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BYU football rewind: Top 3 Cougar teams of all time
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BYU logo (1969-98)
For awhile, BYU football fans were talking national championship, BCS busting and running the table in relation to the 2009 Cougar squad. Following the season-opening win over then No. 3 Oklahoma, the feeling was this year’s team was going to be something special.
Seven games later and just over halfway through the season, Cougar fans have been through the wringer. From a Top 10 ranking to having its 18-game home win streak broken on national television to another lopsided loss at the hands of TCU, 2009 is shaping up to be a very trying season for fans, coaches and players alike.
A quick glimpse at the message boards shows the dissatisfaction fans are feeling right now, which is surprising given the fact the team has won 75-percent of its games this season. It’s not like the team is winless.
Given the disgruntled mindset of Cougar Nation, a glimpse back to happier times might be just what the doctor ordered.
With that in mind, I give to you the Top 3 BYU football teams of all time:
#3- 1979 (11-1): This team came close to being the first undefeated team in school history, taking a perfect record into the 1979 Holiday Bowl where the Cougars suffered their only loss of the season to Indiana, 38-37.
BYU averaged 40.6 points per game this season while giving up only 11.4. The Cougars also nearly doubled their opponents in total offense, gaining 521.4 yards per game while allowing 268.6.
Marc Wilson led the Cougars’ passing attack, throwing for 3,720 yards and 29 touchdowns. Wilson’s top receivers included Homer Jones (46 catches, 404 yards, four touchdowns), Eric Lane (39 catches, 477 yards, one touchdown) and Scott Phillips (34 catches, 467 yards, four touchdowns).
Lane also led the team in rushing, gaining 595 yards on 94 carries (6.3 yards per carry) with 11 touchdowns. Jones was second in rushing, gaining 546 yards on 75 carries (7.3 ypc) with seven touchdowns.
Unlike the 1984 team, going undefeated would not have given the Cougars the national title in ‘79. The Cougars went into the postseason ranked No. 9 in the AP poll and fell to No. 13 following the loss to Indiana.
Even a bowl victory and an undefeated season would have given this team a national championship.
#2- 1984 (13-0): This team was stacked with pro talent. Eventually, 18 players from the 1984 national championship team were drafted into the NFL.
The Cougars’ season-opening upset of No. 3 Pittsburgh catapulted the Cougars to No. 13 in the polls, giving them a running start towards the top. The 1979 squad opened its season with an upset win over No. 14 Texas A&M, but did not crack the Top 20 until the fifth week of the season.
The 1984 Cougars averaged 36 points per game while giving up 13.8. BYU’s offense averaged 486.5 yards of total offense per game while its defense allowed 321.3.
Quarterback Robbie Bosco threw for 3,875 yards and 33 touchdowns that season. Tight end Dave Mills led the team in receiving with 60 catches for 1,023 yards and seven touchdowns. Glen Kozlowski made 55 catches for 879 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Lakei Heimuli led the Cougars in rushing with 796 yards on 158 carries and nine touchdowns.
True, this team accomplished something no other Cougar football team has by winning the national championship, but it was not the best team to represent BYU.
#1- 1996 (14-1): This team won more games in a season than any other Cougar team, including a season-opening win over No. 13 Texas A&M and a postseason victory over No. 14 Kansas State in the 1997 Cotton Bowl.
Ultimately, the Cougars finished ranked No. 5 in the AP poll, one of five Division I teams to lose only once that season.
The 1996 Cougars averaged 40.8 points per game and allowed 18.7. Keep in mind that the ’96 Cougars averaged more points per game than either of the other two teams mentioned here in more games.
BYU averaged 446.1 yards of total offense that season while allowing 295.2.
Steve Sarkisian led the Cougars that season, throwing for 4,027 yards and 33 touchdowns. Sarkisian’s top receivers included K.O. Kealaluhi (49 catches, 901 yards, eight touchdowns), Itula Mili (46 catches, 692 yards, three touchdowns) and Kaipo McGuire (42 catches, 658 yards, five touchdowns).
There we have it. Memories from seasons past that have helped form the tradition that is BYU football.
What do you think?
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