BOYS WILL BE BOYS: Ute offensive lineman Danny Davis was entertaining the local press Tuesday at the Big Five Huddle at the Doubletree, talking about how guys in the line amuse themselves during games when nobody notices them. "A lot of times, it's just a personal kind of pump-up," Davis said, "like I'll drive a guy down and hit him in the chest, and you hear the air come right out of his lungs."
BY THE BOOK: By all accounts, Utah State's John L. Smith is an excellent coach. Some folks think there's no one better in the state at X's and O's than Smith.In the past two games, however, he's come up with a couple of odd decisions on extra point attempts, both in the middle of the 4th quarter.
The first came against Idaho State when the Aggies went for two points while leading 32-6. When asked to explain it later, Smith said, "Up by 25 late in the game, you go for two - that's what the chart says. You don't argue . . . you do what it tells you."
We assumed Smith was kidding, but a week later he wasn't kidding when again midway through the 4th quarter against Colorado State and trailing 28-23, he elected to go for one instead of two, which would have put his team within a field goal.
Smith acknowledged his goof-up by saying, "Everybody knows when you're down five, you go for two. I didn't check the chart."
FLY THE FLAG: In three games, Utah State has been penalized an astonishing 40 times for 381 yards; that's 13 for 127 yards per game. At their current rate the Aggies will not only break the all-time school record, they'll shatter it.
The previous USU season marks for penalties are 116 for 1181 yards, both set in 1995, John L. Smith's first year. At their current pace, this year's Aggie team will finish with 143 penalties for 1,397 yards.
GAMES TO WATCH: A BYU barometer of sorts will be when Washington (which clobbered the Cougars 42-20 two weeks ago) hosts Nebraska in a battle of perennial powerhouses on Saturday. Two weeks later, the Cougars' first two 1997 foes face off in an Oct. 4 Pac-10 battle as Washington hosts Arizona State.
STREAKS AND STRINGS: The Sun Devils have won 13 consecutive regular-season contests and eight straight home games . . . In a series that dates back to 1935 and served as marquee WAC matchup until the Sun Devils departed for the Pac-10, ASU has a 20-5 edge over BYU, including winning 13 of the past 15 meetings and eight straight at Sun Devil Stadium.
FAMILY AFFAIR: Defensive tackle Harland Ah You has returned to the Cougars for his senior season after all but being an academic casualty. He earned the appropriate scholastic approval since the Washington season opener and has returned in time for the Arizona State game.
That's notable, since his father, Miki "Junior" Ah You, played football at ASU from 1969-71, earning All-WAC honors three times and All-American accolades once. A member of the ASU Hall of Fame, Junior Ah You also was a 17th round draft choice by the New England Patriots.
SHIRT BY SWOOSH: Ute coach Ron McBride complimented BYU coach LaVell Edwards at Tuesday's Big Five Huddle. "That's the best haircut you ever had," McBride said. Then he noted an expensive-looking shirt Edwards was wearing. "Must have been a freebie," McBride said. "The best Nike has to offer," Edwards shot back. BYU made one of those big-bucks deals with Nike and wears the Swoosh this year.
RETIRING WITH HONOR: During halftime of the BYU-ASU contest, the Sun Devils will retire Danny White's No. 11 jersey. White was a three-year starter at ASU (1971-73) and led his team to a record of 31-4 during that span as well as three WAC titles and three Fiesta Bowl victories.
As a senior in 1973, White was first-team All-WAC and first-team All-American. He played 13 years for the Dallas Cowboys and was a member of their Super Bowl XII championship team.