Las Vegas Bowl...Deseret News Article ...Thursday Morning

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Information if you want to read it.

LAS VEGAS ? Tonight's Las Vegas Bowl pits two teams ? BYU and Oregon ? desperate for a bowl victory.
While the Ducks haven't won a bowl in five years, the Cougars' postseason drought is even longer ? stretching back a decade.
"We're both kind of in the same predicament, with neither team being able to win a bowl game in a long time," said Oregon defensive back J.D. Nelson. "There's going to be a lot of passion on the field, especially among the seniors. It's definitely going to be an interesting matchup with a lot of emotions."
The last time the Cougars tasted bowl success was in the Cotton Bowl after the 1996 campaign. Senior quarterback John Beck wants to finish BYU's Mountain West Conference-championship season the right way.
"We want to win because as a senior class we have yet to win a bowl game," said BYU quarterback John Beck. "It's been 10 years since we last won a bowl, so it would be very important for our program and for the school to win. This is our last game as seniors, the last time to be able put on our 'Y' helmet. I can't think of a better way go out than to play a great game."
BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall is well aware of his program's lack of success in the postseason. The Cougars are 7-16-1 all-time in bowl games. He also knows that his team will be in the national spotlight tonight (the game is being televised on ESPN), and beating a Pac-10 foe in a bowl game would be a major accomplishment.
"We are excited to play the University of Oregon," he said. "We are also excited to be on a national stage, in a full stadium, against a great opponent. It's a well-respected program with national presence."
The Cougars are banking on their appearance in last year's Las Vegas Bowl to aid them. Linebacker Cameron Jensen said the 35-28 loss to California 12 months ago has motivated his team.
"We ended the season on a losing note. We took that through the summer," he said. "We wanted to be back here at this game and come back and win. One of our goals is to go to a bowl game and win it. We didn't achieve that last year. It's been a motivating factor throughout the whole year."
Oregon coach Mike Bellotti knows a bowl victory can cover up a multitude of regular-season losses. His team enters the game on a three-game losing streak, having lost four of its last six games.
"We've come to win the football game and put a positive spin on this season," he said. "The hunger of both teams in terms of wanting to win a bowl game is very evident and should be very exciting to the fans."
Bellotti is expecting a shootout at Sam Boyd Stadium.
"I think it's going to be an offensive game," he said. "I'd love to say it will be a defensive game because I think that would be to our benefit and our advantage because we run the ball the best of the two teams. But BYU is a different breed. They throw the ball for a living. That is what they do. A lot of their passes are glorified runs. I see this as two really, really good offenses against two defenses that have played well this year but will be tested."
Lost in the glitz and glamour of the two high-scoring offenses, however, is the reality that the outcome could hinge on execution and fundamentals.
"There are two great offenses, and two very good defenses," Bellotti said. "But as we always forget in these types of situations, special teams and possession of the football will determine the game. Our goal in this game is to not give the football away."
The Cougars want to do what they've done in their last 11 games ? get on the scoreboard first.
"Last year in the bowl game, offensively we got off to a slow start and that's something we've tried to work on all year long, to start fast," Beck said. "In a number of our games, we've been able to get points on our first drive. Going into this game, we want to come out strong."
Can the Cougars finish strong? They are one win away from completing one of the best seasons in school history.
"Winning the bowl game is a big deal because a lot of good (BYU) teams have done well through the season, and then lost their bowl," said senior tight end Daniel Coats. "The '01 team went undefeated (through its first 12 games), then lost their bowl. We want to win ours."

Just now getting around to looking at the game...pick to come later.

 

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Another Interesting Article

Another Interesting Article

maybe there was a reason they put the pressure on the offensive coordinator of Oregon to leave.............


