From: Chris Kelly Subject: FB Pre-Game: USC - Saturday 6:00 p.m. MDT Date: 05 Sep 2003 08:27:05 -0600

CougarFan Insider Newsletter
September 6, 2002

Quick Facts

Team	University of Southern California Trojans
Location	Los Angeles, CA
Day	Saturday, 9/06/2003
Time	6:00 p.m. MDT
TV	ABC Regional (coverage map)
Internet Radio	http://www.ksl.com/radio/listen/listen.php http://www.byuradio.org/streaming/
Records	BYU 1-0, USC 1-0
Last Meeting	First meeting ever
Weather	Sunny : high 82, low 64
Latest Line	USC by 22 points

Game Overview

Overview

BYU finally gets a chance to face the two PAC-10 teams that it has never before played in USC and Stanford this season, and it starts off this new rivalry in exciting fashion, tripping to the L.A. Coliseum to face the #4 team in the nation. This game will say a lot about how far along the young Cougar offense is in its progress. They will have their hands full against one of the most athletic, stingy defenses in the nation. How a young line with two starting freshmen will respond to an outstanding defensive front will likely be the difference in this game.

We should see a little more risk-taking from Bronco Mendenhall's defense this week than we did against Georgia Tech. If the team can get the ball back and win the time of possession battle like it did last week, it's anybody's game. One of the biggest keys to success for the Y is error -free play. The blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown by the Yellow Jackets was a first since 1993, and the 16 penalties last week were the most a Cougar squad has been flagged since 1990. Stat for the day: Gary Crowton is 21-13 against teams he faces for the first time.

USC is excited to play in front of a home crowd after a surprising shutout victory over SEC favorite Auburn. The Trojans have won over 80% of their home openers through the years and are heavy favorites to win tomorrow night's game. They are currently riding a nine-game winning streak and a nine-game home winning streak, both program bests in the last 15 years. USC's offense last week didn't run as quite as smoothly as it did last year under Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer, but it was efficient, the first pass going for a touchdown. However, 17 of Southern Cal's 23 points came after turnovers, so BYU needs to play the field position game and make the Trojans drive the length of the field to score. Of course, much has been made of the fact that Norm Chow is serving as the Trojans' offensive coordinator, and that Steve Sarkisian is the quarterbacks coach. Both have downplayed the significance of this game, but it is still a fun twist.

USC has a stingy defense that is particularly tough to rush against. After being hyped as having one of the top running attacks in the country, Auburn was held to only 43 yards on 36 attempts in last week's game, and never made it past USC's 33 yard line. In fact, USC hasn't given up a rushing touchdown in its last 14 quarters of play. Southern Cal's defensive front had six sacks in last week's game and held the Tigers to 164 yards of total offense. The defense is the biggest reason that the Sagarin ratings have USC ranked as the #1 team in the nation.

Implications

BYU would make one of the biggest statements in the history of the program by walking away with a win. If they're able to pull this one off, it will go down in history alongside such games as 1990 Miami and 1980 SMU.

USC has a little more on the line than BYU. Of course, they're expected to win, and anything less than a controlling victory could hurt them in the voters' eyes.

Player Notes

Players to Watch

BYU

#1, Chad Barney (DB) -- Just like last year, he'll be moving over to fill in for an injured teammate at cornerback. He'll be tested by a talented threesome of receivers. Nate Soelberg, the fastest man in the conference, and Kip Nielsen will also likely see time at corner.

#6, Taufui Vakapuna (RB) -- His speed and power will be essential in bursting through one tough defensive line that limited Auburn to a 1.2 yard per carry average. He and his backfield mate #11 Reynaldo Brathwaite need to be effective running the ball to open up the passing game. By the way, Brathwaite's claim to fame is tying former Trojan great Marcus Allen's high school single-game rushing record.

#20, Daniel Coats (TE) -- The kid started off his college career with a bang by scoring two touchdowns against Georgia Tech and being named the MWC offensive player of the week. His six receptions and 93 receiving yards are both tops in the nation for tight ends.

#33, Aaron Francisco (DB) -- All summer, he's been hyped as the kind of player who will thrive in Bronco Mendenhall's defensive scheme. He was certainly active against the Yellow Jackets, forcing a fumble and recovering two others. His alertness and nose for the ball will be crucial in stopping Southern Cal's offense.

