By Dallas Oler
As summer approaches, football season is not too far off in the distance. For the first time since 1972, LaVell Edwards will not be on the sidelines as head coach of the Cougars.
Taking an early look at the 2001 football schedule, BYU should have another exciting season. It should prove to be challenging as the Cougars play seven of their 12 games on the road.
The Cougars open their season by hosting Nevada in LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 1. This will be the first of three consecutive years that BYU will play the Wolf Pack.
The Cougars hit the road for their next three games. They will face the Golden Bears of California on September 8. In their last meeting, BYU beat Cal 38-28 in 1999 at Cougar Stadium.
BYU will then travel south to get another shot against Mississippi State. The Bulldogs beat up on the Cougars 44-28 last year in Provo.
The Cougars draw a bye before beginning Mountain West Conference play when they head to Las Vegas to face UNLV on September 29.
On November 17, BYU will try to beat archrival Utah in Provo for the first time since 1991. The Cougars have defeated the Utes only four times in the last nine years with all four victories coming on the road. Utah was the last home team to win a game between the in-state rivals back in 1994.
BYU”s final regular season game will be against the Hawaii Rainbows in Honolulu on December 1. It will be the first meeting between the two teams since 1998 when both were part of the Western Athletic Conference.
Most NCAA teams play an 11-game schedule, but by playing a game outside of the continental Unites States, the Cougars are allowed to carry a 12-game schedule. Last year BYU also had 12 games because they participated in the Pigskin Classic against Florida State.
