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Former BYU tight end and graduate assistant Brian Billick waves to the crowd as he was honored as part of the 2024 BYU Hall of Fame class during halftime of the Big 12 game against Kansas State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.
Courtesy BYU Photo
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Former BYU head basketball coach Dave Rose responds to cheers as he was honored as part of the 2024 BYU Hall of Fame class during halftime of the Big 12 game against Kansas State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.
Courtesy BYU Photo
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BYU senior defensive lineman Tyler Batty runs off the field with other Cougar players at halftime during the Big 12 game against Kansas State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.
Courtesy BYU Photo
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BYU fans cheer on their team during the Big 12 game against Kansas State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.
Courtesy BYU Photo
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Saturday night at the LaVell Edwards Stadium was truly a great night for the Cougar faithful. Not only did BYU beat No. 13 Kansas State in blowout fashion 38-9, the 1996 team that won the Cotton Bowl against the Wildcats was recognized as well as the latest 2024 Hall of Fame class.
Among this BYU Athletic Hall of Fame class was Brian Billick, who played tight end for BYU from 1974 to 1976 earning All-WAC and All-American Honorable Mention honors during his time with the Cougar program. Billick truly cherished those days at BYU.
“It was such a special time,” Billick said of his playing days at BYU. “That ’74 team that started 0-3. That team stuck together and those relationships you just remember what it was to fight through those difficulties and go on to win that (WAC) championship. It was a very special time.”
Billick also recognized the importance of LaVell Edwards in building a winning tradition at the school and being an important mentor.
“When he first got it started, it was a little touch and go there for a while,” Billick said. “But LaVell, just the integrity he brought to the game, was able to establish and send this program going to the heights that it has. Having the most wins (of any college program) in the last 50 years speaks for itself.”
After his playing days, Billick wanted to be a coach and he cut his teeth in the profession as a graduate assistant at BYU under Edwards. Billick then had several stops as an assistant coach in college and the NFL before landing the head coaching job for the Baltimore Ravens. Billick then led the Ravens to the Super Bowl title in 2000 and finished his head coaching career in the NFL with an 85-67 record.
Still, even with all those honors, Billick feels gratitude for being inducted into the BYU Athletic Hall of Fame.
“It’s a great honor, very humbling, a big surprise” Billick said. “I’m just so thrilled going in. It’s a great tradition. They’ve been doing this for 47 years, extending the legacy of this great university and the athletic program. It’s so important in this time and age right now to maintain these traditions. It’s been great.”
When Billick played in the days of Cougar Stadium in the 1970s, the amount of fans at the games was paltry compared to what is seen now at BYU games. That didn’t go unnoticed by the legendary coach.
“This is unbelievable,” Billick said. “The energy and the way the fans have embraced it is really something special. It was a great honor to know that I was a part of the beginning of it and to see where it’s grown now.”
Also honored at halftime from this BYU Hall of Fame class were former women’s track and field athlete Lacy Cramer Bleazard, former women’s volleyball and basketball player Jennifer Hamson, former BYU football kicker Matt Payne, longtime men’s basketball coach David Rose, and former men’s volleyball player Futi Tavana.
All but the scoreboard
It is not unusual for a team to have more total yards and time of possession than its opponent, but it is entirely unique to see a team that did dominate in those categories lose by such a margin like Kansas State did.
The Wildcats finished with 367 total yards to just 241 for BYU, while the visitors controlled the ball for 33:03. That stat might have been greater if the Cougars hadn’t held the ball at the end to run out the clock.
Kansas State also had eight penalties for 50 yards including a holding penalty that took a touchdown off the board causing the Wildcats to settle for a field goal. Other penalties short-circuited drives.
BYU, on the other hand, had just two penalties for 20 yards, both coming in the final stanza when the outcome of the game was settled.
Firsts of note
There were some good highlights on offense for BYU.
Sione I. Moa scored his first touchdown of his Cougar career. And even with his dynamic play all season, it was the first touchdown on the 2024 gridiron campaign for Chase Roberts.
Other firsts were interceptions by defensive lineman Tyler Batty and linebacker Harrison Taggart, along with a forced fumble by Aisea Moa. Bruce Mitchel made his first start on the offensive line for the Cougars.
Statistical superlatives
On defense, Taggart had a huge game, leading the team with 10 tackles and an interception. Jakob Robison had eight tackles. Blake Mangelson had five tackles, while Tyler Batty had three tackles, two hurries on the quarterback and an interception.
Besides Parker Kingston’s 90-yard punt return for a touchdown, BYU punter Sam Vander Haar pinned Kansas State inside its 20 yard-line three times with a 41.5 average on four boots.
Offensively, Moa led the Cougars with 79 yards rushing on 15 carries for 5.1 per carry average. Jake Retzlaff wasn’t spectacular but efficient, going 15-for-21 for 149 yards with two touchdowns. But most importantly, no interceptions or fumbles. The mistake free offense was another key element to BYU’s rousing victory.
BYU and Utah success
Both the Cougars and the Utes are 4-0 in 2024 with stirring wins in their Big 12 openers. It might be early to talk about this but in 2021 BYU and Utah both had 10-win seasons and BYU won the match-up 26-17, the last time the two teams met.
The last time BYU and Utah had 10-win seasons and were in the same conference was in 2009 when the Cougars went 11-2 and the Utes were 10-3. BYU won the rivalry game that year, a 26-23 overtime thriller at LaVell Edwards Stadium, but neither the Cougars nor the Utes actually won the conference.
TCU won the Mountain West Conference title going undefeated in league play but losing to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl to finish 12-1. All three programs are now in the Big 12.
Amusing moment
The game did provide a funny and unusual moment when before a Kansas State field goal, a miscommunication had the Cougarettes taking the field for a dance number. As the Wildcats lined up for the kick, the dancers had to sprint off the field at the opposite end.
Perhaps since they were on the other end of the field, the officials didn’t stop the action and Chris Tennant split the uprights on a 27-yarder to give the Wildcats a 6-0 lead.
Extra points
- Alumni flag bearers came from the 1996 team that defeated Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl to complete a 14-1 season. Running backs Ronney Jenkins (1996-98) and Brian McKenzie (1996-97), along with defensive lineman Aaron Hutchins (1996) got that honor.
- The team flags were carried by McKenzie’s twin sons Dom, a wide receiver, and Marcus, a defensive back, along with long snapper Cannon Skidmore.
- The captains for the coin toss were offensive linemen Connor Pay and Weylin Lapuaho, defensive end Tyler Batty and cornerback Jakob Robison. Kansas State won the toss and elected to defer the choice to the second half.
- Besides the retro all white uniforms, fans might have noticed the “throwback to 1996” graphics used on the scoreboard during the game.
- The weather for the game was ideal with very light winds from the west and temperatures in the mid to high 60’s for most of the game.
- Announced attendance was a sell out at 64,201. The fans were encouraged to wear white shirts and most complied.