USC

#1, Mike Williams (WR) -- His 81 catches, 14 touchdowns and 1,265 yards in his first season as a Trojan are all freshman NCAA records, and they earned him Freshman All-American and PAC-10 Freshman of the Year honors in 2002. He has tremendous speed and athleticism for a guy who is 6'5" and 230 lbs. He is being mentored by the selfless team captain, sure-handed four-year starter #83 Keary Colbert, who may surpass Kareem Kelly's school record for career receptions this season.

#34, Hershel Dennis (RB) -- A speedy, slashing sophomore, he has earned himself a starting spot at "Tailback U." He was USC's leading rusher last week at Jordan-Hare Stadium. He and the other running backs will be counted on to play smart ball-control offense and ease new QB Matt Leinart into his spot as Carson Palmer's heir.

#84, Shaun Cody (DT) -- After being named a Freshman All-American in 2001, he had an outstanding first half of 2002 before an injury to his right knee cut his season short. Now he's back on the field, ready to wreak havoc on opposing offenses. He's an athletic player with a penchant for big plays who always seems to be around the ball.

#99, Mike Patterson (DT) -- Nicknamed "Baby Sapp," he's the anchor of what may be the nation's finest defensive line. His seven tackles at Auburn earned him PAC-10 player of the week honors last week.

Records to Watch

BYU has built up an unbelievable 351 consecutive games without being shut out. There are those who predict that the NCAA record streak could come to an end against a tough Southern Cal defense that held then-#6 Auburn scoreless last Saturday.

Injury Report

BYU

C.J. Ah You (DE) -- He will see playing time for the first time since injuring his knee against Cal nearly two years ago. He was medically cleared to play last week, but Coach Crowton administered a one-game suspension for last spring's Bret Engemann incident. Naufahu Tahi, who had planned to serve his suspension last week, ended up playing because of Marcus Whalen's injury.

Daniel Coats (TE) -- He's a little sore with a bruised knee and a bruised wrist, but will be ready to go tomorrow night.

Jernaro Gilford (CB) -- He fractured a bone in his left wrist against Georgia Tech, but will play with a soft cast.

Brandon Heaney (CB) -- After waiting for nearly a year for his right shoulder to heal, his left one came out during last week's game. He underwent surgery this week and is out for the season. He will rehab and hope that the NCAA grants him a sixth year of eligibility.

Marcus Whalen (RB) -- He did get to start last week's game after suffering a hairline fracture in his foot last week, but came out after one carry. He'll be out for a couple more weeks.

USC

Darnell Bing (DB) -- He's mostly recovered from a sprained ankle and will play on Saturday night. He set the tone in last week's game by intercepting Auburn's Jason Campbell on the third play of the game.

Brandon Hancock (RB) -- He is doubtful because of an ankle injury.

Alex Holmes (TE) -- He is expected to redshirt this season because of back problems.

Lenny Vandermade (OG) -- Listed as day to day with an ankle injury, but is expected to play.

Statistics

National Rankings

	AP	Coaches	BCS	Result
BYU	-	32	-	-
Georgia Tech	-	-	-	W: 24-13
USC	4	5	-	Sat, Sep 6
New Mexico	39	41	-	Sat, Sep 13
Stanford	-	-	-	Sat, Sep 20
Air Force	35	46	-	Sat, Sep 27
San Diego St.	-	-	-	Sat, Oct 4
Colorado St.	33	52	-	Thu, Oct 9
Wyoming	-	-	-	Sat, Oct 18
UNLV	-	-	-	Sat, Oct 25
Boise State	32	35	-	Thu, Oct 30
Notre Dame	19	16	-	Sat, Nov 15
Utah	-	45	-	Sat, Nov 22

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "CougarFan.com" Subject: FB Pre-Game: New Mexico - Saturday 6:00 p.m. MDT Date: 12 Sep 2003 08:36:27 -0600

CougarFan Insider Newsletter
September 13, 2003

Quick Facts

Team	University of New Mexico Lobos
Location	Albuquerque, NM
Day	Saturday, 9/13/2003
Time	6:00 p.m. MDT
TV	SportsWest (KSL Channel 5 in Utah) LDS Church Satellite System
Internet Radio	http://www.ksl.com/radio/listen/listen.php http://www.byuradio.org/streaming/
Records	BYU 1-1 (0-0), New Mexico 1-1 (0-0)
Last Meeting	2002: New Mexico 20, BYU 16
Weather	Sunny, windy : high 81, low 48
Latest Line	BYU by 2.5 points