By Jeff Call
Deseret Morning News
LAS VEGAS ? No matter what happens here tonight when BYU and Oregon meet in the Las Vegas Bowl, it will probably always be remembered for the intriguing subplot of this matchup.
Keith Johnson, Deseret Morning NewsBYU football fans celebrate the team's invitation to the Las Vegas Bowl after the Cougars clinched the Mountain West title by beating New Mexico.
More photos
It pits the Cougars against their former coach, Gary Crowton, who is now the Ducks' offensive coordinator.
Both Crowton and BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall, whom Crowton hired as the Cougars' defensive coordinator in 2003, have tried to downplay this angle. After the 2004 campaign, Mendenhall replaced Crowton, who resigned under pressure after three consecutive losing seasons.
"This is about our players and our programs," Mendenhall said. "It would be best for everyone if that focus would be respected. This is about the teams, not about us."
"It's unique to play a team you've coached," Crowton said. "I'm excited for (BYU) and what they've accomplished this season. I'm happy for them. I like this team I have now. It's been a good experience here ? I have a lot of feelings about this, but I just want to focus on this game. It's kind of ironic that we're both at the same spot on bowl day. I think it will be an exciting game."
The Crowton Factor aside, here are four additional intriguing subplots and story lines in tonight's contest.
STREAKS: BYU (10-2) enters the Las Vegas Bowl on a nine-game winning streak while Oregon (7-5) owns a three-game losing streak.

EMOTIONAL ENDINGS: The Cougars are coming off the high of winning a dramatic game against its arch-rival, Utah, on a touchdown pass with no time remaining on the clock. The Ducks are coming off the devastation of losing a dramatic game against its arch-rival, Oregon State, as their potential game-winning field goal was blocked with 20 seconds remaining.
Will such emotional conclusions to the regular season affect either program? Mendenhall isn't anticipating any sort of letdown from his players.


August Miller, Deseret Morning NewsBYU's Jonny Harline celebrates his touchdown catch on the final play of the game against Utah on Nov. 25. Harline's TD gave the Cougars a 33-31 win over the Utes.
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"This team, if you've watched closely from the last game against Cal was over last year and watched the way they've performed to this point, I'm not sure there's anything they've done that was a letdown," he said. "So I wouldn't expect it now."
BOWL-WIN DROUGHT: BYU hasn't won a bowl game in a decade, since the Cougars defeated Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl during the 1996 season.
"For us, it's been 10 years since we've won a bowl game," said quarterback John Beck. "That's the chip we have on our shoulders. We set goals this year to be conference champs, and we accomplished that, and to beat Utah, and we've done that. There's one more thing left ? to win a bowl game."
"There's a different confidence (than last year). Rather than being grateful to be here, we intend to move the program forward," Mendenhall said. "BYU has a rich tradition of playing postseason. This is the 25th bowl appearance. What I'd like to do is carve out our niche and our mark in terms of winning those games and maybe gaining some respect on a national level."

AROUND THE CORNER: Can BYU's cornerbacks cover Oregon's tall, athletic receivers?
The Ducks boast a stable of talented wideouts, led by Jaison Williams, a 6-foot-5, 243-pound sophomore who hauled in 68 passes for 984 yards and six touchdowns this season. Williams was named a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist.
"They're really big guys. They're athletic," said BYU cornerback Justin Robinson, who is listed at 5-foot-7, 154 pounds in the 2006 BYU media guide. "They're all about the same size and they're all very talented."
Robinson compared Oregon's receivers to former New Mexico receiver Hank Baskett, who is now playing in the National Football League.
Adding to the Cougars' tall task is the possibility that they'll be without starter Ben Criddle and backup Kayle Buchanan, who are both battling injuries. Still, Robinson said he's confident that the coaching staff will have the secondary ready for the Ducks.


August Miller, Deseret Morning NewsJohn Beck looks for a receiver against San Diego State in October. The senior QB was named MWC offensive player of the year.
More photos
"We'll lose Ben's experience if he can't play, but I still think we'll be prepared."

 

