PROVO -- A week ago, BYU quarterback Kevin Feterik couldn't understand why the Cougars were excluded from the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll. After opening the season with a 35-28 victory over Washington, they were ranked 25th in the Associated Press media poll.
At the time, Feterik admitted he and his teammates didn't think national recognition wouldn't come until after the Colorado State game.They were right -- at least in terms of inclusion in both major polls.
Following a second consecutive successful outing on ESPN -- a 34-13 win over CSU -- the Cougars find themselves in territory they haven't inhabited since the 1997 preseason.
BYU is ranked 17th in the latest AP poll and 19th in the coaches' listing. The rankings are an exact flip-flop from the preseason polls following the Cougars' 14-1 Cotton Bowl season when the coaches had BYU in the higher spot.
The turnabout, albeit slight, may have something to do with the increased media exposure BYU has attained early this season. Victories in two straight nationally televised games set the table for such accolades as CNN Play of the Day (Feterik's game-winning pass to freshman Chris Hale in the opener) and Player of the Week honors for Feterik (501 yards passing against Washington) on USA Today's popular Internet site.
Nothing like publicity on both the television and computer to attract a little more attention from sports writers and broadcasters.
IN AND OUT: Despite Colorado State's fall from both polls after losing to BYU, the Mountain West Conference can still boast of having two ranked teams. Air Force, which extended its win streak to 12 games by prevailing over Washington Saturday, joins the Cougars in both Top 25 rankings this week. The Falcons (2-0) are ranked 23rd by USA Today/ESPN and 25th by AP.
GONE FISHIN': The Cougars did not practice Friday, Saturday or Sunday as players rested aches and pains and coaches hit the recruiting trail. Practices resume Monday but will once again be closed to the media and general public throughout the week. A BYU athletic media relations official said it's because the coaching staff is superstitious.
Speaking of such, the Cougars are hoping for a few lucky charms Monday when players injured in the CSU game are re-evaluated by team doctors. The list of walking wounded includes linebacker Rob Morris (lower abdominal strain); cornerback Brian Gray (right groin strain); offensive tackle Aaron McCubbins (possible damage to the lateral meniscus in his right knee); cornerback Heshimu Robertson (bruised hip); and fullback Ned Stearns (sprained left wrist).
Early indications are that each of the players will be cleared for Saturday's game against Virginia.