In a series that dates back to 1922, BYU has tallied a 30-24-3 mark over Colorado State, including the series' most recent victory -- a 28-21 win in Fort Collins in 1995. Due to the expanded WAC Conference, the two teams have not played since Sept. 30, 1995. Prior to this season, BYU and CSU had been members of the WAC (The Rams joined the league in 1967) and had met on 26 different occasions as members of the conference, including a stretch of 23 straight meetings from 1969 through 1991. Following the WAC expansion in 1996, the two teams have not played. BYU holds a 16-10 mark in games played in Provo, including a 10-4 record in Cougar Stadium. BYU averages 25.5 points per game in Provo, while the Rams have posted an average 18.2 points per contest. BYU head coach LaVell Edwards is 17-4-1 against Colorado State, while CSU's Sonny Lubick is 1-2 against the Cougars. Thursday's game will mark the first-ever Mountain West Conference game for the two teams.
Scouting CSU
Colorado State enters Thursday's game riding a two-game win streak, marking the team's best start since the 1994 season. Colorado State is 1-0 on the road this season and is 26-11 on the road during the Sonny Lubick era. The Rams opened the 1999 campaign with an impressive 41-14 win over in-state rival and Big 12 foe Colorado. In week two, the Rams exposed a few holes in their secondary as the CSU defense gave up 33 points on 597 yards. Matt Newton anchors the CSU offense. The junior has completed 33-of-52 passes on the season, including four TD strikes. Running back Kevin McDougal has pounded out 339 yards on the season, averaging 169.5 yards per game. McDougal is recovering from an adductor strain and is listed as probable for Thursday's game. Dallas Davis has established himself as the go-to receiver, leading the team with 13 receptions for 138 yards over two games. Defensively, Rick Crowell leads CSU with 25 tackles, including a team-leading 16 unassisted takedowns. The defense will be without the services of linebacker Ula Tuitele, who is listed as doubtful with a damaged patellar tendon in his right knee.
Pregame/Travel Information (Subject to Change)
Colorado State's team travel party departs Wednesday evening from Denver International Airport, landing in Salt Lake City and busing to Provo. The team will stay at the Provo Marriott; 101 W. 100 N.; 801-377-4700. Media relations director, Gary Ozzello will arrive in Provo Tuesday evening. Beginning Wednesday, media and public access to the BYU coaches and players will be restricted until after Thursday's game.
Ticket Packages Go on Sale
Just days away from the Cougars' first-ever Mountain West game, ticket office officials have announced a few thousand tickets are still available for the Colorado State game. Ticket sales for the game are expected to increase on Monday and fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets as soon as possible. BYU is also offering a special five-game, season-ticket package. Fans can purchase the five-game package by calling the BYU ticket office at 378-BYU1.
Meet the Coach
LaVell Edwards (28th season): BYU head coach LaVell Edwards enters his 28th season at the helm of the Cougar program. Edwards has produced all but one winning season since taking over the program in 1972, posting a 244-91-3 record during his tenure. Edwards' teams have passed for over 55 miles during his 27-year career, chalked up a National Championship in 1984 and was named college football's Coach of the Year in 1979 and 1984. He has coached two Outland Trophy winners, four Davey O'Brien Trophy winners, 31 All-Americans, 11 conference Player of the Year recipients, 21 Academic All-Americans and has led the Cougars to seven NCAA single-season passing titles. Since 1972, Edwards has guided BYU to 21 postseason bowl appearances, including a string of 17 straight. Only Michigan, Alabama and Nebraska have laced together a string of more consecutive appearances. This week's game will mark the 156th home game for Edwards since becoming head coach in 1972. In 27 seasons, Edwards is 127-28 (.819) in Cougar Stadium. The former Utah State lineman ranks seventh in total victories on the NCAA's all-time list. Edwards needs 11 more wins to tie Nebraska's Tom Osborne for sixth. Among active coaches, Edwards ranks eighth with a 72.5 career winning percentage.
Pound for Pound
The BYU offensive line totals a whopping 1,490 pounds - that's the equivalent of over 5,960 slices of Heaps Brick Oven Pizza. The BYU offensive line averages 298 pounds, while the Ram defensive line averages 265 pounds. Defensively, the Cougars' front four averages nearly 274 pounds, while the Colorado State offensive line weighs in at a hefty 308 pounds.
