYU scored 40 or more points nine times in 1996. Don't expect a repeat of that number, but the 2008 squad will put up plenty of points. While the 1996 defense had more experience overall, the Cougars did give up 20 points or more in six of 15 games. The 2008 team may not be equal in talent, but could be more efficient in the current 3-4 scheme. If BYU gets a key group of players to step up at linebacker and in the secondary, that loss at Washington in 1996 could turn into a win in 2008 and BYU will repeat its perfection of 1984. Even a one-loss BYU has a good shot to reach a BCS game and become the second Cougar squad to play in January.

The Magic Kingdom

Disney has nothing on the Cougars. If you have doubts, just check out this video of BYU's most magical moments. These warm fuzzies aren't thanks to the manipulation of a script or some fine cinematography. These are genuine.
Who knows what the 2008 season will bring. But it's sure to have its share of magic as well.
Enjoy.

Inexperience is in the eye of the beholder

Virtually every preseason article on the BYU football team includes mention of two things: The Cougars' BCS aspirations and the one potential Achilles' heel to those hopes: An inexperienced defense.
BYU's offense, with 10 starters returning, is sure to be a high-octane attack, say preseason prognostications. But that defense ...
Preseason magazines point to the major loss at linebacker with the departure of Bryan Kehl and Kelly Poppinga. And then there's this number: 3. That's the returning defensive starters BYU has this fall.
But a closer looks reveals a defense with far more starts and much more experience under its belt.
The "3" referred to are Jan Jorgensen, Ian Dulan and David Nixon. But let's not forget about the other returning starters.
In reality, the defensive line returns three "starters." With Russell Tialavea back in the fold, the Cougars are stacked up front. Yes, Tialavea missed all of 2007. But don't forget he started seven games at nose tackle for the Cougars and played in all 13 games of the 2006 campaign.
Off the bench, Brett Denney has one start and plenty of time under his belt, as does Rick Wolfley.

At linebacker, Matt Bauman started the final four games of his freshman season. Last year, as a returned missionary sophomore, he saw action in all 13 games and totaled 34 tackles.
There's also Shawn Doman, who has played in 24 games as a Cougar, including significant time in 11 outings last year as he tallied 38 tackles.
While it's a stretch to call Vic So'oto a returning starter, the former tight end did play in all 13 games in 2007. While he's new to the defense, he's certainly not new to seeing major minutes.

BYU's secondary is considered the biggest weakness in terms of experience. While corners Brandon Howard and Scott Johnson will be making their first starts this fall, both saw action in all 13 games last fall.
At safety, BYU returns two players with starting experience. Kellen Fowler started the final five games of 2007 and played in all 13. David Tafuna missed the '07 season after a fall camp injury, but played in all 13 games of 2006, and started in the home win over Tulsa.
Sophomore Andrew Rich Led Snow College with 120 tackles and five interceptions in 2007 on his way to all-America honors, and should make a huge contribution.
So while the standard formula for returning starters yields the paltry number of three, in reality BYU has nine players with Division I starting experience on this year's first-string defense. And the new corners saw a decent share of snaps in 2007. Only So'oto will be seeing his first real game action on the defensive side.
If the "more athletic" secondary can be faithful to its assignments in the reliable 3-4 defense, the Cougars should field another quality defense in 2008. The D-line has talent throughout the two-deep. The linebackers, while thinner with the loss of Terrance Hooks, have the ability to make plenty of plays. And the secondary could wind up better than its predecessors the past two seasons.
If that happens, than BYU's perceived weakness may just turn into one its greatest strengths.

Grandma created a monster

Train up a child in the team he should cheer for, and when he is old ...
That's a truth I believe in, which is why my children wear BYU apparel, have BYU posters on their walls and are taught from a young age to embrace the Cougars. We talk of the Cougs, we rejoice in the Cougs ...
And for most families, that's how it works. Father (and sometimes mother) pass along their love for this team or that and the children follow suit.
But my passion for BYU football and basketball didn't find its origins with Dad or Mom.
When I was 8 years old, my family moved to Orem, Utah, where we lived for a short time with my grandparents. My grandma is an avid sports fan. (This is a woman who once put John Stockton and Karl Malone's names on the prayer roll during the NBA playoffs).
My grandpa is not a sports fan. When grandma bought season tickets and finally convinced him to attend a game, he took a book and read the whole time.
So, grandma took me instead. My introduction to BYU football came during the days when Bob Jensen was under center. The years of attending Cougar games with grandma carried through to Ty Detmer's record-setting seasons.
And as the years rolled on, a monster was born. Like so many of you, I am obsessed with BYU football throughout the summer months. And Game Day is a special day at our house. Every member of the family dons Cougar clothing, no matter their age or interest.
But with 2008's first Game Day still two months away, I've returned to my usual method of coping.
Rewatching old games.
Each year I tape (and now DVR) every game I can. Losses are often taped over to save room. (Needless to say, I've taped over much of 2002-2004.)
Today, I rewatched BYU's season-opening win over Syracuse in 2002. Brett Engemann, Reno Mahe and Todd Christensen led the way in a 42-21 win that saw Matt Payne miss three extra points.
Want to watch BYU take on Georgia Tech in the 2003 opener? I've got it. How about the game at USC when BYU rallied within 21-18 before falling at the Coliseum. 2004's 41-24 win at Air Force? Got that too. There's also the 2004 opener against Notre Dame, the 2006 Vegas Bowl romp of Oregon, and, of course, the 2006 BYU-Utah game.
Yes, Harline is still open.
And 4th-and-18? It happened again at my house this week. Just another in a stack of VHS tapes that fills a shelf in the hall closet.
And it's all because of Grandma.
My Dad has mild interest in the Cougars. My mom pays them little attention. But Grandma planted a seed -- a seed that blossomed beyond all expectation.
Maybe some day life will take me back to Utah and I'll once again be a season ticket holder. If that day comes, I know just the person to invite to take the seat next me.
The one who started this whole thing in the first place.
Thanks Grandma.

