UPON FURTHER REVIEW

Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2006 | 7:08 a.m.

Battle of style

Even if you have only a passing interest in college football, there will be no mistaking BYU and Oregon when they take the field for the 15th annual Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl.

Although their uniforms have undergone countless changes in the past decade, the BYU Cougars' uniforms look basically identical to the version they wore during the three decades that LaVell Edwards paced the team's sidelines.

BYU's uniform is composed of a white helmet, blue jersey and white pants for home games and white helmet, white jersey and blue pants for road games. (The Cougars will be the visiting team in this year's Las Vegas Bowl.)

Then there are the Oregon Ducks.

When it came time to draw up the Ducks' threads, uniform supplier Nike apparently gave its design crew free rein and the designers abused the privilege. Oregons 2006 ensemble features four different colors of jerseys and pants green, yellow, black and white and three different helmets. That affords the fashion-conscious Ducks a total of 48 uniform combinations.

Oregon's latest uniforms are the result of a two-year collaboration between Nike and a committee of the school's past and present players. That committee included former Western High standout and Oregon tight end Tim Day.

- Brian Hilderbrand

Bowl chief's happy memories

She's the hardest-working woman in the bowl business, and it's not just because Tina Kunzer-Murphy is the only female serving as an executive director of a bowl game.

In fact, the head of the Las Vegas Bowl had to take some time out of her busy schedule to put together a list of her most memorable Las Vegas Bowls.

1. 2005: California 35, Brigham Young 28

There was an electric atmosphere on an unseasonably warm night as we enjoyed our first sold-out game.

2. 2004: Wyoming 24, UCLA 21

Wyoming Coach Joe Glenn, his team and its great fans who showed up in droves, lit up the town and upset the heavily favored Bruins. Coach Glenn could not get up on the stage at midfield after the game for the trophy presentation so he grabbed the pants leg of Russ Johnston, who was representing our title sponsor, for assistance. Pioneer immediately renewed its sponsorship.

3. 2000: UNLV 31, Arkansas 14

John Robinson's hometown Rebels improved to 2-0 in the bowl after shocking the only Southeast Conference school ever to play in our game.

4. 1992: Bowling Green 35, Nevada-Reno 34

The inaugural game, featuring conference champions from the Big West and the Mid-American Conference, was a hit as the national media called it the most exciting game of the bowl season.

5. 1995: Toledo 40, Nevada-Reno 37

The first overtime game in NCAA Division I-A history also was the highest-scoring Las Vegas Bowl ever.

6. 1994: UNLV 52, Central Michigan 24

Jeff Horton's first year at UNLV and the Rebels' first bowl win since they went to the California Raisin Bowl in 1984.

7. 2001: Utah 10, Southern Cal 6

Holding the game on Christmas Day on ABC meant most of the country was sitting home watching Ron McBride and the Utes' defense get the best of Carson Palmer and Pete Carroll .

8. 1999: Utah 17, Fresno State 15

Mike Anderson rushed for 254 yards and two touchdowns, great memories of a great game.

Honorable mentions:

Kicking her way into the history book

During the 2002 Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium, I remember the New Mexico kicker trotting onto the field to attempt the extra point following the Lobos' first touchdown against UCLA.

He looked like any other kicker, except for the flowing blond ponytail extending from under his helmet, which from behind, made him look like Fabio, at least from the shoulder pads up.

"Hey, look at the New Mexico kicker," I overheard a guy in the stands tell his buddy. "He looks just like a girl."

The PAT was blocked. Then the scoreboard replay showed the discouraged New Mexico kicker up close and personal.

Turns out it was a girl.

That was the day Katie Hnida made history by becoming the first female to play in a Division I-A football game.

The next season, she made two extra points against Texas State to become the first woman to score in a Division I game. Her shoes and uniform from that game are on display at the College Football Hall of Fame.

- Ron Kantowski

Passing into Canadian history

In leading Utah State to a 42-33 victory over Ball State in 1993, Anthony Calvillo become the Most Valuable Player of Las Vegas Bowl II and persona non grata as far as David Letterman, a proud Ball State alum, is concerned.

But in the 13 years that have passed between then and now, Calvillo went on to distinguish himself as one of the most prolific passers in Canadian Football League history - despite beginning his CFL career with the defunct Las Vegas Posse in 1994.

In 2004, the Los Angeles native became just the fourth CFL quarterback to pass for more than 6,000 yards in a single season, joining a short list topped by Doug Flutie. He led the Montreal Alouettes to their first Grey Cup - the CFL Super Bowl - in 25 years in 2002 and the following year was named the league's Most Outstanding Player when he completed 408 of 675 passes for 5,891 yards and 37 touchdowns.

Calvillo completed 154 of 348 passes for 2,580 yards as a member of the short-lived Posse. In addition to adjusting to 12-man defenses, he also had to endure Tamarick Vanover as a teammate and Posse coach Ron Meyer taking his shirt off to work on his suntan during practice.

Final scores, MVPs

Dec. 18, 1992 - Bowling Green 35, Nevada 34

Erik White, Bowling Green, quarterback

Dec. 17, 1993 - Utah State 42, Ball State 33

Anthony Calvillo, Utah State, quarterback

Dec. 15, 1994 - UNLV 52, Central Michigan 24

Henry Bailey, UNLV, wide receiver

Dec. 14, 1995 - Toledo 40, Nevada 37 (OT)

Wasean Tait, Toledo, running back

Dec. 18, 1996 - Nevada 18, Ball State 15

Mike Crawford, Nevada, linebacker

Dec. 20, 1997 - Oregon 41, Air Force 13