Putting Competition to the Test in the New Mountain West
In only two weeks of competition as the NCAA's newest Division-I football conference, the Mountain West Conference has gone a long way in establishing itself as a national contender. Mountain West teams have posted a 2-0 record against the PAC-10, as well as the Big 12 and have two teams ranked in the AP Top-25. Washington, Washington State, Baylor and Colorado have all fallen victim to the rising Mountain West. The MWC has posted an overall 9-4 (.692) record against its competition this season, outscoring opponents by an average 29.0 to 21.6 points per game.
Cougars in First Conference Game - A Look Back
Thursday, the Cougars will participate in their first Mountain West Conference game, marking the first conference game for BYU outside the WAC since the 1962 season. In 1962, BYU started play in a new conference with a 27-21 loss at Arizona. The Cougars first win in the new conference came on Nov. 3, 1962 against New Mexico, 27-0. The game also marked BYU's first conference game in Provo.
Feterik to Hale Selected "CNN Play Of The Day"
On Friday, the day after the now-famous 38-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Feterik to freshman Chris Hale, cable-viewing Cougar fans across the nation were delighted to catch the game-winning highlight throughout the day as it was named the "CNN Play of the Day".
Feterik Named USAToday.com Player of the Week
Senior quarterback Kevin Feterik earned USATODAY.COM Player-of-the-Week honors after his 501-yard performance against Washington. Feterik tossed three touchdown passes, including the game-winner with 1:16 remaining in the game. Feterik beat out Alabama's Shaun Alexander, Miami, Ohio's Travis Prentice and Georgia Tech's Joe Hamilton for the weekly honor.
ESPN's Thursday Night Game of the Week
Thursday night's ESPN's Thursday Night Game of the Week telecast from Cougar Stadium will feature the network's first-ever three-man college football commentator team as studio analysts Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit will join Mike Tirico in the booth. Tirico, a 1988 Syracuse graduate, has handled Thursday Night Game of the Week duties for the past two seasons. One of TV's most versatile - and busiest - game and studio commentators, he's also a key part of ESPN's NFL Studio team, hosting Monday Night Countdown and co-hosting Sunday NFL Countdown with Chris Berman. Corso, who last Thursday called Rob Morris "one of the best collegiate linebackers - ever" joined ESPN in 1987 as a game analyst, and moved into the studio in 1989. Known for his candid (and deadly accurate) opinions, he has the knowledge of 28 years of coaching experience at the college and pro levels, including head coaching jobs at Louisville, Indiana, Northern Illinois and the Orlando Renegades of the USFL. Corso is a 1957 graduate of Florida State and is a member of the Seminole Hall of Fame. Herbstreit came to ESPN in 1995 as a college football sideline analyst and Arena League game analyst. A 1993 graduate of Ohio State, Herbstreit was a standout QB for the Buckeyes. The crew will be joined by Dr. Jerry Punch, who will be working the sidelines.
Cougars on National TV
Since its first national television appearance in 1974, BYU has posted a 38-22-2 record while playing in front of a national audience, including a 23-13-2 mark on ESPN. BYU has been a regular on ESPN's Thursday Night Game of the Week in recent history, compiling an 8-2 overall record and a current four-game winning streak. Current assistant coach, Robbie Bosco, led the Cougars to a 20-14 win over Pitt in the first live ESPN College Football broadcast. Over 11 years ago from this Thursday's ESPN broadcast, the Cougars recorded their largest margin of victory while playing on national television, defeating Texas, 72-6, on Sept. 8, 1988. BYU and Colorado State have met five times on either NBC, ABC or ESPN. The Cougars have posted a 4-1 mark in those games, including a 2-0 mark on nationally-televised ESPN games. The two teams last met on ESPN in 1995, with the Cougars fighting to a 28-21 victory in Fort Collins. BYU also spooked the Rams in a Halloween contest on ESPN in 1991, winning 40-17. Following is a breakdown of the Cougars record on a few of the national/regional networks:
ABC -- 20-14
CBS -- 3-1
NBC -- 2-2
ESPN -- 23-13-2
ESPN2 -- 2-2
Fox Sports -- 1-0
TBS -- 1-0
USA -- 0-1
Additional Broadcast Information
In addition to being broadcast live on ESPN to a national television audience, Thursday's game can be heard over the radio waves both locally and across the nation. KSL, with veteran play-by-play announcer Paul James, Marc Lyons and Greg Wrubell, will broadcast the action throughout Utah, Idaho and southern Nevada, beginning at 4 p.m. (MDT). The Westwood One radio network will broadcast the game to a national radio audience with Joel Myers and Marc May calling the action. A real-time, play-by-play account of the game can also be viewed on the internet by clicking on www.BYUCougars.com.
