Cougar Stadium doesn't really need a new nickname, but Tim McTyer has given it one anyway. The 19-year-old Californian has taken to calling the 65,000-seat football edifice in Provo "The House of Pain." His teammates on the Cougar defense have followed suit.
Most years the moniker would be laughable. "The House That LaVell Built" perhaps, or even "The House of Quarterbacks."But calling Cougar Stadium "The House of Pain?"
Ridiculous. "The House of Pancakes" would be nearly as appropriate.
At least until this season.
The Cougars are one win away from clinching at least a share of the WAC title for the 18th time, and it's primarily because of - get this - defense. That's not to say BYU hasn't had quality defenses over the years, particularly in the early to mid-'80s. But Quarterback U.'s offensive players have always overshadowed their teammates on the other side of the football - until now.
"We're not trying to take anything away from the offense, but it's been a mission this year for the defense to get some of the recognition we deserve," said junior linebacker Shay Muirbrook.
While the '95 Cougar offense had been subpar scoring-wise until the last three games, the defense has been solid all season (at least since the opener at Air Force). This year's Cougars have delivered more bone-crunching hits than any Cougar defense in the last decade - and maybe ever. Some say the '95 Cougs hit harder the Leon White-Kurt Gouveia-Kyle Morrell era Cougars of the early '80s.
"We're aggressive - some people might say we're too aggressive - but that's part of being a solid defense," said cornerback Dermmell Reed. "Our guys all like to make big hits."
Last week, New Mexico receivers were dropping like flies after taking punishment from McTyer, Stan Raass, Muirbrook and Company.
"You don't have enough time on this phone call for me to go through all our injuries (from the BYU game)," New Mexico coach Dennis Franchione said Monday on the weekly WAC coaches conference call. "We're pretty banged up."
The Cougar coaches knew going into the season the defensive front seven would be solid with veterans Muirbrook, Stan and John Raass, Mike Ulufale and Dennis Simmons all returning. The secondary, on the other hand, was a major question mark - especially after three cornerbacks were expelled from school during the summer due to honor code violations.
But instead of being a problem, the Cougar secondary has been a strength. McTyer, a junior college transfer that won't turn 20 until next month, has set the tone with at least one or two bruising hits from his cornerback position in every game.
"The play of the secondary has been the thing that has solidified this defense," said Edwards. "We knew we would be solid up front, but we didn't know about the secondary. Tim McTyer didn't even play in spring ball for us. He was new in the fall, but he's done remarkably well and solidified the whole group back there. And then the development of (walk-on safety) Eddie Sampson has been a major plus for us."
The Cougars had a reputation of giving up long passes during the previous few seasons, but they've avoided getting burned deep this year. The Cougars are second in the WAC in total defense (giving up an average of 364 yards per game) and surrender the third fewest yards passing (188 yards per game).
BYU has had its share of injuries (plus one suspension) on the defensive side of the ball during the season, but the replacements have all come through as well.
"The thing that has been particularly satisfying is how well our second-unit guys have been able to step up and play whenever we've had an injury," said Edwards. "It's been remarkable."
Simmons was forced to miss four straight games with a shoulder problem, but freshman Brad Martin became a force in his own right in Simmons' place. Ulufale was suspended four games, but junior college transfer Henry Bloomfield made sure the defensive line didn't miss a beat. Defensive end Ed Kehl missed a couple of games only to have freshman Darren Yancey fill in nicely. Reed couldn't play against New Mexico, but it wasn't a problem because James Dye picked up the slack and even delivered some amazingly hard hits for a 5-8, 150-pounder.
It's been a recurring theme all year.
"It just goes to show how much talent and desire all the players have on the defense this year," said Ulufale.
This weekend the Cougar defense is looking forward to having the conference title on the line when the archrival Utes make the 50-mile drive to the so-called "House of Pain."
Perhaps Muirbrook summed up the Cougars' overall feelings best. "They're coming to our house and we plan to show them some Cougar hospitality."