2006 BYU Cougars football team

The 2006 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cougars won the Mountain West Conference (MWC) championship outright with an 11–2 record (8–0 in the MWC), their first unbeaten conference play since 2001. This was also BYU's third season with at least a share of the MWC title (co-champions with CSU and Utah in 1999, and sole champions in 2001). The Cougars played their home games at LaVell Edwards Stadium, named after its legendary coach, LaVell Edwards.

2006 BYU Cougars football
Mountain West champion
Las Vegas Bowl champion
Las Vegas Bowl, W 38–8 vs. Oregon
ConferenceMountain West Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 15
APNo. 16
Record11–2 (8–0 MW)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorRobert Anae (2nd season)
Offensive schemeAir Raid
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumLaVell Edwards Stadium
(Capacity: 64,045)
Seasons
← 2005
2007 →
2006 Mountain West Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 16 BYU $   8 0     11 2  
No. 22 TCU   6 2     11 2  
Utah   5 3     8 5  
Wyoming   5 3     6 6  
New Mexico   4 4     6 7  
Air Force   3 5     4 8  
San Diego State   3 5     3 9  
Colorado State   1 7     4 8  
UNLV   1 7     2 10  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Pre-season

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Among the returning starters were quarterback John Beck, running back Curtis Brown, linebacker Cameron Jenson and tight end Jonny Harline.

During the season

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The Cougars started the season unranked in either the Coaches Poll or the AP Poll, and would not enter the polls until they had won their eighth game. They steadily rose in the rankings mainly on the strength of an offense that finished the regular season 5th in the nation in scoring and 4th in passing yards of 323.5 per game. The key to their offense was quarterback John Beck, who was one of the nation's top quarterbacks, running back Curtis Brown, and tight end Jonny Harline. They averaged a 465.5 yards and 36.8 points per game.

The Cougars played five bowl-bound teams during the season—Boston College, their second opponent from one of the six BCS conferences; Tulsa; TCU; the New Mexico; and their conference rivals, the Utah Utes. Notably, BYU defeated TCU (then ranked #15) by 31-17 putting an end to the Horned Frogs' 13-game winning streak.

Postseason awards and citations

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John Beck

  • MWC Offensive Player of the Week for seven weeks
  • Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year (unanimous)
  • Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Finalist
  • Davey O'Brien Award Semifinalist
  • Heisman candidate
  • Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week
  • First Team All-Mountain West Conference (unanimous)
  • Second Team All-America, The Sporting News
    • Honorable Mention All-America, CBSSportsline.com, Pro Football Weekly, College Football News

Jonny Harline

  • Mackey Award semifinalist
  • First Team All-America, The Sporting News, ESPN, College Football News, CBSSportsline.com, SI.com
    • Third Team All-America, Associated Press

Jake Kuresa

  • Second Team All-America, College Football News
    • Honorable Mention All-America, The Sporting News
  • First Team All-Mountain West Conference

Bronco Mendenhall

  • AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year

Curtis Brown

  • First Team All-Mountain West Conference

Sete Aulai

  • Second Team All-Mountain West Conference

Cameron Jensen

  • First Team All-Mountain West Conference (unanimous)
  • Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Week

Quinn Gooch

  • Second Team All-Mountain West Conference

Bryan Kehl

  • Honorable Mention All-Mountain West Conference

Jared McLaughlin

  • Second Team All-Mountain West Conference

Nate Meikle

  • Second Team All-Mountain West Conference
  • Academic All-District
  • National Scholar-Athlete Candidate

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 27:15 p.m.at Arizona*TBSL 13–1658,450
September 92:00 p.m.Tulsa*mtnW 49–2456,627
September 1610:00 a.m.at No. 23 Boston College*ESPN2L 23–30 2OT40,233
September 231:00 p.m.Utah State*
mtnW 38–058,659
September 284:00 p.m.at No. 17 TCUVersusW 31–1732,190
October 711:00 a.m.San Diego State
  • LaVell Edwards Stadium
  • Provo, UT
mtnW 47–1760,804
October 212:30 p.m.UNLV 
  • LaVell Edwards Stadium
  • Provo, UT
mtnW 52–763,341
October 2812:00 p.m.at Air ForceVersusW 33–1435,521
November 44:30 p.m.at Colorado StatemtnW 24–321,117
November 96:00 p.m.WyomingNo. 25
  • LaVell Edwards Stadium
  • Provo, UT
CSTVW 55–759,901
November 182:00 p.m.New MexicoNo. 23
  • LaVell Edwards Stadium
  • Provo, UT
mtnW 42–1763,814
November 251:30 p.m.at UtahNo. 21CSTV/mtnW 33–3145,330
December 216:00 p.m.vs. Oregon*No. 19ESPN2W 38–844,615
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Mountain time

Rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
APRVRVRVRVRV252321201916
Coaches PollRVRVRVRVRVRVRV2423212015
HarrisNot releasedRVRVRVRVRVRV24211919Not released
BCSNot released25232120Not released

Roster

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(as of September 2006) Archived 2008-10-16 at the Wayback Machine

Wide receivers

  • 2 Bryce Mahuika - Sophomore
  • 3 Michael Reed - Sophomore
  • 5 Brett Cooper - Senior
  • 9 Nathan Meikle - Senior
  • 10 Matt Allen - Junior
  • 19 Zac Erekson - Sophomore
  • 80 McKay Jacobson - Freshman
  • 82 Ryan Neeley - Junior
  • 83 Saia Hafoka - Sophomore
  • 85 Zac Collie - Senior
  • 86 Daniel Tervort - Freshman
  • 87 Matt Smith - Senior

Offensive guards

  • 62 Braden Hansen - Freshman
  • 74 Travis Bright - Sophomore
  • 76 Ray Feinga - Sophomore

Offensive tackles

  • 65 Dallas Reynolds - Sophomore
  • 66 Garrett Reden - Freshman
  • 68 David Oswald - Sophomore
  • 73 Jake Kuresa - Senior

Centers

  • 60 Ryan Freeman - Freshman
  • 67 Sete Aulai - Junior

Offensive linemen

  • 53 Tom Sorensen - Sophomore
  • 55 Jeff Rhea - Junior
  • 59 Eddie Keele - Senior
  • 61 Jackson Smith - Freshman
  • 69 John Barrett - Freshman
  • 71 Rick Wolfley - Freshman
  • 72 Nick Longshore - Senior
  • 75 Walter Kahaialii -Freshman
  • 77 Jason Speredon - Freshman
  • 79 Erik Freeman - Junior
  • 58 Jayson Clark - Senior
 

Tight ends

  • 13 Jonny Harline - Senior
  • 20 Daniel Coats - Senior
  • 37 Vic So'oto - Sophomore
  • 84 Jeff Allen - Freshman
  • 88 Andrew George - Freshman
  • 89 Brock Hansen - Freshman

Fullbacks

  • 11 Manase Tonga - Sophomore
  • 27 Joe Semanoff - Junior

Quarterbacks

  • 4 James Lark - Freshman
  • 7 Jason Beck - Senior
  • 11 Sam Doman - Freshman
  • 12 John Beck - Senior
  • 16 Jacob Bower - Freshman
  • 24 Kurt McEuen - Freshman

Running backs

  • 1 Fui Vakapuna - Sophomore
  • 6 Curtis Brown - Senior
  • 22 Ray Hudson - Sophomore
  • 31 Isaac Taylor - Sophomore
  • 32 Mike Hague - Freshman
  • 45 Harvey Unga - Freshman

Defensive line

  • 54 Kyle Luekenga - Sophomore
  • 57 Dan Alleto - Freshman
  • 75 Jordan Richardson - Freshman
  • 77 Ian Dulan - Freshman
  • 90 Mosese Foketi - Junior
  • 92 Brett Denney - Freshman
  • 93 Sean Sullivan - Junior
  • 94 Tommy Nelson - Freshman
  • 95 Temana Paongo - Freshman
  • 96 Kalama Kaluhiokalani - Freshman
  • 97 Garrett Eskelsen - Freshman

Defensive ends

  • 70 Hala Paongo - Senior
  • 84 Jan Jorgensen - Freshman
  • 91 Judd Anderton - Junior
  • 99 Matangi Tonga - Freshman

Defensive tackles

  • 51 Russell Tialavea - Freshman
  • 98 Romney Fuga - Freshman
 

Defensive backs

  • 4 Brandon Howard - Freshman
  • 6 Jordan Stephan - Freshman
  • 10 Jeff Sorensen - Freshman
  • 14 Tyler Kozlowski - Freshman
  • 16 Kellen Fowler - Junior
  • 18 Aaron Attig - Freshman
  • 19 Brandon Bradley - Freshman
  • 20 Michael Moore - Freshman
  • 22 Carter Mees - Freshman
  • 24 Nate Hutchinson - Freshman
  • 26 Aaron Gordon - Senior
  • 29 Kelly Bills - Sophomore
  • 30 Robbie Buckner - Freshman
  • 31 Chris Warner - Sophomore
  • 32 Scott Johnson - Sophomore
  • 39 Cole Miyahira - Senior

