PROVO — Two of BYU wide receiver Margin Hooks' favorite pastimes are (a) catching the football and (b) talking. Not necessarily in that order.
During Mountain West Conference media day in Las Vegas this week, Hooks was in rare form, freely voicing his opinions and thoughts on a host of subjects, ranging from misperceptions about his hometown of Waco, Texas; to how journalists should do their jobs (he plans to graduate in broadcast journalism in December); to how he calls his coach, the legendary LaVell Edwards, "L-dog."
Throughout the interview session, he smiled a lot and good-naturedly teased everyone within earshot. While he spoke, reporters surrounded him with their pens scratching and tape recorders rolling.
It's not that the self-assured Hooks has anything particularly controversial or Lenny-Gomes-outlandish to say, just entertaining. He could have been the headline performer at The Mirage. Then again, his animated chat-fest wasn't just a shtick for the media's benefit. Coaches and teammates attest he's a fun-loving guy almost all the time.
Last Monday night in the hotel lobby, for instance, Edwards was leaving with his wife, Patti, to visit their son, Jim, a Las Vegas attorney. "You be back by 10 o'clock," he told Edwards. All the coach could do was laugh.
"He's a different soul," Edwards said later, when asked about his star senior receiver.
L-dog is right. Hooks is different, indeed. Certainly, he has stood out at BYU as a non-LDS, black athlete at an LDS, predominantly white school. He was recruited by Cougar cornerbacks coach Brian Mitchell, who, like Hooks, is black, non-LDS and a Waco High School alum. Hooks admits that one of the major reasons he came to Provo was the opportunity to play early in his collegiate career, since the majority of BYU receivers on the depth chart at the time were seniors.
Once he broke into the rotation as a redshirt freshman, the speedy Hooks opened his coaches' eyes to possibilities. The Cougars have successfully recruited others like him, such as Jonathan Pittman and Mike Rigell.
"The type of athlete we have here has changed," Hooks said. "BYU always had short receivers who could catch but they weren't big or athletic. We play vertical now. It's a different offense. You ask Washington. From the time they played us in 1996 to last year, it's totally different.
"I think I'm a pioneer here," he continued. "You know how they have a Pioneer Day for the Mormons? They should have a Pioneer Day for me. Mark it down. July 29, 1996. The day I got here."
After all he's been through during his years at BYU, the 6-foot, 190-pounder has earned the right to speak his mind. "I've been through a lot of changes," he said.
Hooks redshirted on the 1996 Cougar team that went 14-1, was ranked No. 5 nationally and won the Cotton Bowl — arguably the team best ever assembled in Provo. In 1997, BYU posted a 6-5 season and failed to go to a bowl game. That same season, a young, promising Cougar cornerback, Terrence Harvey, died in an automobile accident.
Hooks has also seen coaching staff changes (the departure of longtime offensive coordinator Norm Chow), school color changes (from royal blue to the so-called darkest shade of royal blue), uniform changes (pre-bib, bib and post-bib) and league changes (from the Western Athletic Conference to the MWC). He's witnessed countless quarterback controversies and watched a number of teammates be suspended or leave school due to honor code violations.
Through it all, Hooks has quietly proven to be one of the best pass-catchers in school history. Only 943 yards stand between him and the all-time BYU receiving record. Question is, can the Cougars' inexperienced quarterbacks get the ball to him and the other talented wideouts? "All they have to do is throw the ball up there," he said, "and give us a chance. We'll catch it."
Spoken like another prolific talker/receiver, Keyshawn Johnson. As the 2000 season draws closer, Hooks likely will be talking less about Waco, journalism and L-dog's curfew and more about football. His message: Just Give Me The Darn Ball.
E-MAIL: jeffc@desnews.com