In another step along the path of returning to a tradition of glory, the BYU football team earned a spot in the Associated Press Top 25 poll after beating Colorado State 24-3 on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2006.
The Cougars' ranking comes on the heels of five consecutive league victories and six straight wins overall. While coaches and players alike acknowledge the gravity of the national ranking, all remain equally focused on the task at hand.
'It's another tangible mark that's been reached that shows progress, and while it's interesting at this point, we're focused on Wyoming,' coach Bronco Mendenhall said. 'I'm very pleased with the direction this program is heading; however, we have a very important game this week. Our focus this week, as it is each week, will be on playing our next opponent.'
The last time the Cougars were ranked in a poll was at the very beginning of the 2002 season. That ranking came after BYU finished the 2001 campaign with a 12-2 record. After starting the 2002 season 2-0, BYU lost five of its next six games and hasn't been ranked in a poll since. Some of the seniors on the team are relieved to reach this milestone of recognition.
'You know, it's really awesome because the whole time I've been here, we haven't been ranked,' senior offensive lineman Jake Kuresa said. 'They were ranked the year before I came and that's what we were expecting to be, and we've kind of had to earn it the hard way.'
Kuresa said after BYU suffered some close disappointments earlier in the season, he didn't think BYU would be able to make it back to this kind of national attention. However, he said even though being ranked is great and validates the team's hard work, it's not one of the team goals. The team is intent on winning the conference championship and winning a bowl game.
Senior running back Curtis Brown echoed Kuresa and said it's nice to receive the recognition, but that's not where the team's focus is.
'We need to keep going forward and keep getting better each and every week,' Brown said. 'We're not satisfied, especially our performance last week, especially on offense. It was satisfactory, but it's not where we want to be.'
Senior tight end Jonny Harline said he thinks people started to notice BYU after it beat TCU and went on a six-game winning streak, but like Brown, he said the Cougars can't just be satisfied with where they are right now.
'That's kind of cool that around the country we're getting a little more recognition than we've had since I've been here,' Harline said. 'We just hope that we keep going and keep rising.'