Game Overview

Overview

BYU begins all-important conference play on the road in Albuquerque, where a hostile crowd that loves to hate the Cougars had fuel added to their fire when Bronco Mendenhall was lured away to Provo last winter. Matt Berry continues to gain confidence and feel more comfortable at the controls of the offense, and will need all of the poise and field awareness he can muster against a defense that dizzied him last November, holding him to 9-of-26 for 81 yards, two interceptions and no touchdowns. Both offenses will probably run a lot of misdirection plays to draw the aggressive defenses into overpursuit. BYU's USC game was mimicked by New Mexico in Lubbock last week, as they fell behind Texas Tech 21-0 early on, then came back to within a score with 5 minutes to go in the game, and eventually lost 42-28. There are those, including UNM's head coach, who predict this game will be a high-scoring offensive display. If that's the case, the Y's offense can't shoot themselves in the foot with penalties that will back them up against an already tough D.

Last week's performance against the 4th-ranked Men of Troy was a display of stellar defensive effort. Besides a couple of coverage breakdowns and thoughtless penalties at key moments, the D did everything it could to put the team in a position to upset the Trojans. Freshman K.C. Bills' 2nd quarter safety was BYU's first since Byron Frisch got one against the Lobos five years ago. The defense has held both Georgia Tech and USC under 100 yards rushing. If they can accomplish that feat again tomorrow a Cougar victory could be on the way.

New Mexico is looking for back-to-back wins over the Cougars for the first time since 1970-71, when current head coach Rocky Long quarterbacked the Lobos to two wins with a combined score of 65-8. For the better part of the three decades since then, BYU usually didn't have much to worry about from UNM, but Long has transformed his alma mater back into a conference contender that is picked to finish two spots above the Cougars in the MWC this season. The Lobo offense is off to its best start in a decade, having piled up 1,140 yards in the first two contests of the year. Last week quarterback Casey Kelly threw for a career-high 349 yards, but like Matt Berry, threw three interceptions to his one touchdown. He has a capable target in #8 Dwight Counter, a tall, speedy receiver who is 7th on the all-time school receiving list. The offensive line is massive, and is anchored by one of the best tackles in the NCAA, #75 Jason Lenzmeier, who had an incredible 22 knockdown blocks last Saturday and has yet to allow a sack or a committ a penalty this season.

The New Mexico defense has made life difficult for a lot of opponents during the last few years, and they've never had motivation to perform like they do now. They'll want to play their best against their former defensive coordinator, and it will be interesting to see how things shake out as both teams run the same unique defense. The Lobos will disguise the hand signals they use to call defensive plays since Bronco Mendenhall has taken them with him to the Y.

Implications

BYU knows that games against marquee teams are nice, but once conference season starts, nothing else matters. This game will be very important to the offense's psyche. If they can move the ball and score against a team that manhandled them last year, they will feel comfortable for the rest of the season.

New Mexico is looking to play into the MWC title hunt this year, and as always, their game against BYU has been circled in red for a long time. Both of these teams could be in the chase for the championship in November, and the implications of this game are huge.

Player Notes

Players to Watch

BYU

#15, Jason Kukahiko (WR) -- This sure-handed junior has earned himself a lot of playing time by running the right routes and bringing in the ball in heavy coverage.

#37, Jon Burbidge (DB) -- His 80-yard interception return in the first quarter was the Cougars' lone touchdown against New Mexico last year. He had two picks against Georgia Tech, one of which was called back because of a penalty.

#64, Scott Jackson (C) -- As the senior leader on an otherwise very young offensive line, he has set the example and the tone for a talented group that is starting to gel nicely.

#77, Daniel Marquardt (DT) -- He and the rest of the defensive line will have their hands full against a strong New Mexico offensive front. His best game of his freshman year last season came against the Lobos.

New Mexico

#5, D. D. Cox (RB) -- He's a junior who transferred from Oklahoma State after they converted him to a linebacker. When starter Dontrell Moore went down with a bum ankle, he took the opportunity to show his stuff, and ran for 187 yards and three touchdowns against Texas Tech. His 256 all-purpose yards is the 9th-best single-game total in school history. Coach Long says he would deserve plenty of time even if Moore were healthy.