Last Week
BYU recorded its first season-opening victory since the 1996 season after upending Washington, 35-28, on Thursday at Cougar Stadium. In front of a capacity crowd (65,726), senior quarterback Kevin Feterik racked up a career-high 501 yards, including three touchdown completions, in pacing the Cougars to their first victory over the Huskies since 1985.
Trailing, 28-27, with 1:16 remaining in the game, Feterik found freshman Chris Hale in the endzone to secure the seven-point victory. Hale's 38-yard catch marked the first of his collegiate career.
Feterik threw his first of three TDs to tie the game in the second quarter on a 16 yard strike to Jonathan Pittman. Midway through the second quarter, Feterik found Margin Hooks in the endzone to give the Cougars a lead they would hold until the fourth quarter. Hooks, just one of 12 Cougar receivers on the night, lead the team with eight receptions for 140 yards.
The BYU defense held UW to just 80 yards in the first half and prevented the Huskies from snapping the ball past the 50-yard line in the opening half of play. Seniors Brian Gray and Tyler Nelson led BYU with eight tackles, followed by Rob Morris who had seven, including five unassisted takedowns.
Cougar Offense Goes to Hale
Prior to last Thursday's game, he was known as "the Athletic Director's son". After his first collegiate catch, a 38-yard game-winning touchdown reception in front of 65,726 fans, his father is now known as Chris Hale's dad. Five plays earlier, Hale stretched out for a Feterik pass, but came up short as the pass grazed his fingertips. Following a Washington penalty, Feterik found Hale, who had flattened his route after seeing the senior quarterback scrambling, scoring the game-winning touchdown. Hale was recruited as a defensive back, despite setting the Utah High School single-game record with 311 receiving yards last season at Orem High School. Long before he had helped win the game for BYU, Hale, a 5-9 rookie, had gained the respect of his veteran teammates.
"I told him before the game, he was going to catch a pass," Feterik said. "He's a hard worker and he deserved it."
"He is like the energizer bunny in practice," said BYU defensive corner Heshi Robertson. "He just keeps going and going. You are going to see some good things from him."
Injury Update
Running back Mike Nielsen will miss the next 4-6 weeks with a broken bone in the top of his right foot. Nielsen suffered the injury on a kickoff, when a Washington player ran across the top of his foot. Running back Kalani Sitake sustained a mild shoulder separation on Thursday, but is expected to be ready for action against Colorado State. Wide receiver Damion Segovia, who has been recovering from a pulled hamstring since the first week of practice is expected to be ready for the Virginia game on Sept. 25. It is likely Segovia may dress down for the CSU game, but is unlikely to see action.
Cougars Earn National Rankings
Senior quarterback Kevin Feterik leads the nation in total offense after producing 491 yards on Thursday. He is followed by Colorado's Mike Moschetti, who is averaging some 110 yards less. Freshman Luke Staley ranks tied for 16th in scoring offense after producing two touchdowns against the Huskies. Averaging 8.0 catches per game, junior receiver Margin Hooks ranks 13th, while he ranks ninth in receiving yards per game, averaging 140.0 per game. The Cougars lead the nation in passing offense, averaging 501 yards per contest. Air Force and BYU rank first and second in total offense (AFA; 584 ypg/BYU; 573 ypg), while the Cougar defense ranks 30th in rushing defense (82.0 ypg).