(Note: If you have a story to share about who turned you in a Cougar fan, please leave your comments).

BYU beat writers talk about BCS hype

The letters may be different, but right now they seem joined at the hip. BYU and the BCS is the talk of the summer for Cougar fans. Even across the nation, gridiron prognosticators are talking about the Cougs as this year's non-BCS darling, the 2008 version of Hawaii ('07), Boise State ('06) or Utah ('04).
But what do those who know best think about BYU's BCS-busting plans?
This week I had the chance to ask BYU football beat writers Jeff Call of the Deseret Morning News and Darnell Dickson of the Daily Herald about the BCS hype. There responses may surprise.
"As for the BYU-BCS hype, right now, it's just that -- hype," said Call. "This program has to prove it can win on the road early in the season and the Cougars have a big test at Washington. BYU has never won there, so it will be tough. Games at TCU and Utah will be difficult as well."
And even if a certain foe isn't all that formidable, there's another aspect that makes the schedule that much tougher. "Everyone will be gunning for BYU," said Call.
Said Dickson: "As a BYU fan, I want to believe. As a journalist, I know I can't go overboard. I think the schedule is set up well and the offense should be unstoppable. But the secondary is largely untested and that's a big question mark in my mind."
While talk of an undefeated season in prevalent during these long summer days, both Call and Dickson have words of caution for Cougar fans.
"Can BYU really go undefeated in the MWC three straight seasons with road games at Utah, TCU and Air Force?" Dickson asked.
Indeed, three straight years of 8-0 in the MWC is a tall order for any team, especially with the toughest games away from LaVell Edwards Stadium. As for a 12-0 mark heading into bowl season, Call had a well-grounded reminder.
"There's a reason why BYU has only had one undefeated season -- because it's tough to do," he said. "In any event, it should be a fun season."

The one that started it all

It was Oct. 8, 2005. BYU, just 1-3 in Bronco Mendenhall's first season, was in trouble once again. Trailing New Mexico 24-13 in the fourth quarter, the Cougars were about to fall to 1-4 and remain winless against Division I-A foes.
But then it happened.
For the first time under Bronco, the Magic struck.
The night before, BYU had held the first of what is now a tradition on Game day Eve: a team fireside.
Coincidence that the Magic Happened 24 hours later?
Probably not.
The Lobos were all set to add to their 11-point lead as quarterback Cole McKamey scampered inside BYU's 1o-yard line. But the hands of Cougar linebacker Justin Luettgerodt found the ball. The pigskin squirted into the air and rolled around the turf briefly before being smothered by a blue jersey.
BYU ball.
The drive that ensued featured the debut of Manase Tonga (wearing No. 42 back then) and an incredible catch by Matt Allen. It ended with Curtis Brown going up the middle for a TD.
New Mexico 24, BYU 19.
With two minutes to play, the Cougars got the ball back at their own 20-yard line following a UNM punt. A long gain on a Beck-to-Todd Watkins hookup helped set up the game winner. And what a beauty it was. Matt Allen hauled in a pass on the sideline, juked his defender out of his jock strap and raced up the sideline. A two-point conversion followed.
Final score: BYU 27, New Mexico 24.
Remember the scene? Bronco Mendenhall hugging his wife in the tunnel, a moment expressing both relief, joy and gratitude.
From there, the Cougars won five of the next six, earned their first Las Vegas Bowl bid and set the foundation. A foundation that has led to back-to-back 11-win seasons and an offseason in which BYU is ranked in the preseason Top 15 by almost every prognosticator on the planet.
Thanks Bronco. Thanks for following the prompting about the fireside.
Thanks Justin. Thanks for knocking that ball loose.
Thanks Cougars. Thanks for an incredible ride the past few seasons.
Here's to 2008 and the Quest for Perfection. And while we enjoy the journey this fall, let's not forget where it all started: A cool October night in Albuquerque.

