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| | Monday, September 6 | |||||
| 1998 Record: 9-5 (7-2) | 1998 statistics | 1999 schedule Head coach: LaVell Edwards Returning starters: 15 (offense 10, defense 4) Outlook The Cougars will have a few new looks this year, starting with the familiar blue uniforms and the traditional logo. The new look incorporates symbols that have been longtime favorites with BYU fans -- the cougar and the block Y. It's the first major change for the team since 1979 and it could be a harbinger of good things ahead. After losing four games in 1978, the most losses since 1975, the blue oval with white "Y" returned to the helmet and the Cougars went on to post an 11-1 mark and claim the WAC title. BYU will also show off a shotgun offense, part of a move away from the uncharacteristically run-dominated scheme of the past few years. This season, coach LaVell Edwards' 28th in Provo, could be accompanied by whispers that it is his last. If it is, winning the first Mountain West title would be the perfect way to say goodbye. OffenseThe critics spent much of last season lambasting quarterback Kevin Feterik. This should be a year they praise him. Last season they questioned his arm strength, his footspeed and his leadership. Strange, considering he led the 16-team WAC in passing with 2,718 yards and 16 scores. In two years as a starter he has completed 60 percent of his passes for 4,485 yards and 27 touchdowns, with only 11 interceptions. Those numbers should rise considerably with the retooled attack, as the loss of last season's top rushers has forced a move back to the pass. Thousand-yard back Ronney Jenkins transferred to Northern Arizona after his second violation of the school's honor code and fellow back Junior Mahe left school amid an investigation into his own alleged code violations. Those two players accounted for 1,788 of the team's 1,882 rushing yards last year. This year BYU will also look to 1997 WAC freshman of the year, Jaron Dabney. The 5-9, 180-pound sophomore returns to the Cougar lineup after a year in junior college exile to work on his grades. Dabney averaged 6.2 yards per carry as a freshman The Cougars will also look to Oregon high school player of the year Luke Staley. Junior Margin and his 4.35 speed provide Feterik with a breakaway target up top. The 5-11, 190-pound flier led the team in receiving last season. Hooks had 49 receptions for 732 yards, including touchdown receptions of 80 and 83 yards. Hooks will be joined by Ben Horton, BYU's MVP in the Liberty Bowl. He was third on the BYU roster last season with 25 catches for 468 yards, an average of 18.7 yards per catch. Damion Segovia, a walk-on expected to play a lot as a junior, has pulled his left hamstring and will miss four to six weeks. At tight end, Tevita Ofahengaue returns after starting 10 games a year ago. Matt Johnson and John Skiba return at the two guard positions and Jimmy Richards (6-3, 305), is back at center. BYU will look to juniors Shane Magalei (6-3, 290), Ford Poston (6-6, 300) to fill holes at both tackle positions. It's a good sign if: Balance is restored on this side of the ball.It's a bad sign if: A difficult early season schedule has them digging out of a hole. Defense Already the backbone of the team, this unit should be strengthened if the new players on the line bring speed to the position. Byron Frisch (6-5, 270) is only returning regular starter. Frisch tallied 70 tackles last season, including 13 tackles for a loss and five sacks. Although Frisch is most accustomed to the right end, the Cougars are expected to move him to the left side. Hans Olsen, a 6-5, 285-pound junior is expected to fill one vacancy at tackle, while Setema Gali will fill the hole left by at the opposite end of Frisch. Junior Chris Hoke (6-2, 285) will start at the other tackle spot. The star on this side of the ball is unquestionably linebacker Rob Morris, the WAC's 1998 defensive player of the year. The 6-3, 245-pound senior led BYU with 147 tackles. Lining up next to him will be outside linebacker Jeff Holtry (6-3, 245), a sixth-year junior, courtesy of a religious mission. Holtry started his career at Michigan in 1994, and was a true freshman when Colorado beat the Wolverines on Kordell Stewart's Hail Mary pass. After completing his mission he returned to play on the 1997 national championship team. Sophomore Justin Ena will take over the strong-side position. After an offseason of uncertainty, Brian Gray and Heshi Robertson will be back at cornerback. Gray had to clear some academic hurdles and Robertson had a brush with the honor code that cost the team its two best runners. Their presence is critical in that it allows BYU to play an attacking style of defense that relies on the man-to-man coverage each is capable of providing. Tyler Nelson is the starting strong safety, while a pair of transfers, Jared Lee from the JC ranks and Elan Edwards from Colorado, will battle to start at free safety. It's a good sign if: A suspect secondary exposed in the Liberty Bowl displays maturity.It's a bad sign if: New players on the line don't step up. Special Teams Placekicker Owen Pochman was a preseason all-conference selection. Jesse Soward, who has been holding on field goals and PATs the past two years, will get his chance at punter. He originally came to BYU on a baseball scholarship. -- John Crowley |
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