PROVO — During the summer, new BYU strength and conditioning coach Jay Omer subjected Cougar players to rigorous off-season workouts.
On Saturday, those long hours of running and lifting weights paid off.
BYU pounded Tulane in the season-opener, 70-35, and the Cougars credited Omer as the game's unsung hero. BYU's ability to stay strong physically through a game that lasted nearly four hours was a factor. The two teams were tied at 21 at the end of the first quarter, but the Cougars outscored the Green Wave 49-14 the rest of the way.
"Our conditioning played a huge part in the win," said defensive end Ryan Denney. "We were in a lot better shape than (the Tulane players) were. Toward the end of the game they were dying and we were still fresh."
"They were huffing and puffing," said running back Luke Staley. "They were hurting."
The Bayou-based Green Wave aren't accustomed to Provo's high-altitude atmosphere, and BYU coach Gary Crowton, who coached for three seasons at Louisiana Tech, knew it going into the game.
"I felt like if we could keep up with them early, the altitude and dry heat would wear them down," Crowton said. "That dry heat kind of makes your lungs burn in the altitude. You start to noticing that in the second quarter."
"About halftime," said Tulane coach Chris Scelfo, "it felt like our players were gassed."
However, Scelfo discounted the effect of the heat and the altitude on his team, saying his players' poor tackling was to blame for surrendering 70 points to the Cougars.
"I hope it was the altitude that caused that," Scelfo said. "That would make me feel better."
LOW ATTENDANCE: BYU drew 49,008 spectators on Saturday, marking the smallest crowd at LaVell Edwards Stadium since stadium expansion in 1982. But BYU officials were pleased with the turnout, considering school was not in session (about 15,000 students typically come to games) and they only had about six weeks to promote the contest. BYU had sold about 45,000 tickets as of Friday night, but generated 4,000 in walk-up sales Saturday before the game.
BACK FOR MOORE: Tailback Mewelde Moore provided one of the few bright spots for Tulane. He rushed 22 times for 176 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown jaunt five plays into the game. Yet it wasn't the first time the 6-foot-1, 198-pound sophomore has played in Provo.
During the summer, Moore was a member of the Idaho Falls Padres of the Pioneer League. His final appearance in an Idaho Falls uniform in 2001 came last month at Larry H. Miller Field, across the street from LaVell Edwards Stadium, against the Provo Angels.
EDWARDS REMEMBERED: Former BYU coach LaVell Edwards was honored prior to Saturday's kickoff by participating in the ceremonial lighting of the "Y." At halftime, he visited with reporters in the press box.
Edwards said he plans to attend all the home games this season and will travel to three or four road games as well. He works as a special assistant to school President Merrill J. Bateman, helping in the university's fund-raising efforts.
E-MAIL: jeffc@desnews.com