#6, Sidney Wiley (S) -- The returning starter at the "Lobo" position, he has nabbed an interception in each of his two games this year. He was in on five tackles against BYU in Provo last year.

#17, Billy Strother (LB) -- A Butkus Award candidate, he has become a defensive force during his time at UNM. He's a versatile athlete with speed and a nose for the ball. He has a penchant for big plays such as blocking punts, running back fumble recoveries for touchdowns and batting away touchdown passes.

#98, D.J. Renteria (DT) -- He's moved to the interior of the defensive line this year after already showing that he can dominate from the outside. This Lombardi Award candidate is an extremely gifted athlete who had 13 tackles for loss and 4 fumble recoveries last season. His recovery last week against Texas Tech made him the career leader at New Mexico.

Records to Watch

BYU has scored in 352 consecutive games, which is an ongoing NCAA record.

Injury Report

BYU

John Beck (QB) -- He'll miss Saturday's game after sustaining a concussion when he was hit hard while scrambling last Saturday.

Rey Brathwaite (RB) -- He's sore after bruising his sternum at the Coliseum, but will suit up and play.

David Christensen (WR) -- He suffered a separated shoulder last week, and will yield his kick-returning duties to other players.

Justin Jory (TE) -- He didn't make the trip to Albuquerque.

Lance Pendleton (QB/WR/DB) -- While battling mononucleosis last Winter Semester, he postponed completing some classes. There is some question on his eligibility, and he may not suit up on Saturday.

Marcus Whalen (RB) -- His fractured foot will probably hold him out of this game, and possibly next week's tilt vs. Stanford.

New Mexico

Fola Fashola (LB) -- A knee injury has put an end to this starter's season.

Dontrell Moore (RB) -- This Doak Walker Award candidate strained his right hip and sprained his right ankle in the second quarter against Texas Tech. Last season, his 1,134 yards rushing helped him earn the MWC Freshman of the Year Award. He scored two touchdowns in Provo last year. He will probably be eased back into the lineup tomorrow.

Statistics

Team Statistics (National Ranking, Statistic)

	BYU		UNM
Category	Rank	Stat	Rank	Stat
Total Offense (yds/g)	67	360.5	3	570.0
Total Defense (yds/g)	23	274.5	92	418.0
Scoring Offense (pts/g)	83	21.0	4	50.0
Scoring Defense (pts/g)	65	24.0	73	25.0
Rushing Offense (yds/g)	109	66.0	9	267.0
Rushing Defense (yds/g)	25	83.5	8	48.5
Passing Offense (yds/g)	18	294.5	16	303.0
Passing Defense (yds/g)	46	191.0	116	369.5
Passing Defense (efficiency)	54	117.2	68	122.7
Turnover Margin	53	0.0	41	+0.50
Punt Returns (yds/ret)	84	6.0	10	19.0
Kickoff Returns (yds/ret)	69	20.3	110	13.0
Net Punting (yds/punt)	89	32.7	96	31.2

Hypothetical Game
(If the the teams played an exactly average game)

BYU UNM

Score 23 37

Total Offense (yds) 389 422

Rushing Offense (yds) 57 175

Passing Offense (yds) 332 247

Turnovers 3 2

Fan Picks from the Football Challenge

95% of you picked BYU to win this week.
The average score was BYU 29, New Mexico 17.

National Rankings

AP Coaches BCS Result

BYU 47 47 42 -

Georgia Tech - 44 61 W: 24-13

USC 4 4 6 L: 18-35

New Mexico - - 77 Sat., Sep. 13

Stanford 51 - 51 Sat., Sep. 20

Air Force 40 34 31 Sat., Sep. 27

San Diego St. - - 72 Sat., Oct. 4

Colorado St. 34 36 29 Thu., Oct. 9

Wyoming - - 107 Sat., Oct. 18

UNLV - - 89 Sat., Oct. 24

Boise State 37 27 37 Thu., Oct. 30

Notre Dame 15 14 14 Sat., Nov 15

Utah - - 57 Sat., Nov 22

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "CougarFan.com" Subject: FB Pre-Game: Stanford - Saturday 4:30 p.m. MDT Date: 19 Sep 2003 09:27:57 -0600

