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Show Scoreboard Business Weather SPORTS B4 BS B8 EDITOR: STEVE CAMERON Bl THE DAILY HERALD 3 SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 1WJ mm 2 Ellison says BYU can improve implementation of Honor Code Steve Cameron 0 There wasn't MEMPHIS, Tenn. much left in the rubble of the Liberty Bowl. But perhaps the BYU coaching staff found the germ of an idea. Even as Shaun King was marching Tulane up and down the field while the Cougar offense pretty much stayed stuck in neutral, you started thinking, well, maybe... Maybe this New Year should signal a slight change in philosophy for BYU football. If so, it would start with the realization that the good old days have come and gone. That the dizzying passing game which once terrorized hapless foes needs to be Why? It's simple. For all the obvious reasons, BYU isn't likely to recruit the kind of players who can walk out and dominate a football game. Likewise, defenses have developed complicated zones, blitzes and press coverages to take away all those easy completions the Cougs once enjoyed. Bottom line: Without a very special quarterback or even a runner like Ronney Jenkins, BYU can't spread the field or put defenses back on their heels anymore. SO HOW can you tinker with something that's been so successful and not wreck the gizmo entirely? I think the Cougar bosses might take a hint from Tulane, and realize that nothing equalizes talent and gives you offensive options like a mobile quarterback. No, this isn't a call for benching Kevin Feterik, who played well and deserves credit for being a lot tougher cookie than he looks. Feterik's fine, and perhaps so are some of the pretenders to his throne. But remember, Kevin and all his Kevin potential successors Gilbride, Matt Berry, Bret Engemann and Co. are drop-bac- k throwers. Strictly. And I'm not sure the Cougs can and hope to remain be anywhere near effective as we've all come to expect. THE LONE exception to that litany of quarterback hopefuls is Brandon Doman. sophomore-to-be I know, I know. Despite high hopes all throughout the LaVell Edwards era, no returned missionary has ever led the Cougars to a conference title. Fair enough, but maybe Doman could give the Cougs some versatility at their most important position. The kid is a great athlete, one of the most honored prep players in Utah history at Skyline High four years ago. Now, can he become an accurate enough passer to fit into the BYU scheme, perhaps adding nprmt-ou- t, and othor capabilities quarterback-drato an offense that needs a jump-start- ? Don't know. Doman launched exactly two passes this season. But Fm thinking the coaches need to find out about Brandon, because it might be nice to have a quarterback tandem featuring a drop-bac- k guy athlete. along with a multi-threRemember, Steve Young couldn't throw very well when he first came to Provo. Again, no knock on Feterik, but how about looking at an offense featuring both Feterik and Domari with their very different skills? Arizona won 12 games this year with that philosophy, by the way. And these Cougs need more weapons. So come spring, let's take a serious took at Brandon Doman. . r ' Steve Cameron is sports editor of The Daily Herald. 'I i . Just a thought: Maybe the Cougs need a new look if s close to Jenkins, Robertson and junior college football programs at Cerritos and El Camino community By DICK HARMON The Daily Herald BYU can MEMPHIS, Tenn. find a better way to deal with black athletes who make mistakes. That's the message from senior safety Chris Ellison, who played his final game for the Cougars at the Liberty Bowl on Thursday. Ellison spent three years in BYLTs football program after transferring to Provo from El Camino Junior College with Omarr Morgan in 1996. He's a respected team leader and player. Ellison relished his experience and education at BYU. He believes those who break Honor Code promises they've signed have failed themselves, the school and teammates. Ellison is a roommate to Ronney Jenkins and Heshi Robertson, two star Cougars who were suspended from playing in BYTTs final game of the 1998 season. So, when Ellison speaks, he has some valuable knowledge from a black perspective. The Jenkins-Robertso- n suspensions have drawn interest of the NAACP, the Los Angeles black community, and the southern California newspaper The X FN ft a colleges. "There's got to be a better way," Ellison said of the frustrating expulsion cases that keep plaguing the Cougar program. Ellison grew up in Inglewood, Calif, and understands challenges black athletes have in Provo after leaving south central Los Angeles. When