The 1972 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University (BYU) for the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. It was their first year under head coach LaVell Edwards and the Cougars finished over .500 for the first time since 1969.
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
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September 16 | | Kansas State* | | W 32–9 | 31,753 | [1] |
September 23 | | Utah State* | | L 19–42 | 35,239 | [2] |
September 30 | | at Oregon State* | | L 3–29 | 20,065 | [3] |
October 7 | 2:00 p.m. | at Long Beach State* | | W 38–27 | 11,529 | [4] |
October 14 | | UTEP | | W 21–14 | 31,176 | [5] |
October 21 | | No. 19 Arizona State | | L 17–49 | 23,561 | [6] |
October 28 | | at Colorado State | | W 44–8 | 18,972 | [7] |
November 4 | | Wyoming | | W 33–14 | 22,373 | [8] |
November 11 | | at Arizona | | L 7–21 | 26,500 | [9] |
November 18 | | Utah | | W 16–7 | 24,917 | [10] |
November 25 | | at New Mexico | | W 21–7 | 9,490 | [11] |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Mountain time
|
[12]
Preseason
Defensive coordinator LaVell Edwards was promoted to head coach in January to take over for the departed Tommy Hudspeth,[13] who ended up as the head coach at UTEP by season's end.
BYU was returning 28 players from the previous year but Golden Richards would not be one of them. Richards claimed it was because the Cougars were still a run-oriented offense while BYU and Edwards said it was because Richards had trouble keeping with his academics.[14]
Game summaries
Kansas State
Pete Van Valkenburg rushed for 164 yards on 16 carries, scored on a 59-yard run in the first quarter and set up Dave Terry for BYU's second touchdown. Keith Brumley's 37-yard field goal was Kansas State's only points through the first three quarters. Henry Childs caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Dennis Morrison three minutes into the final quarter for Kansas State.
[15]
Utah State
At Oregon State
At Long Beach State
Scoring summary
|
Quarter
|
Time
|
Drive
|
Team
|
Scoring information
|
Score
|
Plays
|
Yards
|
TOP
|
BYU
|
Long Beach State
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
Long Beach State
|
Drake 1-yard touchdown run, Logue kick good
|
0
|
7
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
Long Beach State
|
Drake 1-yard touchdown run, Logue kick good
|
0
|
14
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
BYU
|
Pete Van Valkenburg 3-yard touchdown run, John Monahan kick good
|
7
|
14
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
BYU
|
31-yard field goal by John Monahan
|
10
|
14
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
Long Beach State
|
Newsome 28-yard interception return, kick blocked
|
10
|
20
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
BYU
|
Pete Van Valkenburg 64-yard touchdown run, John Monahan kick good
|
17
|
20
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
BYU
|
Dave Atkinson 19-yard interception return, John Monahan kick good
|
24
|
20
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
Long Beach State
|
Fitzpatrick 1-yard touchdown run, Logue kick good
|
24
|
27
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
BYU
|
Pete Van Valkenburg 73-yard touchdown run, John Monahan kick good
|
31
|
27
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
BYU
|
Steve Stratton 7-yard touchdown run, John Monahan kick good
|
38
|
27
|
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
|
38
|
27
|
|
UTEP
Arizona State
At Colorado State
Wyoming
At Arizona
At Utah
Game information
|
First quarter
- BYU – Steve Stratton 4-yard run (John Monahan kick). BYU 7–0.
Second quarter
Third quarter
- UTAH – Ike Spencer 70-yard run (Fleming Jensen kick). BYU 9–7.