Ranking the 2008 schedule

First off, thanks to all those who voted in our poll the last couple weeks. It's clear that the Utah finale is the toughest contest of 2008, as more than 56 percent voted for the Utes as BYU's stiffest test of the coming season. Week 2 at Washington was second with 27%, UCLA third with 9% and TCU fourth with 6%.
With those results in mind, here's a look at the games on this season's schedule, ranked from easiest to hardest. For a more detailed breakdown of each game, see http://thecougarzone.blogspot.com/2008/06/fear-factor-byu-football-2008.html.

From cake walks to the Holy War

12. Nothern Iowa. Being the home opener, this will be closer than it would be at midseason. But unless BYU pulls at Michigan, it should be smooth sailing in the opener against a I-AA foe.

11. Utah State. The fact this game is in Logan gives it at least some minor intrigue. But this is a colossal mismatch between one of the best teams in college football and one of the worst.

10. UNLV. Phil Steele actually picks the Rebels fourth in the MWC. But the Rebels are still a ninth-place team at heart.

9. Air Force. The Falcons lost a lot. And BYU excels are crushing the Cadets' offense.

8. Colorado State. The Rams will be better. But not much.

7. San Diego State. The Aztecs won't have much firepower on offense and never seem to be able to stop anyone. Cougs cruise at home.

6. Wyoming. Cowboys are too inconsistent to win in Provo. Another easy MWC victory for the Y.

5. New Mexico. Outside of Utah and TCU, the Lobos are probably the best conference foe BYU will face. But with the game in Provo, BYU gets past this one.

4. UCLA. The Bruins will be tough again. But the talent is down and the new coaching won't make enough of a difference.

3. TCU. The Horned Frogs, like BYU, are harboring BCS possiblities. A Thursday night special for the conference lead.

2. Washington. Don't let the Huskies four-win season of 2007 lull you into a false sense of security. June Jones said UW was the best team Hawaii faced in the regular season after Washington nearly (and should have) beaten the Warriors on the islands. With better athleticism and home-field advantage, the Huskies could mess up BYU's Quest in Week 2.

1. Utah. This rivalry is always close, and on paper, these teams are closer than ever this fall. If the Utes pull their usual rollercoaster feats, they'll have a few loses coming in. But regardless, this game is huge. If BYU is 11-0 and a BCS bid is on the line, it would be a heartbreaker to see perfection end in Rice-Eccles.

Getting that summer football fix

There are varying degrees of BYU fandom.
First, the casual fan. This fan watches some games on TV and maybe takes in one at LaVell Edwards Stadium each year. He or she spends little time online reading about the team, but does enjoy watching the games when their schedule permits.
Second, the regular fan. This fan loves BYU football, watches all the games in some form (when available) and cheers hard. But, he or she gets upset when others stand in the stadium, spends little time seeking info on the team during the summer months and is satisfied with reading an article or two each week in the paper during the season.
Third, the BYU fanatic. This is where I fall. This fan spends way to much time thinking about BYU football. The summer is spend craving the start of the season. Hours are spent reading online reports, preview magazines, message boards and anything else offering news, notes or opinions on BYU football. Each week of the fall is spent anxiously awaiting game day. Plans are carefully made to avoid conflicting with game time. Long trip are made to take in games for those out of state. Etc, etc.

For those that join me in the third category, you just can't get enough BYU football during the "offseason." This time of year, without even spring football or signing day to eat up attention, there's seems to be a dearth of football to feast on. And it comes when my gridiron cravings are highest.
Each summer, I seem to follow the same pattern. Here's the basics of my futile attempts to feed my Cougar cravings.

June

1. Pour over every preview magazine.
2. Watch the previous season's highlight video repeatedly.
3. Rewatch taped and DVR'd games from earlier seasons.
4. Daily check and recheck Cougarfan.com, Cougarupdate.com, Cougarboard.com, Cougarblue.com, Total Blue Sports, Cougaroutpost.com, Bluefangroup.com and other Web sites for BYU stories.
5. Play out key games on Playstation (This year, that would be Washington, UCLA, TCU and Utah)

July

1. Reread preview magazines.
2. Rewatch highlight videos and old games.
3. Watch football movies. This list usually includes "Remember the Titans," "Rudy," and "Invicible."
4. Continue daily Web searching, morning, midday and night.
5. Play entire season on Playstation.
6. Visit BYU Bookstore to buy even more BYU gear and apparel.

August

1. Listen daily to Daily Download fall camp reports on KSL.com. (Bless Greg Wrubell for this fine service).
2. Visit open practice days whenever possible.
3. Repeat all items from June and July.
4. Try to sleep longer and fill each wakening hour with activies so time to kickoff passes faster.

That's my summer plan. It's not the best. But it helps a bit. Good luck enduring yours! And if you have any others ideas for other BYU fanatics, please leave your comments.

