BYU's season in review.

The Cougars finished another season with 11 wins.  This is their third 11-wins season out of the last four, and that is no small accomplishment.  Their most successful four year period if you count total number of wins.  However, I have to give a nod to the Cougars from 1983 to 1986.  In that time-frame the Cougars won 3 conference championships, one national championship and had a 25-game winning streak.  In three of those four seasons, they only lost one conference game--that infamous loss to UTEP.  And during that time-frame, they never lost to the Utes.  And the first of those four years featured a quarterback who is now in the NFL Hall of Fame.

This year started with promise, a win against Oklahoma in Dallas and a blowout victory over Tulane.  Then the wheels fell off against Florida State.  The Cougars again rebounded before loosing at home against TCU.  The Horned Frogs deserve a shot at the National Championship, but loosing like that to Florida State really mars what was otherwise a fairly good season for the Cougars, even by BYU standards.  The Cougars could have, and maybe if they had been better prepared, would have sent Bobby Bowden out of coaching without a bowl game.

As for Max Hall.  In the long run, I agree with one sentiment of Gordon Monson.  At worst, Max Hall was an adequate custodian of BYU's quarterback tradition.  Who knows, Hall's bust may very be next to Steve Young's in Canton one day. 

 BYU will enter next season with a lot of shoes to fill.  There will be four vying to replace Max Hall at quarterback, and there is really no heir apparent.  Riley Nelson was Max's backup all season, but did not get a chance to play except in mop-up duty.  James Lark flew home from Russia just in time to be on the sideline in Las Vegas and Jake Heaps was there with him.  Jason Munns will be returning from his mission in May.  I expect that Munns will be the bridesmaid as he will not be around for spring ball.

But Max Hall isn't the only one leaving.  Both tight ends, Pitta and Goerge are gone.  So is blocking back Manase Tonga.  On defense; Matt Bauman, Coleby Clawson, Brett Denney, Shawn Doman, Terrance Hooks, Jan Jorgensen and Vic So'oto will not be back.  It will be an interesting off-season in Provo.  It could be BYU's turn in the BCS next season, but this time, that quest may be overly optimistic.