By Devon Black
A 36-yard fly pattern to Michael Reed inscribed John Beck''s name permanently into the pages of BYU history.
It was a relatively routine play, like countless other deep passes BYU has completed over the years. But it assured that after Beck graduates this year, his name will be listed alongside the other BYU greats.
The pass with 8:04 left in the first quarter broke Jim McMahon''s record of 9,536 career passing yards and moved Beck to No. 2 on the list of BYU''s career passing leaders.
When he was asked about the record after the game, Beck did what he always does. He deflected the questions about individual achievements, preferring instead to just talk about the game. His team won and clinched a share of the conference championship on Thursday night. What else matters?
It''s for good reason Beck tends to talk more about winning games than setting records. Throughout his career his statistics have been nothing short of admirable, but not his winning percentage.
The criticism has followed.
Beck lived through the dismal end of the Gary Crowton campaign and survived the growing pains of Bronco Mendenhall''s first year as head coach.
Now he will leave BYU with the kind of record that usually follows winners.
Coincidentally, the win over Wyoming also guaranteed that Beck will not finish his BYU career with a losing record as a starter.
At some schools, being the second most prolific passer isn''t much to brag about. Not so in Provo. This is the place they labeled Quarterback U, where it takes almost 8,500 yards just to break into the all-time passing list''s top five.
Before Beck, McMahon''s record had been touched only once in a quarter of a century.
Since 1981, BYU has seen a national championship winner, a future Super Bowl MVP and one All-American after another at quarterback. Only one, Ty Detmer the Heisman Trophy winner, threw for as many yards as Beck.
Detmer''s overall record of 15,031 career yards will probably never be touched. Beck''s totals at the end of this season will be a bit more human, but don''t look for him to be bumped down anytime soon. These kinds of records don''t get broken often.
A prolific passing record, another blowout win and a conference championship to boot ? it''s enough to make McMahon himself proud.
It''s also enough to make sure Beck''s place is secure in that elite club ? the club of Marc Wilson and Steve Young. It''s the club that Beck grew up dreaming about when he dressed up as McMahon for Halloween in the third grade.
Welcome to the club, John. Now about this Utah game...