CougarFan Insider Newsletter
September 20, 2003

Quick Facts

Team	Stanford Cardinal
Location	Provo, UT
Day	Saturday, 9/20/2002
Time	4:30 p.m. MDT
TV	SportsWest (KSL Ch. 5 in Salt Lake City) KRON-TV (Bay Area) LDS Church Satellite System
Internet Radio	http://www.ksl.com/radio/listen/listen.php http://www.byuradio.org/streaming/
Records	BYU 2-1, Stanford 1-0
Last Meeting	First meeting ever
Weather	Sunny : high 80, low 46
Latest Line	BYU by 7.0 points

Game Overview

Overview

BYU will make some sort of history as they start a true freshman at quarterback for only the second time in the past several decades. The other was a 14-3 loss at UTEP in 1997, when Drew Miller's efforts weren't enough, and the offense failed to score a touchdown for the first time in over a decade. Look for tomorrow to yield different results as John Beck is only one of two freshman quarterbacks who will try to lead their teams to victory.

BYU is currently ranked 24th in the nation in total defense, giving up only 287 yards per game, compared to last season's average of 384.7 yards per contest. One thing that has led to this success is the defense's ability to create turnovers. The Cougars hold a +1 turnover margin this season, and have won the games in which they won the turnover battle. Both the offense and defense have shown improved discipline as the season has progressed, but the team is still averaging 11 penalites for 99 yards per game.

Stanford is a program with a proud history but an up-and-down recent past. The Cardinal is picked at the bottom of the PAC-10 this year. After Tyrone Willingham's departure to Notre Dame, head coach Buddy Teevens, who was an assistant to Steve Spurrier at Florida, picked up the reins and has guided his team to a 3-9 record, with two of those wins coming against San Jose State. Besides a 2001 win at San Jose State, Stanford's last non-conference road win was its 1995 victory at Utah. Stanford has two talented tight ends and will often put them on the field at the same time, going without a fullback. The Cardinal may be the youngest team in the nation with 47 freshmen. In fact, their only players born before 1980 are their two Utah products who both served LDS missions. The Stanford defense currently leads the nation in rushing defense, as they only gave up nine yards to SJSU.

Implications

BYU can keep the conference's momentum rolling by getting another win over a BCS conference team. Saturday's game should be a winnable one, and a loss would probably bury any hopes of getting ranked for the rest of the season.

Stanford is trying to right the ship and come back from a tough 2-9 season. A win in Provo would be a huge feather in their cap and would give the team encouragement going into the next two games at Washington and USC.

Player Notes

Players to Watch

BYU

#4, Jernaro Gilford (CB) -- He'll play an important role in shutting down a pass-oriented offense. Two of Stanford's speedy receivers, #80 Sebes and #86 Crochet, are also record-setting sprinters on the track team.

#12, John Beck (QB) -- BYU's coaches and fans seem to have a lot of confidence in a true freshman who has only completed one pass in his college career and has a career pass-efficiency rating of 0.13. That's because they're basing their expectations on what he did in high school and how he's performed on the practice field since returning from his mission. For the Cougars to successfully move the ball tomorrow, Beck will need to be calm and play within the offense he's directing. He also needs good protection, as his two series behind center this year have both ended in injury.

#57, Hanale Vincent (C) -- When BYU's only senior lineman went down last week, Vincent did a good job of filling in. The 6'5", 315 pound junior is physically capable and has been dependable during his time at the Y. He'll be under the spotlight tomorrow against an agressive defensive line and a blitz-oriented scheme that was in San Jose State's backfield all day. He and his fellow blockers will have to be aware that the mobile John Beck could leave the pocket at any time.

Stanford

#5, Trent Edwards (QB) -- He was one of the nation's top prep quarterbacks in the same recruiting class that produced Ben Olson. After redshirting 2002, he was second string until the second quarter of his first game, when he came in to throw for 278 yards. In high school, he led his team to a 26-0 record during his junior and senior seasons while setting a California state record with a completion percentage of .781.

#6, Luke Powell (WR) -- Though diminuitive in size, he can put up big numbers. In Stanford's season opener against San Jose State, the 5'8" receiver snagged 12 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns, and is now perched atop the NCAA in receiving yards per game. He is also one of the school's all-time best punt returners.

