By MATTHEW PARRY
With high expectations and big shoes to fill, BYU’s football team hopes to withstand one of its toughest schedules ever next season.
“Certainly this is the toughest schedule we’ve ever had, but we’re excited about it and will work hard,” said Lavell Edwards, BYU head coach.
BYU will start its 2000 season playing in the Pigskin Classic against the defending national champions, Florida State.
“Florida State has so much speed and is obviously an outstanding football team,” Edwards said.
The Cougars will continue their road swing against Virginia and Air Force before coming home to play Mississippi State. Other road games include Syracuse, Utah and Colorado State.
“This is definitely a very difficult schedule, mostly because most of our tough games are on the road,” said Val Hale, director of athletics at BYU.
Last season, Virginia narrowly defeated BYU. But next season, Virginia will return without its star running back.
Edwards said that humidity could be a negative factor when the Cougars play in Charlottesville, Va. He also said noise could play a part in the game against Syracuse.
Last season, Mississippi State ended with a 10-2 record and was ranked 12th in the nation, according to the USA Today/ESPN poll.
“Since it is a Thursday night game, we will only have three days to prepare for Mississippi State,” Hale said. “They will have an advantage of 10 days to prepare.”
Edwards said BYU is part of a conference that is getting tougher each year. The Cougars cannot slack off against the Mountain West Conference teams.
“It will be a tough year all around, but I think we have a good team,” Hale said. “I think we have a good chance to compete against all of these teams.”
With nine games appearing on ABC or ESPN, BYU will benefit from greater television exposure, Hale said.
“This schedule will also help us from the recruiting standpoint because athletes want to compete against the best teams possible,” he said.
He also said fans from the East Coast would also enjoy the opportunity of watching BYU football.
“Of course, the risk to this schedule is losing five to six games with this young, but good, team,” Hale said. “However, if we won all our games, there would be no argument to strength of schedule.”
According to Edwards, playing so many good teams in a row could increase the risk and number of injuries.
Some students like Shannon Barnes, 24, a senior from Seattle, majoring in computer science, are optimistic that the football team will do OK.
“Every year that I have been here, we’ve never been blown out, but I don’t think we’ll beat Florida State,” Barnes said.
Brock Blake, 19, a freshman from Ogden majoring in business, agreed that this is one of BYU’s toughest schedules ever.
“I think BYU’s success depends on their quarterback, but logically speaking, they won’t beat Florida State,” he said. “I have faith though.”
Hale said BYU would be competitive in every game next season, even against Florida State.
“Florida State isn’t invincible. They had to come back to win many of their games last season,” he said. “I think we’ll go in and give them a good game.”
