BACK-TO-BACK SHUTOUTS
Today’s 44-0 win over Wyoming marked the second consecutive game the Cougars have held their opponents scoreless, after last week’s 59-0 win over UCLA. The last time BYU recorded back-to-back shutouts was during the 1985 season. Ironically the Cougars posted identical scores, defeating Wyoming 59-0 and Utah State 44-0. 1985 marks the only other time in the modern era of BYU football that the Cougars have had consecutive shutouts. The Cougars accomplished the feat six times between 1924-1938, including four consecutive shutouts in 1937.
UNANSWERED POINTS
Including today’s win, the Cougars have scored 103 unanswered points, holding their opponents to eight consecutive scoreless quarters.
SCORING AGAINST THE COWBOYS
Over the past three meetings, BYU has outscored Wyoming 134-17. Including today’s 44-0 win, the Cougars defeated the Cowboys 35-10 in Laramie last season, and 55-7 in Provo in 2006.
SCORING HALL PASSES
Quarterback Max Hall’s touchdown pass to junior Austin Collie with 4:03 in the second quarter marked the sixth consecutive game Hall has recorded a touchdown pass, dating back to Dec. 1, 2007 at San Diego State. In fact, Hall has thrown a touchdown pass in 16-of-17 career games.
HE WHO SCORES FIRST...
Junior defensive back Scott Johnson’s fumble recovery for a 59-yard touchdown with 11:10 remaining in the first quarter against Wyoming gave BYU the early 7-0 lead. BYU has scored first in every game this season, marking the 26th time in the last 29 games. The Cougars are 24-2 in those 26 games. BYU has also scored an opening drive touchdown in 12 of its last 15 games.
COIN TOSS
For the fourth week in a row, BYU won the opening coin toss, and for the third time this season, the Cougars elected to defer. BYU is 4-0 when winning the opening coin toss.
HALL OF MAX
Heisman Trophy candidate Max Hall turned in another standout performance in the Cougars’ 44-0 victory over Wyoming. Hall completed 16-of-27 attempts for 189 yards and three touchdowns. During the opening drive of the game, Hall led the Cougars on a 14-play drive, for 86 yards. Hall came out of the game with 5:49 remaining in the third quarter.
FLAG BEARER
BYU has a tradition of selecting a player before each game to run the team flag onto the field. In 2008, the team implemented a new tradition—an alumni flag. The team selects a former Cougar to carry out the alumni flag, along with the chosen current player who runs out with the current team flag. Both flags are white with a blue “Y” logo. The flag is signed by current team members, while the alumni flag is signed by former BYU players. Their signatures reflect their commitment to uphold the tradition, spirit and honor of the BYU football program and to be a flag bearer of the University. Against Wyoming, Ty Detmer, the alumni flag bearer, was accompanied by Stacey May, widow of former Cougar Bryan May, and M’Lissa Griffiths, widow of Kent Griffith. Carrying the team flag was David Oswald along with Tiffany Searle, one of the team's recent Thursday Heroes. Accompanied by her family, Tiffany was struck by a disease recently (doctors have not been able to diagnose) that has left her paralyzed.
Y GAME
Saturday’s football game against the Wyoming Cowboys was the fourth annual Y Game at LaVell Edwards Stadium, marking the new year of athletes supporting athletes on BYU campus. Y Games are meant to help athletes come together as a group rather than individual teams, building an identity as Cougars. In its fifth year, each sport identifies one game that other athletes are encouraged to attend. At today’s game, BYU’s student athletes helped form the tunnel that the team ran thru at the start of the game.
COUGARS CONTINUE TO WIN
BYU currently owns the longest active winning streak among FBS (Division I-A) teams, having won 14 consecutive games. The Cougars have put together their longest win streak since winning 14 straight games during the 2000-01 seasons. BYU’s 4-0 record this season marks its best start since the 2001 season.
EDWARDS’ STADIUM STREAK NOW SPANS THREE SEASONS
With BYU’s 44-0 shutout of Wyoming, the Cougars have not lost in Edwards Stadium since November 19, 2005. BYU has won 15 straight home games, dating back to September 9, 2006. The last time the Cougars won 15 consecutive home games was 16 seasons ago when the team won 17 in a row from Oct. 7, 1989 to Nov. 23, 1991.
HOMELAND SECURITY
The Cougars’ victory over Wyoming increased BYU’s consecutive home winning streak to 15 games, dating back to the 2006 season. Over that span, the Cougars have beaten their opponents by an average of 29.5 points per game and have allowed just 10.1 points per game. The Cougars have allowed seven points or less in eight of the last 15 home games.
“FAN”TASTIC FANS
The 64,059 fans in attendance for the Cougars’ 44-0 win over Wyoming marked the
ninth consecutive sell-out at Edwards Stadium. The current streak marks the longest streak of consecutive sellouts since the 1991-92 seasons. Over 192,000 (192,320) fans have attended the first three home games at Edwards Stadium this season, averaging 64,107 fans per game
DON’T LOOK BACK
In the Bronco Mendenhall era, BYU is 30-4 when leading at halftime and 29-1 when taking a lead into the fourth quarter.
FIRST HALF DOMINANCE
The Cougars held a 27-0 lead at halftime against Wyoming, marking the 14th time in the past 15 games BYU has held the lead at intermission. The Cougars have held their opponent to seven or fewer points in the opening half 10 times in 15 games. During those 15 games BYU is 14-1.
TAKE YOUR PICK
Linebackers David Nixon and Daniel Sorensen, along with defensive back Jordan Pendleton picked off a combined three interceptions against Wyoming. The last time BYU picked off three interceptions in a game was on Oct. 20, 2007 in its 42-7 win over Eastern Washington.
FUMBLE RECOVERIES
BYU has recovered eight fumbles throughout the first four games of the season, combining for six against UCLA and Wyoming.
SORENSEN’S CAREER FIRST
Freshman kicker Justin Sorensen recorded the first field goal of his collegiate career with 0:49 remaining the fourth quarter.