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Show Sporfstaculor Page 10 September 20, 1979 'V' qjw0tmi)sadk8 sup It is not uncommon for football teams to take pride in two offensive superstars which fans drool over, newspapers devote ink to, and leagues like to tag with special honors. It is usually a quarterback-receive- r combination a dynamic duo exalted above the rest. Brigham Young University is one of those situations, only it differs from the others. It seems the Cougars are in the enviable positon of having two superstars. The only catch is that just one is allowed to trot on the field at a time, since both are quarterbacks. Quarterback Jim McMahon, a junior from Roy, Utah, and senior Marc Wilson from Seattle, Washington, hold respectable position in Western Athletic Conference history. In a league known for its open offense and pass-hapquarterbacks, WAC coaches have py tagged both Wilson and McMahon among the best, unison is the guy who likes to break NCAA records, and McMahon was named the 1978 quarterback the first time ever the honor was bestowed on a sophomore. Even stranger than BYUs depth at QB is the similarity in the careers of the two signal All-WA- C callers. Both achieved sophomores; success as both had the first chance to take charge after replacing NCAA passing leaders at the quarterback position; and both made their debut againrft Colorado State. In 1977 Wilson was a reserve quarterback playing behind the Gifford Cougars Nielsen. On October 8 in Corvallis, Oregon, BYU was protecting a 19-- 0 lead against Oregon State when the roof fell in on Nielsen. - The 5 Nielsen, who was one of the front runners for file Heisman Trophy at the time, suffered a knee injury which sidelined him for the remainder of the season. The Cougars lost to the Beavers one of two losses that season. Wilson got the nod to start the following week against an undefeated team from Colorado State in Ft. Collins, Colorado. CSU led the WAC in defense and was 0 and on the verge of obtaining a national ranking for the first time in school history. The day of the game, the local newspaper in Ft. Collins quoted some CSU defensive players expressing disappointment at not having a crack at Nielsen. 6-- 24-1- 9, 5-- Wilson blasted the Ram secondary for 15 of 25 passes for 332 yards and seven touchdowns. CSU fans stared in wonder at the scoreboard at the games end which read BYU 63, CSU 17. Wilsons seven touchdowns was a new WAC record., In the next Wilson was two days, the named WAC Back of the West, United Press International Back of the Week, Associated Press Back of the Week, the Sports IUustrateds Offensive Player of the Week. He again received the . 6-- 5 UPI honor later that season. The former reserve from Seattle went on the set one NCAA record and tie another. Against Utah, Wilson threw for more yardage than any passer in collegiate history, connecting on 26 of 41 for 571 yards. Two weeks later against Long Beach State he completed 27 passes in the first half to tie another NCAA record (most completed in one half). When the 1977 season was over, Wilson led BYU to its second NCAA passing title averaging 341.6 yards per game. BYU was second in scoring offense (39.4) and third in total offense (470.3) BYU ended up 16th nationally in AP rankings. Wilson garnered his share of plaudits. He was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year and Mention. Honorable by both wire services. That was history. High expectations hovered around the Cougar camp before the 1978 season with Wilson returning with nearly all his receivers. The 1978 campaign offered several surprises, Who knows? McMahon un- - usHiminM springs drills. And It is an interesting dilemma, offensive I an however. In the third game of the season, the Cougars were at home against CSU in a regionally televised game; and it was no secret the Rams wanted to atone for the loss in 1977. Early in the first quarter Wilson was tackled and received a severe bruise to Ms hamstring muscle. Entering the game as Wilson's replacement was McMahon-o- nly a sophomore. 185 pounder sparked The the Cougars to a 32-- victory, hitting on seven on nine passes for 112 yards and one TD. He also rushed for 80 yards. It was McMahons versatility with both the pass and the run that earned him the starting spot a few weeks later against Texas-E- l Paso. BYU coach LaVell Edwards still maintains the pass is the primary offensive thrust. But in leading the Cougars to the third WAC title in as many years, McMahon made opponents respect his shifty feet and 4.6 speed as well as his passing arm. Two of the Cougars longest plays of the 1978 season were McMahon centered. He led the 4 Cats to a bombing of Wyoming in the conference game title game by passing for 317 yards and two touchdowns. 6-- 1, 6 MARC WRSON will call the shots for Coach LoVell Edwards in 79 as long as ho is healthy. 48-1- One of his tosses was a bomb to tight end Clay Brown wMch was not good for a score but set a WAC record for the longest nonscoring pass play. McMahons ability to both pass and run prompted WAC coaches allto vote him to the first-teaconference team. Jim joins other standout QBs including ASUs Dennis' Sproul (1977) Gifford Nielsen of BYU (1976), ASUs Danny White, and the Cougars Virgil Carter (1965), to name just a few. Which of the two quarterbacks will the Cougars start in 1979? ( m ' SHOWN HERE os a former Roy High player, Jim McMahon (9) now stars Young. Coach Edwards plans to redshirt Jimmy in 79. with-Brigha- m |