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another article

another article

In passing, these Cougars are confident

By Dick Harmon
Deseret Morning News

LAS VEGAS ? Can BYU's receivers execute against Oregon's tough secondary?
It's an intriguing matchup in tonight's Las Vegas Bowl in Sam Boyd Stadium, and there are plenty of "inner battles" to choose from. Another might be the play-calling abilities of Oregon's veteran offensive coordinator Gary Crowton versus BYU's learn-on-the-fly Robert Anae.
The game should be an offensive battle. Both the Ducks and Cougars can assault scoreboard bulbs. Will BYU remember to cover the fake punt?
Michael Brandy, Deseret Morning NewsZac Collie, left, and the Cougar receivers will be tested by Oregon's pass defense, No. 1 in the Pac-10. Oregon's pass defense ranks No. 1 in the Pac-10. The Cougars have proven over a 12-game season that they can drive and score on anybody. Well, Arizona might be the exception. Check that, Matt Allen's game-winning TD catch in Tucson was nullified by a debatable call.
Oregon's used to that. Ask Oklahoma.
Anyway ...
It may not mean anything at all, but BYU's receivers have appeared very confident this week. They aren't cocky. They're saying all the right things. They respect their opponents, see them as big as Nike. But, in the same breath, they tend to believe their own game will ultimately be imposed upon the Ducks.
We shall see.
Head coach Bronco Mendenhall threw a bone to Oregon's secondary coach this week.
"They're very well-coached," Mendenhall said. "In fact, their secondary coach coached me at Oregon State. John Neal does a fantastic job. He gets his young men to play hard and the scheme is good."
Neal played safety at BYU on the 1980 Holiday Bowl team that defeated SMU with Kyle Whittingham as team captain.
Cougar senior Zac Collie said the Ducks will hit them with different coverages, switching and changing things up.
"We need to go out and recognize the coverages and keys and play our game and run the routes," Collie said. "We are very confident in our game plan and confident in ourselves. This is our 13th game. It's a bowl game but it's also just another game."
John Beck believes Oregon won't do anything they haven't seen this season. Oregon might pressure him early, sending five or six guys and increase that as the game goes on if it doesn't work.
"We'll just make the adjustments with our blocking schemes," he said.
Beck said that's how TCU, New Mexico and Utah played the Cougars. "We're prepared both ways."
If Oregon tries to man up and play Cougar receivers tight, Beck said it is on him to put the ball low and away and only where his guys can catch it.
"It's like the TCU game," he said. "They played us tight and we just have to make the plays."
Beck called BYU's pass routes "pretty concrete," and the Cougars have to counter by "executing what needs to be done."
Senior running back Curtis Brown said there is nothing about Oregon's defense that concerns him.
"I know they are a good team," Brown said. "They have been consistent in getting to bowl games. But I can't really go off that; it's up to us and what we do. Our offense is different than any other in the nation. We aren't like other teams. Our consistency is important. We emphasize things others don't. I see this as totally on us; not what they do."
Brown said BYU's losses at Boston College and Arizona ? both BCS schools ? were due to untimely mistakes on BYU's part, basically breakdowns on two or three plays involving special teams.
Receivers coach Patrick Higgins said BYU is facing a very talented, quick, physical defense.
"We need to stick to what we do best, throw the ball on time and run good routes," he said. "They are a very good Pac-10 team. They resemble Arizona in talent."
Oregon might try and man up, bump and run with the Cougars off the line. Some of the bumping goes on down the field as defenders try to disrupt BYU's timing routes.
"People have done some of that all year against us," Higgins said. "They play some press man but basically they are a 4-2-5 defense and they will drop down into coverage at times."
Higgins said defenses in college make contact (sometimes hold) receivers downfield.
"It's not like the NFL with the 5-yard rule," he said. "They can hit you all the way down the field in college, and do it until the ball is thrown. So, we have to do a good job of using our hands, getting off the line and catching the ball."
Tonight is Cougar freshman McKay Jacobson's final game for two years. He'll leave for a mission to Japan next month.
Even Jacobson believes this game is on BYU to execute.
"Oregon is a very athletic team. They have some great athletes," Jacobson said. "It will be a fun game and matchup. If we run our good, crisp routes and make plays out there, I like our chances to score points."
Like talking to clones.

 

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BYU Game Day Article

BYU Game Day Article

BYU game day

By Jeff Call
Deseret Morning News
LAS VEGAS BOWL
No. 19 BYU (10-2, 8-0) vs. OREGON (7-5, 4-5)
Today, 6 p.m.
Sam Boyd Stadium
TV: ESPN Radio: 1160AM, 102.7FM
Last game: BYU won at Utah, 33-31; Oregon lost at Oregon State, 30-28.

Last meeting: Oregon won, 32-16, on Sept. 29, 1990, in Eugene, Ore.

BYU trends to watch: The Cougars have won nine consecutive games. Defensively, they've given up a lot of yardage to their last two opponents, New Mexico and Utah. Offensively, the Cougars have scored first in every game this season except in their season-opening loss to Arizona.

