Two teams bearing the burden of great expectations will meet in a football game at University Stadium here today.
One is No. 19 BYU, the other New Mexico. One has its hometown fans so excited they're talking about a national-title run; the other has fans so excited that school officials got the first sellout in the stadium's 33-year history.The coaches, meanwhile, have their sights set a tad lower. BYU coach LaVell Edwards would be happy just to escape Albuquerque with a conference victory. New Mexico coach Dennis Franchione probably would be able to live with playing respectably against a team that beat his Lobos 35-0 last year and is favored to win the WAC this season.
One thing Edwards knows is that the Lobos will be fired-up in front of the capacity crowd.
"I don't think there's any question that in their opening game they'll be playing very hard," he said. "I think they have the attention of our players."
BYU nose guard Lenny Gomes confirms that. "They (the Lobos) are hungry," he said. "They want it. They want to be good. It's always scary playing a team like that."
Franchione keeps trying to tell Lobo fans that his team is young and struggling to turn the corner, but that's a slight fabrication. In actuality, 14 of UNM's 22 starters are seniors, a fact that hasn't gone unnoticed by the fans - or players.
"With all those seniors, we have to prove ourselves this season," said Lobo center Justin Hall. "I've seen the improvements we've made, but victories are what fans remember."
Victories are what Cougar fans expect, especially against a team like New Mexico."People down here (Provo) are talking about a national championship," said BYU receiver Eric Drage. "It's not pressure, it's high expectations. We're still a relatively young team, but if we can avoid trying to live up to expectations and play to our level, we'll be all right."
Last year, BYU leveled the Lobos. Cougar halfback Jamal Willis gained 149 yards on 16 carries (a 9.3 average), while quarterback Ryan Hancock completed 16 of 23 passes. The lone bright spot for UNM was freshman running back Winslow Oliver, who gained 130 yards.
Despite the score, Edwards said he was impressed with the Lobos' game ethic. "They played hard for the full 60 minutes," he said. "They executed."
Edwards can afford to be gracious. He has beaten the Lobos 12 straight times, and in 20 of 21 meetings since becoming BYU's head coach.
New Mexico's strength is its offense, with Oliver, junior quarterback Stoney Case, wide receiver Carl Winston and an experienced offensive line. The defense had some big question marks coming into the season, with an entirely new line and a returning secondary that was porous last year.
BYU has some players expected to fill big shoes, too, like middle linebacker Brian Hughes, who replaces Shad Hansen, and safety Casey Mazzotta, who follows Derwin Gray. But the Cougar who figures to get the most attention is quarterback John Walsh, the sophomore who hasn't played a game in nearly a year.
The game will be televised live on KSL-TV (Channel 5) at 6 p.m.
COUGAR NOTES: The rumor is that a BYU quote has found its way to the Lobo bulletin board. Gomes reportedly said after last year's game that playing New Mexico was like playing the Cougar scout team . . . BYU has gone an NCAA record 224 games without being shut out, and they've thrown a touchdown pass in 48 straight games, another NCAA record . . . Fullback Kalin Hall (tendon sprain) made the trip but Edwards wasn't sure if he would play . . . starting safety Frank Christianson did not make the trip because of an ailing knee. He'll be replaced by Jon Pollock.