BYU recruiters come calling in Los Angeles, selling the school, when players accept, he'd like to see it work for both parties. "I think expelling black players will set BYlTs football program back. Recruits are going to see there's no way around the Honor Code, they'll get kicked out, they'll not want to deal with it and go somewhere else and play. "But this goes in cycles, unfortunately. There are players who do keep their commitment, believe in Another perspective: Cougar defensive action against Arizona State earlier this way to deal with those who make Honor Code mistakes. will come." Ellison believes non-LDplayers need to be prepared to deal with the Honor Code. "It's a challenge. I've loved every minute here at BYU. I've loved my association with my teammates and coaches. I've learned a lot from the discipline and I'm better for it. But Postmen pace win Z. for UVSC ruins i LAS VEGAS If UVSC coach Jeff Reinert wondered how his players would PASADENA, Calif. (AP) Wisconsin felt right at home in the Rose Bowl and really made UCLA wish it was somewhere else. Ron Dayne ran for 246 four yards and a record-tyin- g 96-9- 1 38-3- 1 top-ranke- d Pasadena after losing its shot at the national champiY onship. The sixth-ranke- d Bruins had hoped for a trip to Tempe, Ariz., for the Fiesta Bowl, but a loss to Miami on Dec. 5 gave them a game in their own back yard instead. (i l 4 JUS. " ft i 1 . A 1 0 ' 1 , ft - f f 'M"TCHAELCAlEU;ii)Tlie,Associtrf The Daily Herald How about PROVO some free pizza? As if a rare afternoon start for the traditional rivalry game between BYU and Utah weren't enough, the Cougar athletic depart Press Bruins upended: quarterback Cade McNown is knocked head over heels as he runs with the ball in the third quarter of Friday's Rose Bowl. Wisconsin bumped the Bruins, 38-3- 49-3- 3 UCLA Aggies pay visit to Marriott ByTADWALCH ( f . See ROSE, B2 respond after suffering their first loss of season, he need not have worried. The Wolverines stormed out to a lead over North Idaho, then held on for win Friday at the a Las Vegas Invitational. Shaking off the effects of Thursday's overtime loss to Indian Hills, the Wolverines played what was perhaps their best ball of the season in building a huge lead over a talented Cardinal team. The Wolverines shot over 70 percent from the field for the first 15 minutes, then cooled off to finish at 57 percent for the half. They led at the break, then withstood a furious Cardinal rally in the second half for the victory. Nate Knight and Greg Barratt dominated in the paint for UVSC. They were a from the combined field until Barratt missed a layup in the closing minutes. with 27 Knight was points and seven rebounds. 22-poi- victory over UCLA, which had to settle for playing in With Badgers fans creating a sea of red at the Rose Bowl, however, UCLA must have felt as if it were on the road. "We thought we were national champions a month ago," offensive tackle Kris Farris said. "I blame this on the offense. We gave them a touchdown and that's what won the game." That touchdown came at the start of the fourth quarter with No. 9 Wisconsin r See ELLISON, B2 ' towries touchdowns Friday in a , S Sentinel. These parties want to know if there is a racial double standard at the Provo university, according to an interested source in Los Angeles Dayime ' what they signed and they'll have success at BYU and more recruits Afro-Americ- 'KEVIN LEEThe ni!y Herald back Chris Ellison, shown above in season, thinks BYU can find a better '. ment is offering pizza gratis to fans who stay for the second half of today's Marriott Center doubleheader, a women's game between BYU and Portland. It's the final preseason bout for both $he men ) and women The men will tip off at 3 (4-7- p.m. against the Aggies who have had an active holiday season, winning their own Gossner Foods Classic (7-3- ), in Logan with wins over Norfolk State and Lafayette. Won't that be an advantage for Utah State, since WHENi Today TIPOFFi 3 p.m. (5:30 p.m. for women's game between BYU and Portland) SITEt Marriott Center TVi None RADIOi Cougar Network, including KSL1160 RECORDSi BYU 4-- Utah State 7-- 3 SERIESi BYU leads 129-8- 5 LAST MEETINGi Utah State won 72-6In Logan despite 27 points by See UVSC, B2 Mekeli Wesley. AT A GLANCEi The Aggies give away size to every team they play, but superior athleticism allows them to outrebound opponents by an average of 9.1 boards a game. Utah State upset Utah in Logan 62-5a huge win for first-yea- r Aggie coach Stew Morrill, who was hired away from Colorado State. Morrill, a Provo native, was offered the BYU job two years ago. (6-5- ). tftfw--i;- See COUGS, B2 3 |