BYU freshman John Walsh made an impressive early bid Friday to become the Cougars' starting quarterback next season, leading the BYU jayvee team to a 28-0 halftime lead over Snow College.
By comparison, walk-on quarterbacks Woody Mateski and Chris Gulstad combined to generate just one touchdown and 80 yards total offense in the second half as Snow came back to win, 38-35.Walsh completed 21 of 26 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions, while producing 381 yards in total offense. The other offensive highlight for the Cougs was a 75-yard TD run by tailback Jason Schmidt.
The Cougar coaches have said they wanted to get Walsh some playing time, but BYU's opponents thus far have not given the Cougars any chance to experiment. The Badgers, ranked No. 21 in the nation in a preseason junior college poll, probably wish Walsh had been given some other opportunity to make his college debut. Playing behind an offensive line that included three second-team varsity players, Walsh riddled the Snow secondary while throwing to walk-on receivers.
In the second quarter Walsh tossed TD passes on consecutive plays, a 17-yarder to Lance Farmer and then a 15-yarder to Dave Ludwig after the Badgers fumbled a kickoff.
If Walsh showed a weakness it is lack of mobility - he's not going to outrun any pursuing defenders. But offsetting that was his willingness to stay in the pocket and wait for someone to get open, and a strong, accurate arm.
Next season's quarterback derby between Walsh, Steve Clements, Ryan Hancock, et al, promises to be something to behold.
By the way, Y. quarterback hopeful Garth Fennegan, the transfer from Clemson, played cornerback - a position he played in high school - for the jayvees. Coach LaVell Edwards said recently that Fennegan and Tom Young might have the ability to play another position if they lose out in the QB battle, but that nothing would be decided on that until after next spring practice.
PERCEPTION PROBLEM: It was interesting to see the change of tone in stories by Los Angeles-area sportswriters from the Florida State game to the UCLA game. After the BYU-FSU game, everyone was taking shots at Ty Detmer, saying, for instance, that he should mail the Heisman Trophy back, and that Marie Osmond might have quarterbacked better. Then, after a week of media praise for UCLA quarterback Tommy Maddox, Detmer outplayed the Bruin QB, and how did the L.A. media handle it?
Very low-key. While they were more complimentary of Detmer, they laid low on Maddox's second-half disappearance. The worst case of misperception, however, came from the national daily, USA Today. In its Monday issue, that publication's article on the BYU-UCLA game bore the headline, "Maddox outduels Detmer."
ANOTHER OPINION: At least one L.A. sports writer was impressed by Detmer's California performances. Allan Malamud, columnist for the Los Angeles Times, wrote the Monday after the UCLA game: "I know Detmer is too small and his arm isn't strong enough, but there has to be a place for him in the NFL next season.
"The Heisman Trophy winner showed toughness in the face of a strong pass rush, pinpoint accuracy, and also a strong competitive fire when he yelled at Eric Drage after the flanker dropped a fourth down pass that would have given BYU a first down deep in UCLA territory late in the game."
Actually, he yelled at tight end Byron Rex for getting in the way of that fourth-down pass, but Malamud's point is still well-made.
INJURIES: Starting offensive linemen Bryan May and Garrett Tujague and receiver Erik Hughes took advantage of BYU's bye week to have arthroscopic knee surgery early this week. All are expected to be ready for Penn State. Linebacker Jared Leavitt and nose guard Chris Conners have already resumed practicing, and receiver Nati Valdez and defensive tackle Brad Hunter are expected back Monday.
REDSHIRTS: Players who are expected to redshirt this season include Tyler Anderson, the sophomore receiver from Orem; Mike Johnston, freshman receiver from South San Francisco; and cornerback Courtney Overstreet, junior transfer from Pasadena (Calif.) City College.