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).