Fourth quarter
- BYU – George Gourley 24-yard interception return (John Monahan kick). BYU 16–7.
|
- Top passers
- BYU – Dave Terry – 7/13, 71 yards
- UTAH – Daniel Payne – 3/17, 38 yards, 4 INT
- Top rushers
- BYU – Pete Van Valkenburg – 37 rushes, 158 yards
- UTAH – Ike Spencer – 11 rushes, 101 yards, TD
- Top receivers
- BYU – John Betham – 3 receptions, 32 yards
- UTAH – Stephen Odom – 2 receptions, 20 yards
|
|
BYU's first win versus Utah since 1967
At New Mexico
Personnel
Roster
1972 BYU Cougars football team roster
|
Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
WR
|
9
|
Dave Affleck
|
FB
|
34
|
Charlie Ah You
|
QB
|
7
|
Bill August
|
C
|
61
|
Joe Bailey
|
WR
|
41
|
John Betham
|
FB
|
36
|
Wayne Bower
|
OT
|
79
|
Dave Brooks
|
WR
|
42
|
Dave Clark
|
FB
|
22
|
Dean Conway
|
OT
|
64
|
Bill Critchfield
|
OT
|
62
|
Craig Denny
|
RB
|
36
|
Paul Devine
|
TE
|
80
|
Dennis Dorman
|
G
|
68
|
Harold Farnsworth
|
RB
|
|
Gil Gillenwater
|
QB
|
15
|
Brian Gunderson
|
C
|
56
|
Paul Gustavson
|
G
|
78
|
Paul Howard
|
WR
|
25
|
Logan Hunter
|
RB
|
20
|
Bryce Johnson
|
OL
|
66
|
Doug Maughan
|
QB
|
14
|
Terry McEwen
|
G
|
76
|
Val Miller
|
G
|
71
|
John Monahan
|
QB
|
16
|
Mark Montgomery
|
OT
|
70
|
Paul Muklewicz
|
OT
|
53
|
Ken Peterson
|
TE
|
89
|
Mike Pistorius
|
OT
|
65
|
Steve Price
|
WR
|
90
|
Rick Powell
|
C
|
59
|
Sid Smith
|
FB
|
35
|
Steve Stratton
|
RB
|
43
|
Dan Taylor
|
QB
|
13
|
Dave Terry
|
RB
|
28
|
Pete Van Valkenburg
|
WR
|
22
|
Lynn Zwahlen
|
|
Defense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
DE
|
85
|
Joel Adams
|
LB
|
45
|
Doug Adams
|
CB
|
|
Dave Atkinson
|
DT
|
72
|
Wayne Baker
|
LB
|
69
|
Jerry Burke
|
CB
|
18
|
Stan Call
|
LB
|
67
|
Larry Carr
|
DE
|
58
|
Conrad Cole
|
S
|
44
|
Craig Crompton
|
LB
|
54
|
Steve Draeger
|
LB
|
84
|
Greg Dunn
|
S
|
17
|
Fred EchoHawk
|
S
|
24
|
Tom EchoHawk
|
DB
|
12
|
Mike Epperson
|
DE
|
56
|
Lloyd Fairbanks
|
CB
|
31
|
Reed Gempler
|
S
|
33
|
George Gourley
|
S
|
11
|
Dan Hansen
|
LB
|
52
|
Kahlili Hunt
|
LB
|
34
|
Phil Jensen
|
Fr
|
CB
|
26
|
Paul Karaica
|
DE
|
87
|
Bob Larsen
|
DT
|
74
|
Paul Linford
|
DT
|
60
|
Wally Molifua
|
LB
|
57
|
Larry Nelson
|
DL
|
83
|
Orrin Olsen
|
LB
|
50
|
Mike Preston
|
DE
|
46
|
Roy Robbins
|
LB
|
37
|
Karl Rogoff
|
DE
|
88
|
Ed Rozeski
|
DT
|
63
|
Julian Smilowitz
|
DB
|
5
|
Bennie Smith
|
LB
|
51
|
Scott Stapley
|
LB
|
32
|
Ron Tree
|
DE
|
73
|
Stan Varner
|
DT
|
77
|
Grant Wells
|
|
Special teams
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
P
|
14
|
Doug Coon
|
K
|
19
|
Dennis Olsen
|
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
|
Starters
Offense
POS
|
Name
|
Name
|
QB |
Dave Terry
|
TB |
Pete Van Valkenburg
|
FB |
Steve Stratton |
Wayne Bower
|
WR |
Logan Hunter |
|
WR |
John Betham |
|
TE |
Dennis Doman |
Mike Pistorius
|
T |
Craig Denny |
|
G |
Paul Howard |
|
C |
Joe Bailey |
|
G |
John Monahan |
|
T |
Steve Price |
Dave Brooks
|
Defense
POS
|
Name
|
Name
|
DL |
Ed Rozeski |
|
DL |
Paul Linford |
|
DL |
Grant Wells |
Wayne Baker
|
DL |
Orrin Olsen |
Bob Larsen
|
LB |
Ron Tree |
|
LB |
Larry Carr |
Kahili Hunt
|
LB |
Phil Jensen |
Mike Preston
|
DB |
