It may be basketball season, but football is still in the minds of many - with the NFL playoffs still going on and high school letter-of-intent day only a month away.
So, what will college football in Utah be like in 1990?It could be a golden year.
Last season, only BYU had a winning record among the Big 4. All could have winning records in 1990 - and, a longshot, admittedly, more than one could go to a bowl. A quick glimpse at what could be a year of excitement:
Brigham Young
In losing a bowl game, BYU probably gained more stature than in bowl games it's won.
BYU gained national exposure - particularly key eastern exposure - and national credibility in it's 50-39 loss to highly respected Penn State, to make it a high-profile team for 1990. Sophomore quarterback Ty Detmer's outstanding bowl performance - 576 yards passing - makes him a legitimate frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy. Only Jim McMahon and Robbie Bosco going into their senior seasons had the same kind of stature Detmer's going to have.
And 1990 features a true glamor game, perhaps the biggest in BYU history during the regular season - defending champion Miami against a probable Top 15 and possible Top 10 Cougar squad Sept. 8 in Cougar Stadium. Undoubtedly a national audience will be watching and passing judgment on Detmer as a Heisman Trophy candidate and on BYU as a team.
Utah
Will this be the year the U. learns one of football's basics - tackling? If the Utes do, an eight-win season in Ron McBride's first year as head coach is possible. His enthusiasm should be worth a win or two. George Bush may have been the schedule-maker for 1990 - it's much kinder and gentler than in 1989. This year the Utes get Fresno State at home (Prediction: This time against the Utes the Bulldog coach will not mention that his team belongs in the WAC) and replace a trip to Nebraska with one to Minnesota. Hawaii, Wyoming and BYU have to play at Rice Stadium. If Scott Mitchell returns for his senior year the U. will have a better shot at eight wins, but still will if he doesn't. Mike Richmond filled in well when Mitchell was hurt. Quarterbacking/offense isn't the problem at Utah, defense is.
Utah State
Last year, Coach Chuck Shelton didn't want to talk about 1989. He said then he was pointing to 1990. It's here, coach. The Aggies could have their first winning season since 1980 when Bruce Snyder's team was 6-5. Top 10 teams USC and Illinois have been replaced on the nonconference schedule by Kansas State and Missouri. Inexperienced quarterback Kirk Johnson, who had to begin his college career against Utah, USC, Illinois and BYU in that order, not only survived but showed considerable poise late in the season. Now he's experienced and has a capable backup in Kevin White. If the defense, led by outstanding linebacker Del Lyles, improves a notch, the Aggies not only will have a winning record but may make a serious run for the Big West championship and California Bowl berth.
Weber State
If the Wildcats had won every time their first-year coach Dave Arslanian guaranteed a victory at the Big 4 Huddle luncheons last season they'd have finished well above .500. As it was, they finished with just two victories. The feeling here is that Arslanian's a year wiser and the Wildcats will be considerably better than in '89. And, some of the losses were not by very many points. With the right breaks Weber State might have won four or five games so six or more in '90 is not an unrealistic expectation. Maybe what Arslanian should do at the luncheons this year is guarantee losses.