Fear factor: BYU football 2008

The 2008 BYU football season is just more than two months away. In an effort to help slake your summer thirst for Cougar football, here's a look at each game of the upcoming season, including the "Fear Factor" presented by each contest. Of course, as the favorite hymn states, "fear departs, when faith endures." So The Cougar Zone also offers you reasons "Why Faith Endures" for each game this fall as well as a prediction.
Enjoy. And your comments and predictions are welcome.

Aug. 30 BYU vs. Northern Iowa (The Mtn.)

Fear factor: The Panthers were the No. 1-ranked and top-seeded team in FCS entering the postseason last year. They finished 12-1, falling to Delaware in the FCS quarterfinals. Playing in the always tough (and newly renamed) Missouri Valley Football Conference, Northern Iowa returns outstanding offensive players in running back Corey Lewis and receiver Johnny Gray. Their speed at the skill positions will be a challenge to deal with.
Why faith endures: For all their talents, the Panthers are an FCS team. They also have to replace one of the greatest quarterbacks in school history in Eric Sanders. While Northern Iowa will be better than Eastern Washington was in 2007, the Panthers just won't have the size to matchup in the trenches against BYU's outstanding offensive and defensive lines.
Prediction: BYU's offense hits the ground running, literally, as Harvey Unga, Fui Vakapuna and company lead the way. BYU 48, Northern Iowa 10.

Sept. 6 BYU at Washington (FSN)

Fear Factor: The Huskies, and fourth-year head coach Tyrone Willingham will be desperate for a win after likely losing at Oregon in Week 1. Washington will give BYU's defense trouble with the mobility of sophomore QB Jake Locker. Sophomore receiver D'Andre Goodwin showed promised as a freshman and could hurt BYU's inexperienced secondary. Home-field advantage at Husky Stadium also gives UW some help.
Why faith endures: Washington is in rebuilding mode along the defensive front, and offseason injuries have hindered the Husky cause. BYU's balance on offense should prove pivotal as the Cougars will move the ball.
Prediction: BYU's new faces at linebacker and in the secondary will have to play a whale of a game to limit Locker, but if that happens, the Cougars survive a tough one. BYU 27, Washington 23.

Sept. 13 BYU vs. UCLA (Versus)

Fear factor: The Bruins are plenty familiar with BYU. Defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker's defense held BYU to 17 points in both contests last year -- 13 below the Cougars' season average. The addition of Norm Chow as offensive coordinator makes this game that much tougher. New head coach Rick Neuheisel should breath enthusiam and energy into UCLA's camp.
Why faith endures: Players ultimately win games, and while UCLA's coaches should have a great game plan, they may not have the players to carry that plan out. The Bruins are a mess at quarterback, where injuries have taken a toll. Khalil Bell, who hurt BYU from his RB spot last year, is coming off knee surgery and likely won't be his former self. All-American defensive end Bruce Davis is gone along with five other starters on defense.
Prediction: BYU and UCLA split in 2007. But neither of those games was played at LaVell Edwards Stadium. That edge, plus BYU's superior offense, will be the story. BYU 24, UCLA 17

Sept. 20 BYU vs. Wyoming (The Mtn.)

Fear Factor: BYU's 35-10 win at Wyoming last November came when the Cowboys were in a tail-spin that saw a 4-1 start turn into a 5-7 nightmare. But the Pokes have talent. Quarterback Karsten Sween and running backs Devin Moore and Wynel Seldon can wrack up yards and points. Wyoming also has 15 starters back, including the entire offensive line and seven first-teamers on a defense that was solid until late last season.
Why faith endures: BYU is at home. BYU is better at almost every spot. It'll be competitive early, but BYU will be too strong over fourth quarters.
Prediction: The Cougars roll to 1-0 in Mountain West play. BYU 38, Wyoming 17.

Oct. 3 BYU at Utah State (TV TBA)

Fear factor: If BYU's bus crashes going up the canyon to Logan, the Cougars could be in trouble. A save arrival means a lot of PT for the Y's third-stringers.
Why faith endures: Utah State is a bad football team. A 2-10 squad in 2007, the Aggies lost some of the few players who provided bright spots last fall. USU is one of the worst teams at the FBS level and that will be clear all night.
Prediction: A nice warm up for conference weekend. BYU 42, USU 13.

Oct.11 BYU vs. New Mexico (The Mtn.)

Fear factor: Two words: Donovan Porteries. Two more: Rodney Ferguson. The Lobos nearly beat BYU in Albugeurgue last year and will provide a stiff test in 2008.
Why faith endures: New Mexico is replacing the bulk of its offensive line and lost two first-team all-MWC receivers. The defense yielded 30 or more points four times last year.BYU's edge on both lines will be evident and the Cougars just have more weapons and more experience at key positions.
Prediction: The days of losing to New Mexico at home are over. There will be no blowout, but BYU wins in the end. BYU 30, New Mexico 20.

