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Show August 29, 979 Pog 6 1 Sporfstocular Cougars tough shouM he rough Even though the BYU Cougars have only ten starters from last seasons championship crew, the team looks to be the class of the Western Athletic Conference in 1979. Coach La Veil Edwards feels that redshirts and transfers can fill the gaps in the C receiving corps, and defensive unit. Perhaps six months ago it appeared BYU had a surplus of quality quarterbacks, but not anymore. Jim McMahon, who came off the bench to rally the Cougars to several key wins last season underwent an operation during the off season and has pretty well opted to redshirt, feeling the knee is not quite ready yet. Former performer, Marc Wilson, suffered from appendicitis a few weeks ago and hopefully will be ready when the team opens its 1979 schedule September 8th at Texas A and M. Although the Cougars lose a lot of receiving value with Mike Chronister (52 catches) and tight end Tom Thompson 34 receptions) having graduated, Coach Edwards isnt worried and thinks the new corps will be even more effective. Flanker Kent Tingey will become the main man. BYU also will be without its top two running backs from a year ago, now that fullback Bill Ring (520 yards, eight TDs) and tailback Casey Wingard (32S C have departed. The Cougars are usually airborne, but still, a threat of a running game is yards) IXtowamriTs crerotf oturt to (iredU-sCiDi- ni Utahs Bill Howard wants a After championship. missing the coveted title by just a game last season, he feels his Utes can go all the way this year. A complete turnaround is difficult to accomplish in just one year but thats what Coach The line returns defensive end Mat Mendenhall and Doug Stromberg at tackle. UCLA transfer Glen Titensor will probably be the other end. All-WA- C Starting cornerbacks Bill Schoeplfin and Dave Francis are back, and the safety spots will belong to John Neal and Mark Brady in all likelihood. Placement specialist Brent Johnson is joined by Dave Taylor while Clay Brown and Mike Mees share the punting. Griffin. The junior ace led the team in pass interceptions and tied an NCAA record by returning three of them for touchdowns. Returning starters Tony Reed and Forrest Henry join Griffin, with Derek Daniels, Vincent Brock and James Wilson being among the reserves in that area. Mark Pajden is the sole linebacker who returns, but lettermen with game experience are Dave Lobaugh and Dan Howard did with his Utah club. Two seasons ago the Utes were a meager 8 but in 78 they to rebounded, mirror-imagelHoward is hoping the current rate of improvement carries over to 1979. 3-- 8-- 3. With 41 letterman returning from the second place WAC outfit, the coach is setting his sights on the top perch and league crown. Overall we should be slightly better than last season, Howard estimates. They wont be any better if he Clary. Steve Clark, Gene LaRocque and Frank Negrete shared the tackle spots for the most part last year and will do so once more. The ends can pose a problem, with Jeff Lyall and starter Mike Kinsella graduated. Dan Clark and Frank Sheldon return and they have done some playing and frosh Craig Child might crack the line-uTwo-tim- e choice Rich Partridge has graduated with his punting average, but placekicker Jeff Hucko FGs) returns. Utah beat some strong teams last year (Iowa, BYU, and San Diego St.) and has added some other mighty foes in 79 Washington and Tennessee. C doesnt find a comparable replacement for graduated quarterback Randy Gomez (over 2,000 yards and 19 TDs last year) . Backup Harlan Karnofsky and juco transfers Floyd Hodge and Ricky Hardin are the contenders for the job, so at least Howard isnt down to a single outlet and has several available youngsters. The quarterback will be somewhat fortunate with five of ar MA WAC y, essential. Doug Williams and Scott Phillips have seen some action, but Edwards may turn to redshirts, transfers and recruits for assistance. The offensive line is long on experience and talent. Tom Bell, selection will lead the an charge from his left position. Tackle Doug Wilkes will be on his flank. Scott Nielsen will be the center, and the right side will be handled by guard Danny Hansen and tackle Nick Eyre. Offensive coordinator Doug Scovil returns to Cougar country stint with after a brief one-yethe NFLs Chicago Bears, lending his expertise to an already dynamic offense. Four defensive starters return but some redshirt players from 78 will be called upon to make their pressence known. ' The linebacking should be letterman strong with three-yea-r Gary Kama in the middle and Danny Frazier ready to become star material on the weakside. p. the top six receivers back. Heading the list is soph Jim Teahan (29 passes, 488 yards) and tight end Steve Folsom (23 catches, five TDs). Corey Hansen and Doug Watson will pick up where the departed Frank Henry left off. Also, the three leading ground gainers are back, with Tony Lindsay (803 yards), Robbie Richeson (406) and Dei Popcorn Rodgers (207 in just three games). They'll be operating behind a line led by Rich Ayres, Denny Wagner and Steve White, components of an offense that achieved 380.4 yards per game last season. While the offense was chewing up defenses, the Utes' defense was allowing the least yardage of any Utah team in 14 years. In addition, it led the conference in total defense and defense versus the run. An integral part of that contingent is secondary wizard Jeff All-WA- C (U-for-- |