Home, Season-Openers - A Rare Occurance
Last Thursday's game marked only the ninth time during the LaVell Edwards' era BYU has opened the season at home. During that span, BYU has posted a 5-4 record. From 1978 to 1985, BYU began eight straight seasons on the road, including an appearance in the Kickoff Classic - a 28-14 win over Boston College. History again repeated itself from 1988 to 1995, when the Cougars hit the road for eight straight season-openers. In the 74-year history of the program, the Cougars have won their home, season-openers by an average of 6.0 points. While opening the season on the road, BYU has lost by an average 0.7 points. Note: BYU will take to the road again in 2000 to open the season. The Cougars will travel to Charlottesville, Va. to face Virginia.
Cougar Stadium Records Fall
Three Cougar Stadium records fell by the wayside on Thursday (vs. Washington). Senior QB Kevin Feterik made 59 pass attempts, breaking both the individual and team records. The old individual record of 57 attempts was held by John Walsh (BYU, 1993), Anthony Calvillo (Utah State, 1992) and Sam King (UNLV, 1981). The team, stadium record was held by Utah State, which attempted 58 passes against the Cougars in 1976. Feterik also led BYU to 37 first downs, setting a new stadium record that had been established at 36 both in 1980 and 1990.
Spreading the Wealth
In the Cougars 38-25 win over Washington, BYU quarterback Kevin Feterik used 12 different receivers to compile a career-high 501 yards passing, including three touchdown passes. Junior Margin Hooks was the Cougars' leading receiver, racking up 140 yards on eight receptions. The Cougars tallied 39 receptions, averaging 12.8 yards per catch.
Fab Freshmen ... Rookies Become Big Men on Campus
Three true-freshmen played a vital roll in the Cougars' season-opening victory over Washington on Thursday. Just three months removed from attending their high school prom, the duo of Fahu Tahi and Luke Staley combined for 60 of BYU's 72 total rushing yards. Staley, the Oregon High School Player of the Year, was credited with both Cougar rushing touchdowns. Chris Hale was elevated to hero status after his first collegiate reception was good for a 38-yard, game-winning touchdown (from senior QB Kevin Feterik). Staley, Tahi and Hale combined for 104 of the Cougars' 501 receiving yards. All totaled, the "Righteous Rookies" combined for three of BYU's five touchdowns and chalked up nearly 30 percent of the Cougs' total offense. The three players were featured on the KUTV Sports Den Saturday evening.
Home Field Advantage
BYU finished the 1998 season with a perfect 6-0 mark at Cougar Stadium. The Cougars outscored their opponents by a combined score of 212-93 at home last season, including a 13-0 shutout against San Diego State. BYU averaged 35.3 points at Cougar Stadium last season, while the Cougar defense held opponents to an average 15.5 points per contest. Since becoming head coach in 1972, LaVell Edwards' teams have posted 126 wins over 154 games (.818) in Provo. Since 1964, the year Cougar Stadium opened, BYU has had just two losing home seasons (0-5, 1968; 1-3, 1971). BYU is 149-44 (.772). Next season, BYU will host Mississippi State for its home opener. That game will mark the 200th game played by BYU in Cougar Stadium.
The Streak Continues
BYU will look to extend its NCAA record 301 straight games without being shutout on Thursday. The Cougars were last blanked in 1977 when Arizona State defeated BYU, 20-0. That loss still marks BYU head coach LaVell Edwards' only shutout in 27 seasons (338 games).
Pound by Pound
The BYU offensive line totals a whopping 1,490 pounds - that's the equivalent of over 5,960 quarter-pound hamburgers. The BYU offensive line averages 298 pounds, while the Husky defensive line averages 290 pounds. Defensively, the Cougars' front four averages nearly 274 pounds, while the Washington offensive line weighs in at a husky (no pun intended) 307 pounds.
Home, Season-Openers - A Rare Occurrence
Thursday's game will mark only the eighth time during the LaVell Edwards' era BYU has opened the season at home. During that span, BYU has posted a 4-4 record. From 1978 to 1985, BYU began eight straight seasons on the road, including an appearance in the Kickoff Classic - a 28-14 win over Boston College. History again repeated itself from 1988 to 1995, when the Cougars hit the road for eight straight season-openers. In the 74-year history of the program, the Cougars have won their home, season-openers by an average of 5.9 points. While opening the season on the road, BYU has lost by an average 0.7 points. Note: BYU will take to the road again in 2000 to open the season. The Cougars will travel to Richmond to face Virginia.