Oct. 16 BYU at TCU (Versus)

Fear factor: TCU is due for another run at the BCS and the Horned Frogs have the talent to get there. If the Frogs upset Oklahoma on Sept. 27, this game becomes very scary. A loss to the Sooners may take some wind out of TCU's sails and create another underachieving season. A healthy Aaron Brown will give the Y majors headaches. He missed all or part of nine games as a junior, but his speed is impressive when he's 100 percent. And he's running behind a veteran O-line.
Why faith endures: TCU struggled in Thursday night games last year. The Frogs do have Andy Dalton back at QB, but his supporting cast has a lot of new faces. BYU has been adept at picking apart TCU's man-t0-man defense with its vertical passing game, and if Gary Patterson sticks with that scheme, Max Hall will have a big day. Watch for BYU tight ends Dennis Pitta, to have a big night.
Prediction: In the toughest test of the season to date, BYU repeats its 2006 Fort Worth heroics and steals a Thursday night win. BYU 24, TCU 21.

Oct. 25 BYU vs. UNLV (The Mtn.)

Fear factor: Frank Summers (RB) and Ryan Wolfe (WR) are all-MWC players.
Why faith endures: UNLV is poorly coached, lacks quality depth and isn't ready to stay with a Top-15 team on the road.
Prediction: Cougars get slowed at times by Rebel D and give up yards to experienced UNLV offense, but a lopsided score still results. BYU 37, UNLV 17.

Nov. 1 BYU at Colorado State (The Mtn.)

Fear factor: New head coach Steve Fairchild should revive CSU, but it'll take time. The Rams will play hard at home and have a history of spanking BYU at Hughes Stadium.
Why faith endures: The Rams will already have five or more losses to their credit and that should result in less effort and poorer play on CSU's part.
Prediction: BYU's receivers have a big day. Austin Collie's 130 receiving yards and two TD catches highlight the win. BYU 33, CSU 13.

Nov. 8 BYU vs. San Diego State (The Mtn.)

Fear factor: With some powder puffs on the slate early, the Aztecs could get their confidence going in 2008. A 3-1 start would have SDSU in position to make some noise on conference.
Why faith endures: San Diego State lost most of offensive talent and returns eight starters from a porous defense. Not a good combo. They may make slight strides over 2007, but this team is still a ways from competing with the MWC's best.
Prediction: They may make slight strides over 2007, but the Aztecs are still a ways from competing with the MWC's best. BYU 44, SDSU 17.

Nov. 15 BYU at Air Force (CBS-C)

Fear factor: The Falcons will be at home and can always provide problems with their unique offensive style.
Why faith endures: BYU beat up a good AFA team 31-6 last fall. This year's Falcons have a depleted offense and will need to greatly better a defense that gave up almost 30 points a game last year.
Prediction: BYU's big backs pound their way all day. The Cougar defense continues its recent success against the Falcons and BYU rolls on the road. BYU 37, Air Force 16.

Nov. 22 BYU at Utah (The Mtn.)

Fear factor: Yes, BYU has won two in a row over the Utes. But both those wins needed miraculous events to occur in the closing minutes and/or seconds. Utah has a capable QB, two excellent running backs and a load of talent at receiver. The Ute defense held BYU to a season low of 17 points last November, and that was only reached with Harvey Unga's late TD and a 2-point pass to Austin Collie. By far, this is the scariest game on the 2008 schedule.
Why faith endures: If BYU enters the game 11-0, the Cougars will have a lot to play for. An 11-1 season could be good enough for a BCS berth, but not if that lone loss comes in the final regular-season game. Max Hall is better than Brian Johnson. If Hall outplays Johnson, that could be the edge BYU needs as the teams are even across the board in most respects.
Prediction: Too tough to call. Another thriller goes down to the final minute. With Magic Happen once again? (Yes, I totally wimped out on calling this one).

BCS or bust, quite literally

First off, some offseason admissions.
No. 1: I'm a BYU football nut. This time of year, like most of you reading this blog, I scour every inch of the Web and every inch of every preseason magazine, searching for kernels of BYU football truth. I can't get enough. But my Y fever gratefully has two limits, which make up admissions Nos. 2-3.
No. 2: I'm not a recruiting junkie. Recruiting day doesn't get me in a lather. I don't get juiced reading about the next big recruit. Like KSL's Greg Wrubell (see http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=498&sid=2613520), I get much more excited about the start of Fall Camp than I do about signing day.
No. 3: I'm not a spring football nut. This year was the first time I've ever taken in the Blue and White Scrimmage. It was fun, but the game itself, admit it, is boring.
No. 4: Every May, I start jonesing for the season to begin. While I love summer, part of me -- an increasingly big part -- can't wait for it to end so football season can begin.
With that in mind, here's a few thoughts on the season ahead.

