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That Grand Mormon Bandwagon

© Grimace Boyer

Ah, the Mountain West. The mere mention causes people to warm right up and ask: "Who's in that conference, again?" Who, indeed! As I'm sure at least two of my readers know, there is a certain Mountain West team that features lightning quick speed, pinpoint accuracy, and awesome strength. What many of them may not realize is that that team is the Brigham Young University Cougars.

BYU has been noted for its occasional production of quarterbacks. Steve Young and Ty Detmer leap to mind. And this year's starter, Brandon Doman, is no exception to this mold. Here's a kid who's smart, an excellent passer, and who has the ability to play physical when necessary. He makes good reads, which lead to good decisions. He's - dare I say it? - the prototype. Not only that, but he's boasting a whopping 162.3 QB Rating.

Lest you should think that this is your father's BYU team (did your father have a BYU team?), the top two receivers - Reno Mahe and Mike Rigell - have both combined for only 4 receiving touchdowns. Junior receiver Mahe, a player I like a whole lot, has 439 receiving yards this season, and Rigell has 247. Not a lot, unless you consider that he's averaging 16.5 yards per reception.

But the true story of this team is in the running backs. Brian McDonald-Ashford was expected to miss the entire season with a torn ligament in his knee, but is now a probable for this week's game against Air Force. But if the Cougars have anything, it's depth at running back. They have a certain - *ahem!* - Heisman candidate named Luke Staley, who has racked up 597 yards (an 8.9 yard-per-carry average) and 9 touchdowns.

BYU, at 6-0, stands in the number 13 ranking as of this writing, which disheartens me. Not the low ranking, but simply the fact that no one has noticed this very good team sneak through a 6-0 season. Who have they played, you ask? Why, absolutely nobody. But that's the beauty of this team. If they can get past a 4-1 Air Force team this weekend, they have a serious chance to go 13-0. And then who's playing for a National Championship? A team from Florida with a loss? A team from the midwest with two? A team from Fresno, California?

Rest assured, I'll be watching this team very closely this season, and if they go 8-0, 9-0, 10-0... you'll start to see people "notice" them. But will it happen too late? Will their "weak schedule" (their toughest non-conference opponent lost to Troy State) keep them from being able to play in the Rose Bowl? Does anyone really want to see a BYU-Fresno State national championship game? The questions, they'll come a-pouring in.

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