For Whom the Whistle Blows - Get On Board!
During the summer, BYU athletic media relations' personnel distributed some 300 wooden train whistles to various media throughout the country, touting Rob "Freight Train" Morris for the prestigious Butkus Award - an honor given annually to college football's top linebacker. The whistles, which state, "It's Time to Toot His Horn", are a play off an interview between Morris and ABC's Dan Fouts. During the interview Morris told Fouts when he sacked a quarterback, it could be compared to "a freight train hitting a Yugo." The BYU season ticket campaign, "Get on Board", and several other promotions have centered around Morris' candidacy for the Butkus Award. During each home game, some 33,000 wooden train whistles will be blown every time BYU makes a good play or when Morris makes a tackle.
Feterik Named to Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award "Watch List"
Sixteen senior quarterbacks have been selected as candidates for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented annually to the nation's top senior collegiate quarterback. The award is selected by the Frank Camp Chapter of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation. Included among the elite list of candidates for the award are BYU's Kevin Feterik, who completed 202 of 336 passes as a junior for 2,718 yards and 16 touchdowns. Other candidates include, NC State's Jamie Barnette, Michigan's Tom Brady, West Virginia's Marc Bulger, Michigan State's Bill Burke and Jarious Jackson of Notre Dame, Giovanni Carmazzi (Hofstra), Joe Hamilton (Georgia Tech), Todd Husack (Stanford), Doug Johnson (Florida), Tee Martin (Tennessee), Chad Pennington (Marshall), Tim Rattay (Louisiana Tech), Chris Redman (Louisville), Clint Stoerner (Arkansas) and Billy Volek (Fresno State). The 1999 winner will be announced on Nov. 24 with the award presentation to be made in Louisville on December 10. UCLA's Cade McNown won the award last season.
Brian Gray Named to Jim Thorpe Award "Watch List"
BYU senior Brian Gray has been named by the Jim Thorpe Association in Oklahoma City, Okla., as a candidate for the 1999 Jim Thorpe Award. The Jim Thorpe Award is presented annually to the best defensive back in college football. Gray, a 6-2, 215-pound defensive back, is one of 37 names to appear on the "watch list". Other key players that will appear on the BYU schedule this season include, Rico Curtis of San Diego State, Al Rich of Wyoming and Brian Urlacher of New Mexico.
Men in Blue
The August 16th announcement of a uniform change at BYU means the first major change in Cougar football attire for nearly 30 years. Perhaps the most notable change in the BYU uniform is the re-introduction of the blue helmet, marking the first time since 1968 the Cougars have worn a blue helmet. Following is a year-by-year breakdown of the evolution of the BYU helmet:
1950-1954 -- Solid white helmet with a single blue stripe running down the center.
1955-1960 -- White helmet replaced with a plain, silver helmet.
1961-1963 -- Blue player numbers are added to the silver helmet.
1964-1965 - Silver helmet is replaced with solid blue helmet.
1966-1968 -- A blue "Y", surrounded by a white oval is placed on the helmet
1969 -- Traditional white helmet with blue and white decals is used for the next 30 years.
1970 -- "Cage loops", a Floyd Johnson invention, are added to the helmet.
1978 -- The oval was dropped and a solid blue "Y" was used on the helmet.
1978 -- Little blue stickers (Cougar heads) are used by players to designated top plays.
1979 -- After losing four games in 1978, blue oval with white "Y" returned to the helmet.
1993 -- Black is added as a third color on the helmet.
1994 -- Players vote to discontinue the use of the cougar-head stickers.
1998 -- Two black stripes, separated by a blue stripe is added to the crown of the helmet.
1999 -- (August 16) BYU unveils its new logo and colors, complete with new football uniforms and helmets. A darker shade of blue and white become the official colors of the University, with tan serving as the primary accent color. The re-birth of the blue helmet in 1999 is the first time BYU has worn a different color, other than white, for over 30 years. The new logo on the side of the helmet, similar to the traditional side decal, is the first new design used on a BYU helmet since 1978. The new uniforms represent a new and flashy look, never before used on the collegiate playing field. The new-look uniforms and helmets represent the first major uniform change under the LaVell Edwards era.