BCS hype: Like the next guy, I'm pumped about the Cougars chances to go unbeaten and reach a BCS bowl game, perhaps even the BCS title game if the cards fall just right. But the pessimistic side of me sees another distinct possibility this season.
A third consecutive 1-2 start.
The Northern Iowa game is a gimmee. It may not be as bad as last year's Eastern Washington game, but the Cougs will win by double figures.
At Washington in Week 2 and hosting UCLA in Week 3 scare me. The Huskies are good at home, have a talented QB in Jake Locker and beat up Boise State at home last September. BYU can win this game, but I keep have a recurring nightmare about a repeat of 1996 when the 14-1 Cougars' suffered their lone blemish at Washington to a so-so Husky team.
UCLA has issues at quarterback, but the Bruin coaching staff makes this game dicey for BYU. The Bruin defense has the Y figured under Dewayne Walker. And with Norm Chow running the UCLA offense, anything could happen.
If BYU manages 3-0 through the first few weeks, a few cartwheels will certainly be justified. But don't count the BCS eggs before they hatch. Going at TCU and at Utah may be the two toughest tests of 2008.
Don't get me wrong, BYU will be good. Very good. Good enough that I've added my name to the waiting list for Fiesta Bowl tickets. Just in case.
But before we get too crazy with BCS talk, let's make sure we don't repeat the 1-2 start that's been a trademark of each of Bronco Mendenhall's teams.

One game does a season make

You know that phrase about one game does not a season make. Throw it out the window. Because when it comes to BYU's first-round NCAA tournament game against Texas A&M, one game does indeed a season make for the Cougars.
Win and the 2007-08 season is looked at as a step forward for the program. Lose and the 27 previous wins suddenly seem all for naught.
Yes, BYU repeated as Mountain West champs, tied the school record for regular-season wins and played some great basketball, but another first-round ousting will be the thing fans and media remember most.
It's been 15 years since BYU won a tourney game. And the Cougars hold the record for most NCAA tourney visits without a Final Four appearance.
Ouch.
The good news for Cougars fans, if BYU beats the Aggies and somehow gets past top-seeded UCLA, the road to the Final Four isn't all that tough. The Nos. 2-6 seeds in the West are the weakest in the field. No. 2 Duke could even fall to 3-point bombing Belmont and Xavier, UConn, Drake and Purdue and all beatable. None are markedly better than BYU. In fact, BYU may be the third-best team in the West Region behind UCLA and Duke.
But first things first, namely a first-round win. It's a tough draw against a tough team from a tough conference. But Texas A&M is beatable. And BYU needs to beat them. For the program to move in the right direction, improve its national image and future NCAA seeding and give fans something to celebrate in March, this game is paramount.
If the Cougars win Thursday (and Saturday), the euphoria will help carry fans through the boring summer months until football two-a-days begin.
And that's something we all need.

Recipe for the Sweet 16

What'll it take to get BYU beyond the first-round NCAA oustings that have afflicted the Cougars in each tourney trip since 1993?
Here's a few key ingredients.
1. A good seed. If BYU can land a No. 6 seed, the Cougars could very likely make it to the second week of the Big Dance. A 7-10 seed means one-and-done or a possible first-round win followed by a weekend loss.
2. Avoiding Arizona. If the Arizona Wildcats are paired with BYU in the first round, watch out. The Cats are the type of quick slashing team that gives BYU major trouble (see the two San Diego State games). If BYU can draw an Illinois State, St. Mary's, Davidson or similar mid-major in Round 1, it should give them more confidence than playing a mid-level big-name school like Arizona, Oregon, Kentucky or Texas A&M.
3. The X Factor. If BYU lands a No. 6 seed and sits next to No. 3 Xavier on the bracket, welcome to the Sweet 16. Xavier is clearly the best three-seed matchup for the Cougars. BYU should have beaten the Musketeers in last year's first-round and the revenge factor may put the Cougars over the top.
4. The difference maker: JT for 3. If Jonathan Tavernari makes shots in the tourney, BYU advances. If he clanking up bricks, it'll be the same old story as Lee Cummard and the up-and-down Trent Plaisted won't be enough to win two games.
5. A little luck. The small breaks will make the difference as tourney games are always close. But the Cougars are living right, Magic Happens.

What will Selection Sunday bring?

