PROVO — Nobody enjoyed San Diego State's dramatic, 16-15 win over BYU on Saturday more than Aztec head coach Ted Tollner.
Tollner, who served as the Cougar quarterbacks coach in 1981, chalked up his first victory against his former boss, LaVell Edwards, in five attempts. It also spoiled homecoming for BYU.
"I told the players that this was my last opportunity to play against LaVell and a win would sure be sweet," Tollner said. "They gave me the game ball after the game."
The Aztecs claimed the win after placekicker Nate Tandberg hit a 36-yard field goal with one second left in the game. San Diego State is now 2-11 all-time against BYU in Provo.
"This is a sweet win, mainly because I have so much respect for LaVell. That's what makes it special because of the kind of program and the kind of coach we have competed against," Tollner said. "We never could make a play to break the game open, but we were fortunate to have enough time left. This is such a great environment to play in. Tandberg's kick is the kind of thing that will live with him for a long time. When football is over for him, this will mean so much more to him."
MIRACLE REMEMBERED: Down 45-25 to Southern Methodist with four minutes remaining in the 1980 Holiday Bowl, most people believed BYU was headed for yet another postseason defeat.
Including tight end Clay Brown.
"I wasn't so sure in the third and fourth quarters we were going to win," Brown said to a gathering of Cougar Club members prior to Saturday's game.
Of course, Brown ended up catching a 41-yard pass from quarterback Jim McMahon with no time remaining, capping one of the most improbable comebacks in NCAA history, as the Cougars defeated SMU, 46-45. Among BYU fans, the game is known affectionately as "The Miracle Bowl."
On the 20th anniversary of that memorable season, and part of Homecoming festivities, BYU honored the 1980 team at halftime. Brown, receiver Dan Plater and running back/punt returner Vai Sikahema were among the former players from that team in attendance.
The Cougars posted a 12-1 record that year, including 12 straight wins after losing the season-opener at New Mexico. BYU also led the nation in scoring, passing and total offense.
"We had a lot of talent on that team," Plater said. A number of players, like Plater, Brown, Sikahema and McMahon, went on to play in the National Football League.
Today, Plater is a doctor living in Chicago; Brown works in real estate in Aurora, Colo., and Sikahema is a sportscaster in Philadelphia.
HOOKS NOW NO. 2: With a 15-yard catch late in the second quarter, BYU senior wide receiver Margin Hooks jumped into second place in all-time receiving yardage, surpassing Matt Bellini, who finished his career with 2,635 yards.
Hooks now has 2,700 yards and needs 366 more to pass Eric Drage, who is BYU's all-time leader with 3,066.
On the day, Hooks caught nine passes for 124 yards and a touchdown on a leaping grab in the back of the end zone late in the second quarter. Quarterback Charlie Peterson completed 34 of 58 passes for a career-high 376 yards.
DUBIOUS MILESTONE: Edwards entered Saturday's game looking for his 255th victory, which would tie him with Nebraska's Tom Osborne for sixth on the list of the all-time NCAA Div. I coaching wins. Instead, Edwards suffered his 100th career loss.
E-mail: jeffc@desnews.com