On This Day (September 16)
Since the Cougars' first season in 1922, BYU has played a total of seven times on this date, posting a 5-2 record on Sept. 16. The Cougars are 3-1 in games played on Sept. 16 in Provo.
All in the Family
There are four sets of brothers listed on the 1999 BYU football roster. They include Brandon (QB) and Cliff (WR) Doman, Rob (DB) and Justin (DB) Warcup, Luke (RB) and Dustin (DB) Staley and Kalani (FB) and TJ (DL) Sitake. The family tradition continues with freshman receiver Chris Hale and his father, athletics director Val Hale. Defensive line coach Tom Ramage is joined by his son, offensive lineman Corey Ramage.
Out With the Old, In With the New
After some 36 years in the Western Athletic Conference, the Cougars joined seven other former members of the WAC and created the new Mountain West Conference, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Cougars, along with Air Force, Colorado State, San Diego State, Utah, UNLV, New Mexico and Wyoming became founding members of the Mountain West Conference, which began operation on July 1, 1999. Shortly after the league began operations, Commissioner Craig Thompson announced a multi-year television package with the nation's sports leader, ESPN. In addition, the Conference has announced two guaranteed bowl bids. The league champion will take on Conference USA champion at the AXA/Equitable Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn. The MWC runner-up will travel to Las Vegas to take on a WAC opponent at the EA Sports Las Vegas Bowl.
All in the Family
There are four sets of brothers listed on the 1999 BYU football roster. They include Brandon (QB) and Cliff (WR) Doman, Rob (DB) and Justin (DB) Warcup, Luke (RB) and Dustin (DB) Staley and Kalani (FB) and TJ (DL) Sitake. The family tradition continues with freshman receiver Chris Hale and his father, athletics director Val Hale. Defensive line coach Tom Ramage is joined by his son, offensive lineman Corey Ramage.
Cougars Crack AP Top-25
For the first time since the final AP poll in 1996, the Cougars have broke into the AP Top-25. After a 35-28 win on Thursday, voters ranked BYU No. 25 in this week's poll, while BYU claimed the 27th position in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches' POLL. This week's opponent, Colorado State ranks 23rd in the AP Top-25 and 24th in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll.
Cougars Picked to Win First-Ever MWC Title
In a vote of selected media and Mountain West head coaches, BYU has been tapped the preseason favorite to claim the league's first football championship. BYU received five of the eight first-place votes in the coaches' poll, while the Cougars tallied 35 of 49 first-place votes in the media poll.
Birthday Greetings
On Tuesday, Sept. 14, senior quarterback Kevin Feterik celebrated his 22nd birthday. Throughout his career, including high school, Feterik has not lost a game as a starter during the week of his birthday.
Did You Know ...
Though they did not play, there are two current players who were listed on the Cougars' roster when the two teams last met in 1995. (Ned Sterns and Dustin Staley) Despite being members of the Western Athletic Conference, the two teams have not met since the 1995 season. In fact, this year's true freshmen were playing football as freshmen in high school when the two teams last met. Other players who have played against Colorado State include, Rob Morris (1993) and Kalani Sitake (1994). As a freshman in 1993, Morris tallied a 27-yard reception in the Cougars' 27-22 win over CSU.
Some Things Never Change
According to a recent survey of each Division-I program, BYU has one of the most experienced and stable coaching staffs in the nation. 1999 is the fifth year without a staff change for BYU, making it the most cohesive unit in the nation. Entering its fourth year as a unit, Penn State ranks second to the Cougars. BYU coaches have an average tenure of 15.5 years at BYU, the third-highest average in the nation behind Penn State (19.9) and Florida State (15.7).
Hooks Taking Aim on BYU Record Book
Junior receiver Margin Hooks led the Cougars with eight catches for 140 yards against Washington. The 5-11 speedster from Waco, Texas needs just 1,102 yards to set the single-season yardage record - that's an average of 110.1 yards per game. Currently, Hooks is on pace to eclipse the 1,500 yard mark.
The New Millennium
Following is a look at some of BYU's future non-conference opponents, beginning next season and running through the 2009 campaign: Virginia -- Georgia Tech -- Mississippi State -- Stanford -- Syracuse -- USC -- California -- Notre Dame -- UCLA -- Nevada -- North Carolina -- Utah State -- Florida State -- Washington