Columnist Dean Juipe: Schedule deflates BYU, coach

Dean Juipe

Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2000 | 10:26 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or 259-4084.

In coaching vernacular, Brigham Young "overscheduled" this season.

That's what UNLV head coach John Robinson said of the Cougars on his weekly TV show and those with a knack of deciphering lingo knew just what he meant.

It isn't that BYU scheduled too many football games, it's that it overtaxed itself in arranging its nonconference slate.

It loaded up with the kind of high-quality opponents that can make the early portion of a schedule almost unbearable.

As a result, this nationally renowned program and its respected coach is 1-3 as it awaits UNLV Saturday in Provo.

If by some chance the Cougars lose to the Rebels, which isn't probable although it could happen, that daunting schedule will likely be seen as a contributing factor. In fact, anything that goes wrong this season at BYU will be laid at the feet of the school's athletic administration and its insistence that head coach LaVell Edwards' 29th and final season be one to remember.

Among the nation's 115 Division I teams, BYU has only the 57th toughest schedule (based on its opponents' 1999 records). If that seems reasonably soft, it's a reflection of the fairly weak state of the Mountain West Conference.

The truth is, BYU did what many fans love to see and what those in the media constantly call for: It lined up a series of games against every available big-time rival it could find.

The trouble is, it had almost no chance of winning them all.

It lost to Florida State (29-3), beat Virginia in two overtimes (38-35), lost a league game to Air Force (31-23) and lost to Mississippi State (44-28). From here the schedule gets easier and includes nonconference games with downtrodden Utah State and reeling Syracuse, yet, perhaps, the damage is done. BYU is not apt to find its way into the top-25 poll and Edwards' career record of 252-98-3 has already suffered.

He didn't like his team's schedule when it came out, so it's not that Edwards is having second thoughts about it. But that's a coach for you, placing victories and self-preservation above entertaining and intriguing matchups.

It's your basic double-edged sword: Do you play an appealing schedule, stimulate the fans and risk an extra loss or two, or do you cut yourself some slack and worry about attendance and public perception later? (UNLV basketball coach Bill Bayno has a yearly wrestling match with this very subject.)

BYU chose to go tough and is traveling an ungodly 10,874 miles to meet its commitments. While Edwards will have accrued some serious frequent-flier miles, he's more apt to be ready for his pipe and slippers when the trek is over.

But if he's looking for consolation, he needs to be reminded of that 57th spot in the strength-of-schedule rankings and feel for those teams and coaches who will face nothing but meanies. Colorado, for instance, has the most difficult schedule in the country this season and is already 0-3.

Conversely, UCLA -- which is No. 2 in strength of schedule -- has capitalized and is 3-0 and moving up in the polls. The Bruins are doing what BYU crossed its fingers and hoped to do as its schedule was compiled.

Yeah, the Cougars "overscheduled" but it's good for them and they'll get no sympathy. Don't these things build character?