#17, Jared Newbery (LB) -- Originally a walk-on inside linebacker, he moved to fullback as a sophomore, carrying the ball twice for 29 yards and a touchdown. Apparently that wasn't a very impressive average, so he was moved back to defense, where he has settled in as a starter at outside linebacker. In the first game of this, his junior season, he had a fumble recovery that led to a touchdown. He also broke up two passes and was in on three tackles.

#67, Kirk Chambers (OT) -- A returned missionary given the nickname "Grandpa" because he's the team's oldest and only married player, he returns to his hometown to play the team that he almost joined out of high school. He has started in every game of his college career with the Cardinal and was named First-Team Academic All-PAC-10 as a junior. The 6'7", 315 pound left tackle is the only returning starter from last year's offensive line.

Records to Watch

BYU has scored in 353 consecutive games, which is an ongoing NCAA record.

Injury Report

BYU

Matt Berry (QB) -- A broken bone in his throwing hand will keep him on the sidelines for about a month.

Manaia Brown (DT) -- His injured shoulder continues to bother him, and he is listed as questionable for tomorrow's game.

Scott Jackson (C) -- After tweaking his MCL against New Mexico last week, his prognosis has improved, and he may see playing time against Stanford. If not, count on him being ready for the Air Force game.

Justin Jory (TE) -- He's still limping a little from an ankle sprain and will probably sit out one more week.

Taufui Vakapuna (RB) -- He probably won't play after injuring his right knee last week.

Marcus Whalen (RB) -- He's expected to play for the first time since the opening play of the Georgia Tech game.

Stanford

None to report.

Statistics

Team Statistics (National Ranking, Statistic)
** Stanford Statistics are for only one game

	BYU		Stanford
Category	Rank	Stat	Rank	Stat
Total Offense (yds/g)	82	343.0	21	457.0
Total Defense (yds/g)	24	287.0	19	270.0
Scoring Offense (pts/g)	95	17.3	32	31.0
Scoring Defense (pts/g)	41	18.3	11	10.0
Rushing Offense (yds/g)	101	89.3	53	164.0
Rushing Defense (yds/g)	34	112.7	1	9.0
Passing Offense (yds/g)	39	253.7	20	293.0
Passing Defense (yds/g)	27	174.3	92	261.0
Passing Defense (efficiency)	42	110.8	4	71.5
Turnover Margin	47	+0.33	88	-1.00
Punt Returns (yds/ret)	86	6.4	114	2.0
Kickoff Returns (yds/ret)	45	23.1	8	31.0
Net Punting (yds/punt)	48	36.8	32	38.3

Hypothetical Game
(If the the teams played an exactly average game)
** Stanford Statistics are for only one game

BYU Stan.

Score 14 25

Total Offense (yds) 307 372

Rushing Offense (yds) 49 138

Passing Offense (yds) 257 234

Turnovers 2 3

Fan Picks from the Football Challenge

93% of you picked BYU to win this week.
The average score was BYU 29, Stanford 16.

National Rankings

AP Coaches BCS Result

BYU - 42 - -

Georgia Tech - 47 - W: 24-13

USC 4 3 6 L: 18-35

New Mexico - - - W: 10-7

Stanford - - - Sat., Sep. 20

Air Force 40 31 31 Sat., Sep. 27

San Diego St. - - - Sat., Oct. 4

Colorado St. 39 36 40 Thu., Oct. 9

Wyoming - - - Sat., Oct. 18

UNLV 47 50 43 Sat., Oct. 24

Boise State 37 28 32 Thu., Oct. 30

Notre Dame 26 23 14 Sat., Nov 15

Utah - 49 - Sat., Nov 22

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "CougarFan.com" Subject: FB Pre-Game: Air Force - Saturday 1:00 p.m. MDT Date: 27 Sep 2003 09:58:45 -0600

<= /font>

<= /font>

CougarFan Ins= ider Newsletter
September 27, 2003

<= font color=3D"#FFFFFF">Quick Facts

Team	Air Force Academy Falcons
Location	Provo, UT
Day	Saturday, 9/27/2002
Time	1:00 p.m. MDT
TV	ESPN+Plus (KJZZ in Utah) ESPN GamePlan
Internet Radio	http://www.ksl.com/radio/listen/listen.php http://www.byuradio.org/streaming/
Records	BYU 2-2 (1-0), Air Force 4-0 (1-0)
Last Meeting	2002: Air Force 52, BYU 9
Weather	Sunny : high 84, low 47
Latest Line	BYU by 1.0 points