Last season, the Mountain West's two best teams reached the conference title game. Host UNLV and BYU played an outstanding championship contest, ultimately won by the Rebels. UNLV was 28-6. BYU was 24-8. ESPN's Joe Lunardi projected both with great NCAA seeds. The Rebels were being talked about as a No. 5 seed. BYU as a 6 or 7.
Then the CBS Selection Show began. When UNLV rolled across as a No. 7, shock showed on the Rebels' faces. And BYU's hopes of a good seed were instantly dashed. Minutes later, the Cougars scrolled across as a No. 8 seed facing No. 8 Xavier.
Will this year bring more of the same? Once again, BYU and UNLV are the MWC's two best teams. Both are projected as tournament teams. Lunardi has BYU as a No. 6 and UNLV as an 11.
If the teams reach the MWC tourney title game again, will they be duly rewarded? One can only hope.
If BYU finishes 28-6 and lands lower than a No. 6, it'll be travishamockery. A six seed gives the Cougars a great chance to win one and very possibly two games in the Big Dance. Any lower (or higher, depending on how you look at it) and it's likely another first-round disappointment or at best, one-and-done.
For the record, I think the upsets of Championship Week will leave only two MWC teams in the NCAA field. Certainly one of those will be BYU, but whether the committee honors the Cougars' solid RPI, national ranking and outstanding record remains to be seen.
The Travis Hansen-led Cougars of 2002-03 had a solid record, a great RPI and hopes of a single-digit seed. They wound up a No. 12 and lost a close game to defending national champ Connecticut. A year later, a similar record and RPI left BYU as a No. 12 facing defending champ Syracuse.
The committee has a history of underseeding BYU by four or five spots. One can only hope this year will be different.

Some new lingo for BYU hoops

A new word is suddenly part of the BYU basketball vocabulary. It's being thrown around often these days, as if it's use isn't foreign to the Cougar cagers.
Twice in the last week, BYU starters uttered the word in postgame comments.
The word?
April.
BYU basketball and April. In the same sentence.
Yes, the Cougars believe they'll be playing in April. And that means one of two things: Making the NCAA Final Four or making the NIT Final Four. And you know which one the Cougars mean.
Jonathan Tavernari and Sam Burgess believe. They're the recent culprits of dropping "playing well in April" into everyday conversations. They think it can happen.
Do you?
It's OK if you're not convinced. After all, this is a program that hasn't won a single NCAA game since 1993. But if BYU can win out and garner at No. 6 seed, it's conceivable to see the Cougars reach the Sweet 16. From there, anything can happen.
So in honor of the Cougars looking to a bright new future that includes April, The CougarZone is looking to the past. Through the Final Four, we offer you the chance to vote for you favorite Cougar greats of the last 20 years or so. At all five positions, pick your favorite. It's not necessarily the best the player at each spot, just your personal fave.
So vote. And believe.
BYU and April. Sounds like a winning combination.

How will it end?

Someday, Danny Ainge's coast-to-coast, buzzer-beating lay-in over the outstretched arms of Orlando Woolridge might have some competition as far as being the best the highlight in BYU's NCAA Tournament history.
Someday.
Could that come this year?
Maybe. But first, BYU has to make the tournament field, and second, the Cougars need to get their first first-round victory since a 1993 triumph over SMU as a No. 7 seed. (The Cougars lost to No. 2 seed Kansas in the second round that year).
While BYU's recent NCAA success has been lacking and the Cougars are only 11-25 in 22 tourney trips, the last few visits have had the boys in blue on the cusp.
In 2003, the Cougars nearly beat defending national champion Connecticut before falling 58-53. The next year in Denver, BYU had another defending NCAA champ on the ropes, leading Syracuse by double figures in the first half behind the surprising 3-point shooting of Luiz Lemes and Mike Hall. But Gerry McNamara had the game of his life with 43 points and nine treys as the Orangemen rallied for an 80-75 win.
Last year's trip saw BYU falter down the stretch in a 79-77 loss Xavier in an 8-9 game. But the seed was the Cougars' highest since 1995. And it came with a 25-8 record. This year's squad is on pace for a 25-6 regular season (if they go 7-1 in MWC's second half with a predicted loss at San Diego State). Winning the conference tourney in Vegas would mean a 28-6 record, but more likely is reaching the finals and losing to UNLV.
Where would a 27-7 BYU be seeded? Despite playing more big-name teams this year, the Cougars' schedule strength isn't impressive overall. And the road losses at Boise State and Wake Forest will knock BYU down a rung or two, even with a solid run down the stretch in conference play.
BYU is destined for a double-digit seed, but the Cougars have played tough as a No. 12 seed in recent NCAA visits as mentioned above. The key to winning as an 11 or 12 seed is the play of Trent Plaisted and Jonathan Tavernari. Both are explosive but inconsistent. I wouldn't count on JT being on fire the NCAAs, so Plaisted will have to score inside to complement Lee Cummard and the steady but unspectacular Sam Burgess. If that happens, BYU has a chance. If JT is hitting, BYU reaches the second round and possibly the second week.
The last time that happened?
Yep, 1981. Danny Ainge and company beat Princeton and UCLA the first week, topped Notre Dame in the Sweet 16 and fell to Virginia in the Elite 8.
Not much has been Elite about BYU basketball since. But that could change this year.
That is, if the Cougars are living right. Because if they are, Magic Happens.
Even in March.

