Veteran "Voice of the Cougars" Paul James has had his yard trashed in a red and white motif by a U. fraternity as usual. Match-ups have been (over) analyzed to the smallest detail by newspapers and radio stations. The Cougar players have been off limits to the media since Wednesday. Saturday's big game and Enid Waldholtz's big problems have been neck-and-neck as the most talked about subject at watercoolers this week. David Letterman's favorite sportscaster, young Sparky Mortimer, has gone public with his prediction (BYU 34, Utah 31).
Finally the hype and hoopla is almost over. It's time for the actual game.The 77th meeting between Utah and BYU on the football field will kickoff at 1:30 p.m today in Cougar Stadium.
"This is what college football is about," said Cougar linebacker Shay Muirbrook. "Playing your biggest rival with a championship on the line for both teams is something every kid dreams about."
Certainly there is plenty of motivation on both sides.
The Cougars were devastated last year after their second consecutive loss to the Utes, cruelly by the identical 34-31 score. Ute fans, who had weathered 19 losses in 21 games to start the LaVell Edwards era, couldn't help but gloat a little - OK, a lot. A best-selling phrase on bumper stickers and T-shirts read `34-31: get used to it.'
"That loss last year (to Utah) hurt more than any other," BYU defensive tackle Mike Ulufale said. "It cost us the championship and you could see the frustration on Coach Edwards' face. We owe some payback."
But the revenge factor isn't the only motivating tool Edwards and his staff can use. Another outright conference title and Holiday Bowl berth are on the line.
"We're where we like to be in November, which is in the hunt (for the league title). We can control our own destiny," Edwards said. "I like our attitude and our chances."
BYU's running attack will be the key offensively for the Cougars. The Cougars' rushing game was near nonexistent early in the year in losses to Air Force and UCLA. But BYU's three-headed running back (Hema Heimuli, Mark Atuaia and Tefua Bloomfield) has produced an average of 200 yards per game on the ground in their last three outings - all wins in which they averaged 40.3 points.
Utah has plenty of motivation itself. The Utes haven't won or tied for the WAC championship since 1964. A win in the regular season finale today will ensure Utah a piece of the league crown and keep its hopes alive for a fourth consecutive bowl berth.
"As far as I'm concerned we're playing for the WAC title, no matter what happens," Ute coach Ron McBride said. "I don't care about tiebreakers. If we win this week, regardless of what happens, we get a share of the WAC title."
A key for Utah will be the play of its young offensive line against an experienced trio of inside linemen (Ulufale, John Raass and Henry Bloomfield). The Utes have a pair of talented young running backs in freshman Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala (117 carries for 726 yards) and sophomore Juan Johnson (170 carries 667 yards), but they'll need the offensive line to open holes for them.
The quarterbacks on both sides are junior college transfers that have been brilliant at times and have struggled on other occasions in their first year at the major college level. BYU's Steve Sarkisian has completed 64 percent of his passes (196 of 304). He's thrown 15 TDs and 10 interceptions on the year. Utah's Mike Fouts has completed 54 percent of his passes (158 of 293) and has 16 TDs to go along with a WAC-high 12 interceptions.
McBride and Edwards are buddies off the field and seem genuine in their praise of their opposing teams.
"Defensively, BYU has played well all year," McBride said. "Offensively, they're now executing as well as any team they've had. Their run game is now solid and they're doing a great job with their play action."
Edwards returns the compliment. "Utah is a team that was young and talented at the beginning of the season, but now they have a whole season of experience under their belts. It makes for a very good match-up because both teams are playing as well right now as they have all season."
GAME NOTES: While many Utah-BYU games over the years have been played in freezing cold temperatures, often with snow on the ground, the temperature at game time today is expected to be comparatively balmy, hovering around the high 50s . . . The game is being broadcast regionally by ABC (Channel 4 locally) but will only be seen in about 2 percent of the nation . . . BYU under Edwards has never lost to a WAC opponent three times in a row. The only team to beat BYU on three consecutive seasons during the Edwards era was UCLA from '91 to '93.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
TALE OF THE TAPE
Utah BYU
6-4 (5-2) Record (WAC) 6-3 (5-1)
26.2 ppg Scoring avgerage 27.2 ppg
255 ypg Passing average 311 ypg
161 ypg Rushing average 101 ypg
416 ypg Total offense 412 ypg
376 ypg Opp. total offense 365 ypg
209 ypg Opp. passing average. 188 ypg
167 ypg Opp. rushing average 176 ypg
56 ypg Penalties average 82 ypg
Common opponents
Win - 22-21 Air Force Loss - 12-38
Loss - 14-19 Colorado State Win - 28-21
Win - 30-24 Wyoming Win - 23-20
Win - 36-9 New Mexico Win - 31-14
Loss - 21-24 San Diego St. Win - 31-19