Game Overview

Overview

BYU is hurting after a loss to a team that it s= hould have beaten. Fans and columnists alike have questioned the coaches=92 hea= ds and the players=92 hearts throughout the week. Over the past two weeks, t= he offense has lost several key players to injury and has only put 24 points on the scoreboard. Although it seems illogical, this may be the perfect time to welcome an undefeated rival that took the Cougs behind the woodsh= ed last year. The players=92 desire for revenge, balanced by a healthy dose of respect for their opponent, could be the perfect combination to jolt the team out of its current funk. BYU is dangerous after being beaten in the previous meeting, going 17-1 in =93payback=94 games during the last f= ive years.

The BYU defense is working hard to change the percepti= on that only offense is played in Provo. After intercepting Stanford=92s qua= rterback twice and holding him to only 25 yards on 23 attempts last week, the revi= talized Cougars will have to shift gears as they face the nation=92s number one r= ushing attack. The 2002 game in Colorado Springs was the last time that BYU=92s defense was unable to force a turnover, and coupled with five turnovers by the offense, the result was the most points scored against the Y all season. The defense will need to be as opportunistic as possible, as the turnover battle has determined the outcome of each game this year. One other statistic of note is that the Cougars have lost six of the last sev= en games in which they have allowed an opposing back to rush for over 100 yards.

Air Force is the only undefeated team in the co= nference, and is off to a 4-0 start for the second year in a row, a first under hea= d coach Fisher DeBerry. One thing that has helped the Falcons is that they have consistently won the field position battle, in part due to the fact that they=92re third in the nation for net punting. They have also blocke= d two punts and snagged eight interceptions this season. In Colorado Spring= s last year, the Air Force offense set marks for 2002 BYU opponent highs in several categories: 88 offensive plays, 79 rushes, 386 rushing yards, 7 rushing touchdowns, and 52 points. BYU also threw a season-high four interceptions. Although conventional wisdom would say that the Falco= ns won=92t be a threat through the air against a strong pass defense, the Ca= dets could break open some big pass plays if BYU=92s defense is lulled to slee= p by run after run.

Air Force holds an all-time record of 5-18 against BYU= , with four of those wins coming in the last six meetings between the teams= . However, three of those have come at Falcon Stadium, and the other in Las Vegas in the 1998 WAC Championship. The Falcons have only managed one win in Provo, a memorable 39-38 comeback victory that required a 99-yard driv= e and a two-point conversion in the last minute of the first game played in the expanded Cougar Stadium. If they are to break the Utah Valley jinx this year, their defense will have to do their part as well. The 3-3-5 defense they installed last season has given them good results so far. Last year, because of five sacks, the Zoomies held BYU to -21 yards rushi= ng, and they will hope to again shut down a Cougar rushing attack that seems to have gone downhill since the season started.

Implications<= /font>

BYU understands that after this game, one team will sit alone at the top of the conference standings, while the other will move back to the middle of the pack. A win over a 4-0 team is just what the doctor ordered for a squad that could be beginning to doubt itse= lf, whereas a fall below .500 this far into the season would bring on some ugly memories of last year=92s lackluster season.

Air Force can streak out to a 5-0 start and tak= e a firm grasp on first place in the conference by winning this game. A win in Provo would be motivation to the team and make them feel that they can win anywhere.

Player Notes

Players to Watch

BYU

#80, Toby Christensen (WR) =96 His sure hands an= d knowledge of the offense are crucial as he is surrounded by young offensi= ve players. If the quarterback can get the ball to him, he=92ll do his part.

#46, Colby Bockwoldt (LB) =96 As is always the case, s= topping the Air Force attack will be a function of how well the linebackers play.= Even without Paul Walkenhorst, this year=92s group has been exceptional, and Bockwoldt has done his part. The speedy senior leads the team in tack= les-for-loss, sacks, and quarterback hurries; is second in tackles; and has a fumble recovery to his credit.

#49, Brady Poppinga (DE) =96 After mixing it up with C= hance Harridge last year, he=92ll want to show that he can put the hurt on the opposing team during live play. As one of the team leaders for the Cougar= s, he needs to stay calm and contain on the line of scrimmage.

