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| Winning bowl games had a way of getting LaVell Edwards to crack a smile (Tim Sharp, Associated Press) |
The BYU Cougars haven't had the best results in bowl games (all-time record is 14-20-1), but there have been times when BYU has beaten a bowl opponent that was on the verge of greatness.
Did you know that four schools have finished ranked in the Associated Press Top 10 the year after losing to BYU in a bowl game?Those four schools are:
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| Lenny Ignelzi, Associated Press |
BYU got its first bowl win ever against the Mustangs in the 1980 Holiday Bowl. Clay Brown (right) caught Jim McMahon's hail Mary with no time left on the clock to cap an improbable comeback from 20-points down with 3:58 to play. The Pony Express was just getting warmed up. The loss didn't disrupt the momentum SMU had built that year. In 1981, SMU finished with a 10-1 record and ranked number five.
The Cougars took down the Wolverines in the Holiday Bowl to complete the 1984 National Championship run. BYU wasn't the first number one ranked team Michigan had played that season. The Wolverines beat up Miami in September when the Hurricanes occupied the top spot, but that was with Jim Harbuagh at quarterback. He was injured for the year shortly after that game. With Harbaugh back in 1985, Michigan nearly won the national championship. With a 10-1-1 record, AP voters put Michigan in the runner up spot--number two.
The Freedom Bowl in 1988 marked the beginning of the Ty Detmer Era for BYU. It just so happened to coincide with the CU Buffalos beginning the most successful era of football in school history. Two years later when Detmer won the Heisman, Colorado won the AP national championship. The year before that (1989), which was also the year after the Freedom Bowl, Colorado had an 11-1 record and number four ranking in the AP poll.
BYU beat Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl after the 1996 season. Thanks to key plays made by several Cougars, including Tim McTyer (left), BYU made a dramatic comeback. As tough as the loss was for the Wildcats, it didn't hurt the health of the program. Kansas State rebounded to go 11-1 and win a BCS bowl in 1997. That earned them the number eight spot in the final AP poll.
It is very tempting to change the four to five and add an asterisks for the 2007 Oregon team that was 8-1 and ranked number two when quarterback Dennis Dixon went down with injury (the Ducks finished 9-4 and ranked 23). Led by John Beck, Jonny Harline, and Curtis Brown, BYU beat Oregon in the 2006 Las Vegas Bowl to finish that memorable season.
BYU bowl opponents that have gone on to top 10 seasons after beating the Cougars in a bowl game are: Ohio State (#9 in 1983 and #7 in 1986) and UCLA (#9 in 1987).
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
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