By SCOTT BELL
Not to add insult to injury, but a few numbers speak volumes about BYU's mediocre season.
The Cougar offense was the worst it has been in years. Players knew it and the numbers prove it.
'We probably averaged the least points in BYU history,' said quarterback Kevin Feterik. 'It was really disappointing. I've never lost five games before. In high school, we lost three game in four years. It gives us motivation for next year, but right now, that bad taste is going to be there for awhile.'
Feterik wasn't exactly right about averaging the least points in BYU history, but he was close enough. The Cougars scored 250 points, second-worst in the LaVell Edwards' era. In 1975, the Cougars totalled just 244 points. They also finished 6-5 that year.
The Cougars were outscored 254-250 this year, also only the second time that's happened in Edwards' reign. In 1993, another 6-5 year, the Cougars were outscored 435-411.
?MD+BO?SO LONG, FAREWELL:?MDNM? Saturday's contest was the final game for 16 Cougar seniors. Included in that group was eight starters. A brief mention of each graduating starters' accomplishments:
-- Jason Anderson: He moved to center this season, his first as a starter. Previously, he was an offensive tackle and started in relief of the injured Eric Bateman against Wyoming and Kansas State last year.
-- Ben Cahoon: He made a practice of pulling down circus catches in totalling 57 receptions for 931 yards on the year. In his first year as a starter, he was the Cougars' main offensive weapon in their upset of ASU.
-- Ben Cook: He finished the year with a team-high two interceptions and five pass deflections. The Snow College transfer also tallied 45 tackles in his only year as a starter.
-- Matt Cox: He started every game for the Cougars over the past two years at guard.
-- Dustin Johnson: 'The Moose' was a major part of the fifth-ranked 1996 team as the starting fullback. This year, he split time between tight end and fullback, totalling 33 catches for 394 yards and 107 rushing yards on 18 carries.
-- Brian McKenzie: He was the best performer on offense for the Cougars all year. The Arizona Western College transfer finished the year with 1,004 yard, only the third player in the Edwards' era to rush for over a 1,000 yards. His 1,954 career rushing yards place him sixth on the BYU all-time list.
-- Omarr Morgan: 'The Blanket' had somewhat of a disappointing year. After grabbing five interceptions and being named All-WAC last year, he didn't have any picks this year. Still, he was the only Cougar invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game in January.
-- Spencer Reid: He finished second on the team with 75 tackles this year. He also started last year, totalling 61 tackles.