Spring fever defined

About this time of year, the sun will come out, the temps will hit the 40s and suddenly people are swept up with Spring Fever.
But just what is Spring Fever?
It's a synonym for March Madness.
Those feelings up euphoria, excitement and energy are not derived from the prospect of warmer weather but from the holiday of hoops that awaits us.
Three of the best days of the year will arrive March 13-15 in the form of the Mountain West Conference tournament. The following Thursday through Saturday is simply the greatest three days in sports each year. (I'd say four days, but Cougar fans don't watch on the Sabbath, right.)
The NCAA tournament is easily the greatest event in sports. Yes, better than the Super Bowl, the college bowl season, the World Cup, the NBA Finals or anything else. By far.
(Note: While I go nuts for Cougar football, my enthusiasm in highest in July and August. By bowl season, my Cougar grid appetite is not nearly as ravenous, especially in a meaningless bowl game.)
Those first three (or four) days of wall-to-wall hoops should be proclaimed national holidays. When at BYU, I would walk campus with my handheld TV glued to CBS. As a teacher at the MTC, I would slip out of the classroom to the teacher break room and break out the TV for an update.
At hour, it was all hoops.
Twice I have attended the tourney in person (once in Denver when the Cougars lost a heartbreak to Gerry McNamara and Syracuse and once in Salt Lake City. Both are experiences not to be forgotten.
First-round upsets. Double-overtime thrillers. Memorable moments galore.
You can't be it.
With BYU on pace for the most wins in school history (I project a 25-6 regular season, a loss to UNLV in the conference tourney finals (27-7) and one win at the NCAA tourney for a 28-8 final mark), this will be a March to remember.
Can't wait.

Much needed life for Cougar Cagers

There the Cougars were. A record of 10-2. A spot in the national rankings.
Then came the first major dent in the resume. A 73-70 road loss to Boise State.
Then the wind went out of the Cougars' sails with a 17-point embarrassment against an average ACC squad in Wake Forest.
Finally, the Y hit rock bottom. A 70-41 road loss at UNLV. That 10-2 record a thing of the past, BYU found itself losers of three out of five games. The bandwagon fans were long gone. The Cougar faithful found their enthusiasm waning.
How soon is football season?
Not so fast my friends.
Saturday's 55-52 road win at Utah breathed some much-needed life into the Cougars' game. The road losing skid was haulted. And a favorable Mountain West stretch awaits.
If the Cougars can sweep San Diego State and New Mexico at home this week and beat Air Force and cellar-dwellar Wyoming on the road, they'll be 6-1 in conference and 17-5 overall. A home win over TCU and a road win over a bad CSU squad would make that 8-1 and 19-5.
Not too shabby.
If that plays out, BYU should be able to exact revenge on UNLV on Feb. 16 and complete a season sweep of Utah four days later.
So even if the Cougars stumble at SDSU or UNM late in the year, they would still be poised for a 13-3 league mark, which is probably go enough for the MWC title.
Considering the sad state of affairs after the UNLV debacle last week, that's a pretty decent forecast.
Now the Cougars just have to make it happen. But if they display the defense they showed at Utah, they'll be fine.
After all, BYU won while scoring just 55 points, getting only six points from Trent Plaisted, while Jonathan Tavernari had an oh-for-the-game shooting day.
Thank goodness for Lee Cummard's monster game and the timely 3-pointer shooting of Sam Burgess.
If Cummard continues his torrent pace and Plaisted and Taverani show more consistency, the Cougars could get back to the level of play displayed in late November and early December. And freshmen Jimmer Fredette and Chris Collinsworth are playing with more confidence and aggression each time out.
The pieces are in place one again.
All aboard the bandwagon.

Not too shabby

So BYU finished No. 14 in the final Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches' polls. Not bad. Especially considering the Cougars were, well, fortunate to win their bowl game over a .500 team in UCLA.
Moving up five spots after a 17-16 win against the Bruins (note: insert a special thank you to Eathyn Manumaleunahere) is a pretty good result and reward.
The pieces are now in place for a solid start in 2008. But don't underestimate that road trip to the University of Washington in Week 2. The Cougars did that in 1996 and it cost them an undefeated season and Bowl Alliance berth. Yes, the Huskies were only 4-8 in 2007, but they led in almost every game, including against Ohio State, and were a few plays from finishing with a solid winning record. Just ask Hawaii, which rallied to edge UW in its regular-season finale.

One of our recent polls asked whether the BYU football or men's basketball team would finish with the higher national ranking. As things stand now, it looks like football is a virtual lock. BYU has few marquee basketball opportunities remaining on the season. Even a strong conference mark won't likely land the Cougars in the top 15.
So for now we enjoy a solid basketball season, hopefully avoid a first-round flop in the NCAA tourney (if BYU gets there) and then endure the long football offseason.
Hey, just over seven months to go until two-a-days.

Until then, let the hype machines start humming. And the Cougar Zone will do its part. This summer will roll out the Fully Invested audio show once again to help stave off the offseason boredom.