George Gourley |
Bennie Smith
|
DB |
Dave Atkinson |
|
DB |
Craig Compton |
|
DB |
Dan Hansen |
|
[16]
Statistics
Passing
Player |
Comp |
Att |
Yards |
TD |
INT
|
Bill August |
69 |
144 |
891 |
5 |
5
|
Dave Terry |
62 |
122 |
742 |
2 |
10
|
Pete Van Valkenburg |
2 |
5 |
32 |
1 |
|
John Betham |
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
Rushing
Player |
Att |
Yards |
TD
|
Pete Van Valkenburg |
232 |
1,386 |
12
|
Steve Stratton |
78 |
328 |
3
|
Wayne Bower |
43 |
271 |
1
|
Dan Taylor |
46 |
161 |
1
|
Dave Terry |
61 |
120 |
2
|
Gil Gillenwater |
3 |
56 |
|
Bill August |
50 |
22 |
|
Bryce Johnson |
1 |
0 |
|
John Betham |
4 |
-15 |
|
Receiving
Player |
Rec |
Yards |
TD
|
Logan Hunter |
49 |
555 |
2
|
John Betham |
19 |
345 |
2
|
Mike Pistorius |
16 |
314 |
2
|
Pete Van Valkenburg |
10 |
98 |
1
|
Lynn Zwahlen |
5 |
95 |
1
|
Jay Miller |
6 |
30 |
|
Dennis Doman |
7 |
59 |
|
Steve Stratton |
8 |
55 |
|
Dan Taylor |
4 |
45 |
|
Wayne Bower |
4 |
36 |
|
Dave Affleck |
3 |
15 |
|
Dave Terry |
1 |
10 |
|
Bryce Johnson |
1 |
8 |
|
Awards
All-WAC: Dave Atkinson, Dan Hansen, Paul Howard, Paul Linford, Ron Tree, Pete Van Valkenburg [13]
WAC Coach of the Year: LaVell Edwards [17]
References
- ^ "BYU flattens K-State". The Tulsa World. September 17, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tony Adams lifts Utah State to 42–19 victory over BYU". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. September 24, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ore. State contains BYU 29–3". The Times-News. October 1, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "BYU rallies to edge 49ers, 38–27". The Los Angeles Times. October 8, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Three first half touchdowns give Brigham Young margin". The Herald-Journal. October 15, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Slow-starting Devils drub BYU, 49–17". The Arizona Republic. October 15, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Twitty, Mike (October 29, 1972). "Strong BYU effort stifles Ram upset plan". Fort Collins Coloradoan. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Pokes tumble to BYU". Rapid City Journal. November 5, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wildcats top Bringham Young, 21–7". The Arizona Republic. November 12, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Cougars snuff Ute's bowl hopes, 16–7". The Daily Herald. November 19, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "BYU posts easy win". Tri-City Herald. November 26, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "1972 NCAA Football Statistics (BYU)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ a b "2010 BYU football media guide". Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. Retrieved November 21, 2010.
- ^ Sports Illustrated, 11 Sept 1972
- ^ "BYU in romp." Eugene Register-Guard. p. 4B. 1972 Sep 17. Retrieved 2022-Dec-08.
- ^ Broyles, Bob and Paul Guido. 50 Years of College Football: A Modern History of America's Most Colorful Sport.
- ^ The Deseret News. 20 November 2010
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