The Brigham Young Cougars have had some miserable trips to Hawaii in early December. When the 2011 football schedule was released, red flags immediately went up next to the December 3 game at Hawaii.
In 1990, Hawaii pounded BYU 59-28 on December 1. It was the last regular season game for BYU that year. Eleven years later, the final game of the year, once again, was in December (the 8th) and in Hawaii. BYU suffered an ugly defeat, 72-45.
The similarities are too painful to ignore. Fans can’t help but worry that BYU falls into the same trap in 2011. There is one significant difference between this year and 1990 and 2001: distractions. The 1990 and 2001 BYU Cougars had a lot more on their minds than winning a football game, and it had nothing to do with beaches, luaus, and family reunions.
December 1, 1990, was the same day the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City was announcing the winner of the 56th Heisman Trophy. It just so happened that BYU quarterback Ty Detmer was a leading candidate for the award. While kickoff for the game was just hours away, BYU coaches and players were crowding around a TV camera on the poll patio at the team hotel waiting to learn if Detmer would win.
Detmer did win. Euphoria erupted. This was no time for a football game.
December 1, 2001, BYU defeated Mississippi State to move to 12-0. More importantly, BYU was ranked number 12 in the BCS standings and qualified for an at-large invite to a BCS bowl. Selection Sunday wasn’t until December 9—the day after the Cougars played Hawaii. That didn’t stop the BCS executives from publicly telling BYU on December 3 that under no conditions would the Cougars be selected as an at-large participant in a BCS bowl.
Devastated, BYU was not in condition to play football when game day rolled around.
Fast forward back to the present. In December 2011, it is the Houston Cougars whose final game has BCS implications. With one game left, the Heisman Trophy is a concern for the BU (Baylor) quarterback.
As BYU arrives in the islands this week for the game on Saturday, the team has only one worry: the game.
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
In 1990, Hawaii pounded BYU 59-28 on December 1. It was the last regular season game for BYU that year. Eleven years later, the final game of the year, once again, was in December (the 8th) and in Hawaii. BYU suffered an ugly defeat, 72-45.
The similarities are too painful to ignore. Fans can’t help but worry that BYU falls into the same trap in 2011. There is one significant difference between this year and 1990 and 2001: distractions. The 1990 and 2001 BYU Cougars had a lot more on their minds than winning a football game, and it had nothing to do with beaches, luaus, and family reunions.
December 1, 1990, was the same day the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City was announcing the winner of the 56th Heisman Trophy. It just so happened that BYU quarterback Ty Detmer was a leading candidate for the award. While kickoff for the game was just hours away, BYU coaches and players were crowding around a TV camera on the poll patio at the team hotel waiting to learn if Detmer would win.
Detmer did win. Euphoria erupted. This was no time for a football game.
December 1, 2001, BYU defeated Mississippi State to move to 12-0. More importantly, BYU was ranked number 12 in the BCS standings and qualified for an at-large invite to a BCS bowl. Selection Sunday wasn’t until December 9—the day after the Cougars played Hawaii. That didn’t stop the BCS executives from publicly telling BYU on December 3 that under no conditions would the Cougars be selected as an at-large participant in a BCS bowl.
Devastated, BYU was not in condition to play football when game day rolled around.
Fast forward back to the present. In December 2011, it is the Houston Cougars whose final game has BCS implications. With one game left, the Heisman Trophy is a concern for the BU (Baylor) quarterback.
As BYU arrives in the islands this week for the game on Saturday, the team has only one worry: the game.
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
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