Oregon trends to watch: The Ducks have lost three straight contests and four of their last six. Oregon has had trouble with turnovers, particularly late in the season, prompting coaches to bench quarterback Dennis Dixon in place of Brady Leaf for the season-finale against Oregon State.

BYU players to watch: The Cougars' playmakers, quarterback John Beck, running back Curtis Brown and tight end Jonny Harline, need to lead the offense to the end zone early and often. On defense, there will be pressure on cornerbacks Justin Robinson and Cole Miyahira to make plays against Oregon's athletic receivers.

Oregon players to watch: Running backs Jonathan Stewart and Jeremiah Johnson comprise a powerful one-two punch for the Duck offense. Combined, they've rushed for more than 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns. In last year's Las Vegas Bowl, BYU yielded 241 yards on the ground to Cal.

BYU will win if ... it takes charge of the game early with some first-half touchdowns and can keep the Ducks from consistently making big plays on offense.

OREGON WILL WIN IF ... it doesn't turn the ball over and prevents the Cougar offense from scoring more than 30 points.

 

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Interesting Article...especially who has been taking most of oregon snaps in practice

Interesting Article...especially who has been taking most of oregon snaps in practice

Last practice for BYU seniors

By Dick Harmon
Deseret Morning News
LAS VEGAS ? A ton of BYU seniors walked off the practice field for the last time in a Cougar uniform on Tuesday as they put in final preparations for facing Oregon in the Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl scheduled for Thursday in Sam Boyd Stadium.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Morning NewsBYU quarterback John Beck gets under center Sete Aulai during practice Tuesday in Las Vegas for Thursday's bowl game. Most of those seniors were sentimental about the timing, this last chance, and their college careers that will end come Thursday night. They've had seasons of ups and downs at BYU; they've ridden atop the camel and been trampled under hooves.
"This is my last practice. It's a weird feeling because I've been doing this for a long time at BYU," quarterback John Beck said.
More than anything, Beck said he wants to get a bowl trophy, take it back to Provo and plop it on the desk of the football secretary, Shirley Johnson. "It's been 10 years," he said.
And that's long enough.
Receiver Zac Collie will see his final action as a Cougar. On Friday, he's got a tee time at Painted Desert Golf Club here in Las Vegas. Playing in a bowl game, earning a conference championship, being ranked has set Collie up for one more opportunity to go out on a high note against Oregon.
"It's icing on the cake for us seniors," Collie said. "We've had our ups and downs, but we know early on we have had a special team. I remember thinking before the season began that we could go 13-0, easy. I really believed that going into this season. We had the opener at Arizona and lost at Boston College, but I think we should have won those games.
"To go 10-2 and have an opportunity to go 11-2 is something great and something special and something I will remember for the rest of my life. It's been a pleasure to play with these guys. Looking around, this is my final practice as a Cougar and it's a good one."
Over in the Oregon camp at UNLV's practice facility, Duck coach Mike Bellotti hinted on Monday he might name a starting quarterback on Tuesday. He did not. Brady Leaf has been taking most of the snaps in practices. Dennis Dixon was the Duck starter for the first 11 games. "It will be a game-time decision," said the coach. Most Oregon watchers believe both quarterbacks will play.
"We have to prepare for both," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "I'm not sure which one they'll play, but we'll adjust as the game goes on."
Mendenhall loves his seniors. He's said his captains, Beck and Cameron Jensen are the glue that led to his team's championship, a huge step in his rebuilding effort.
The BYU coach sees John Beck's progress as a mirror of BYU's football program, culminating in an undefeated league championship. As for Jensen, a key player on the side of the ball Mendenhall is more familiar with, he's never had a better player to lean upon.
"He's the best leader I've ever coached. He makes things go. He's the inspirational leader and we wouldn't be in the top 20 in scoring defense unless he was playing."
How big would a win over Oregon be in his process to return BYU to a Top 25 program year in and out?
"It's the next step," Mendenhall said. "There's been a lot of things where people have said, 'If you just do this, then you'll be back. If you just do this, then you'll be back.' This is just the next one. There will be others next year and others the year after that. Consistency is the key."
Of his final practice in preparation for Oregon, Mendenhall was asked what his biggest concern was.
"I don't have any," he said. "I trust this team. I trust their preparation. It's always been just about us." I'm at peace with our preparation. We'll play the game and whoever executes best will win the game."