Air Force

#7, Nate Allen (CB) =96 He=92s an athletic junior with= a penchant for big plays. He was named the MWC=92s defensive player of the wee= k after grabbing a crucial interception at Northwestern that brought the Falcons back to life.

#11, Chance Harridge (QB) =96 In his first season as a= starter last year, he led the conference and ranked seventh nationally in scoring= . He also set an NCAA single-season record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (22). He hasn=92t slowed down as a senior, and won MW= C offensive player of the week honors for lifting his team past Wyoming las= t week. He scored four touchdowns against BYU last year. His one draw= back is his temper, which got him into a scuffle with a Northwestern coach a few weeks ago.

#15, Darnell Stephens (RB) =96 At 6=922=94, 200 lbs., = he=92s big for a slashing runner, and his size helped him average a team-best 6.8 yards per carry last season. Stephens is just one of a talented stable of halfbacks at the Academy.

Records to Watch

BYU has scored i= n 354 consecutive games, which is an ongoing NCAA record.

Injury Report

BYU

Matt Berry (QB) =96 He=92ll continue to watch from the= sidelines as his throwing hand heals.

Manaia Brown (DT) -- His injured shoulder continues to bother him, and he is listed as questionable for today's game.

David Christensen (WR) =96 His shoulder has shown impr= ovement, and he should play against Air Force.

Lawrence Cowan (LB) =96 This freshman is showing a lot= of promise, but was sidelined indefinitely when he dislocated his elbow agai= nst the Cardinal last week.

Jernaro Gilford (CB) =96 He=92s listed as questionable= because of the hand he broke a few weeks ago.

Scott Jackson (C) =96 He will be back on the field to = lead the young offensive line into battle against a team that dominated the trenches in last year=92s contest.

Justin Jory (TE) -- He's still limping a little from a= n ankle sprain and will probably sit out one more week.

Jason Kukahiko (WR) =96 He=92s still a little gimpy wi= th an ankle injury and is listed as questionable.

Nate Soelberg (DB) =96 He=92ll sit out after sustainin= g a concussion against Stanford last week.

Marcus Whalen (RB) =96 His foot still isn=92t 100%, bu= t he expects to tough it out and be back on the field 100% this week.

Air Force

Grant Mallory (DB) =96 Questionable with a hamstring i= njury.

Steve Massie (FB) =96 Probable (shoulder).

John Rudzinski (LB) =96 Questionable with an ankle inj= ury.

Statistics

Team Statistics (Nationa= l Ranking, Statistic)

	BYU<= /center>	Air Force
Category	Rank	Stat	Rank	Stat
Total Offense (yds/g)	83	333.5	17	453.8
Total Defense (yds/g)	12	265.3	53	343.3
Scoring Offense (pts/g)	98	16.5	25	35.0
Scoring Defense (pts/g)	40	18.3	39	17.8
Rushing Offense (yds/g)	116	65.8	1	338.0
Rushing Defense (yds/g)	46	120.5	36	109.8
Passing Offense (yds/g)	30	267.8	113	115.8
Passing Defense (yds/g)	11	144.8	78	233.5
Passing Defense (efficiency)	17	144.8	78	233.5
Turnover Margin	82	-0.50	46	+0.25
Punt Returns (yds/ret)	86	7.2	34	12.0
Kickoff Returns (yds/ret)	76	19.7	95	18.0
Net Punting (yds/punt)	37	37.3	3	44.1

Hypothetical Game
(If the the teams played an exactly average game)

BYU AFA

Score 17 27

Total Offense (yds) 307 372

Rushing Offense (yds) 49 138

Passing Offense (yds) 257 234

Turnovers 2 3

Fan Picks from the Football Challenge

86% of you picked BYU to win this week.
The average score was BYU 29, Air Force 21.

National Rankings

AP Coaches BCS Result

BYU 45 40 43 -

Georgia Tech - - - W: 24-13

USC 3 3 5 L: 18-35

New Mexico - - - W: 10-7

Stanford - 48 - L: 14-18

Air Force 38 28 24 Sat., Sep. 27

San Diego St. - - - Sat., Oct. 4

Colorado St. - - - Thu., Oct. 9

Wyoming - - - Sat., Oct. 18

UNLV 42 40 39 Sat., Oct. 24

Boise State - 40 - Thu., Oct. 30

Notre Dame - - - Sat., Nov 15

Utah - 44 - Sat., Nov 22

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