Special section: BYU back for another high-flying season

Tim Korte

Thursday, Aug. 29, 2002 | 8:34 a.m.

PROVO, Utah -- Some debut for Gary Crowton as BYU's new coach, huh?

He installed an offense that led the nation with an average of 46.7 points a game. He opened with 12 victories, won the Mountain West championship, made a run at the Fiesta Bowl and took the Cougars as high as No. 8 in the AP poll.

Crowton even seemed to make a respectful bow to his predecessor, the beloved LaVell Edwards, as he reinvigorated fans by rekindling memories of BYU's quick-striking, high-scoring past.

So now what?

"I hope to be ever-changing, ever-growing," Crowton said with a smile.

In other words, BYU fans won't be surprised if Crowton can work his magic again.

The Cougars finished 12-2 after an embarrassing blowout loss at Hawaii and a Liberty Bowl defeat to Louisville, but there's little doubt that Crowton touched something special for BYU players and fans.

After just one season, Crowton's legions believe in him.

"I think this year will be a lot like last year because coach Crowton is a great coach," receiver Reno Mahe said. "He knows how to mold a team, and I know he'll take us to another winning season."

At first glance, the task is daunting. BYU must replace Doak Walker Award winner Luke Staley and patch up a defense that gave up gobs of yardage last fall but usually delivered when needed.

The Cougars open tonight against Syracuse, and they've also got a road trip to Georgia Tech (Sept. 21). They're on the road for matchups with Mountain West favorites Colorado State (Oct. 24) and Utah (Nov. 23).

Then again, nobody thought Crowton had a golden touch one year ago.

A good place to start this season is quarterback, where Brandon Doman has moved on to the NFL but the Cougars are as deep as they were during the program's heyday of the 1970s and 1980s.

Bret Engemann will start, returning after a redshirt season that was forced in part by a shoulder injury sustained when he started five games as a sophomore in 2000. Last fall, Engemann ran the scout team.

"I just sat back and listened," Engemann said. "I watched coach Crowton work with Brandon and tried to learn from it. Going from being a starter to the scout team was humbling. I just tried to grow."

At 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, Engemann is a prototypical drop-back passer who can throw deep. Yet Crowton insists he's quick enough to keep the option in the playbook, which made Doman dangerous to opposing defenses.

"Bret can move if the protection breaks down," Crowton said.

The Cougars are stacked behind Engemann, with most of the preseason attention directed at Ben Olson. The 6-4, 210-pound freshman was regarded as the nation's top high school player by several recruiting magazines.

There's been plenty of speculation over where Olson will fit, with a redshirt season mentioned as one possibility. On the other hand, how do you keep that kind of talent on the sideline?

Olson wants no part of the debate, saying he'll do as he's asked.

"I'm just going to work as hard as I can and do what's best for the team," he said. "I'm just trying to get familiar with the system."

Then there's freshman Matt Berry (6-5, 218), sophomore Todd Mortensen (6-4, 221) and freshman Lance Pendleton (6-0, 172). Each of BYU's quarterbacks was recruited by top national programs.

"Those other guys are all capable of starting," Crowton said. "We'll be in pretty good shape if we can keep them all here."

Staley had a remarkable season, scoring 28 TDs and rushing for 1,596 yards. But concerns about his shaky knees encouraged him to bolt for the NFL, rather than return for a possible Heisman Trophy campaign.

Marcus Whalen is the most experienced returning running back, and that's not saying much. He carried 38 times for 209 yards in nine games as a freshman, then redshirted last fall.

Mahe leads a strong receiving corps, but the line sustained a blow when tackle Ben Archibald went out for the season after breaking two bones in his leg during a preseason practice.

archive