Linebackers

  • 35 Cameron Jensen - Senior
  • 36 Markell Staffieri - Junior
  • 41 Bryan Kehl - Junior
  • 42 Gary Lovely - Senior
  • 43 David Nixon - Sophomore
  • 44 Dan Van Sweden - Freshman
  • 45 Rex Doman - Junior
  • 45 Zed Mendenhall - Freshman
  • 46 Kelly Poppinga - Junior
  • 47 Terrance Hooks - Freshman
  • 48 Andrew Stacey - Senior
  • 49 Shawn Doman - Freshman
  • 50 Chris Bolden - Junior
  • 52 Aaron Wagner - Senior
  • 53 Austin Nielsen - Freshman
  • 55 Skyler Stephens - Sophomore
  • 56 Dan Bates - Senior
  • 58 Jeff Bell - Freshman
  • 63 Connell Hess - Freshman

Cornerbacks

  • 15 Justin Robinson - Senior
  • 21 Ben Criddle - Junior
  • 33 Andre Saulsberry - Junior
  • 34 Kayle Buchanan - Junior

Safeties

  • 25 Quinn Gooch - Junior
  • 23 David Tafuna - Junior
  • 28 Dustin Gabriel - Junior

Punters

  • 29 Derek McLaughlin - Senior
  • 30 Jared McLaughlin - Senior

Kickers

  • 30 Jared McLaughlin - Senior
  • 29 Derek McLaughlin - Senior
  • 38 Spencer Covert- Freshman
† Starter at position     * Injured

Regular season

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Arizona

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1 234Total
BYU 7 033 13
Arizona 3 373 16

Tulsa

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1 234Total
Tulsa 0 1077 24
BYU 7 141414 49
  • Source:

Boston College

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1 234OT2OTTotal
BYU 7 601000 23
• #23 Boston College 6 68307 30
  • Source:

Utah State

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1 234Total
Utah State 0 000 0
BYU 10 1477 38
  • Date: September 23
  • Location: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT
  • Game start: 1:06 p.m. MST
  • Elapsed time: 2:49
  • Game attendance: 58,659
  • Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C), partly cloudy, wind S 7 mph (11 km/h)
  • Referee: Bill Athan
  • TV announcers (mtn., BYU SN): James Bates, Todd Christensen, Anne Marie Anderson (mtn.)
    Chris Twitty, Gary Sheide (BYU SN)
  • Source:
1 234Total
• BYU 3 7714 31
#15 TCU 0 377 17
  • Source:

San Diego State

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1 234Total
San Diego State 3 0140 17
BYU 20 2070 47
  • Date: October 7
  • Location: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT
  • Game start: 12:06 p.m. MST
  • Elapsed time: 2:57
  • Game attendance: 60,804
  • Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C), cloudy, wind S 3 mph (4.8 km/h)
  • Referee: Rich Kollen
  • TV announcers (mtn., BYU SN): James Bates, Todd Christensen, Blaine Fowler (mtn.)
    Chris Twitty, Gary Sheide (BYU SN)
  • Source:

UNLV

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1 234Total
UNLV 0 700 7
BYU 21 71410 52
  • Date: October 21
  • Location: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT
  • Game start: 1:06 p.m. MST
  • Elapsed time: 3:15
  • Game attendance: 63,341
  • Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C), partly cloudy, wind WNW 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
  • Referee: Gerald Wright
  • TV announcers (mtn., BYU SN): James Bates, Todd Christensen, Blaine Fowler (mtn.)
    Chris Twitty, Gary Sheide (BYU SN)
  • Source:

Air Force

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1 234Total
• BYU 7 1439 33
Air Force 0 077 14
  • Date: October 28
  • Location: Falcon Stadium, Air Force Academy, CO
  • Game start: 12:06 p.m. MST
  • Elapsed time: 2:56
  • Game attendance: 35,521
  • Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C), mostly sunny, wind SE 10 mph (16 km/h)
  • Referee: Rich Kollen
  • TV announcers (VS.): Gary Bender, Glenn Parker, Argy Stathapolous
  • Source:

Colorado State

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1 234Total
BYU 7 773 24
Colorado State 0 300 3
  • Date: November 4
  • Location: Hughes Stadium, Fort Collins, CO
  • Game start: 4:36 p.m. MST
  • Elapsed time: 2:38
  • Game attendance: 21,117
  • Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C), partly cloudy, wind SW 5 mph (8.0 km/h)
  • Referee: Terry Leyden
  • TV announcers (mtn.): James Bates, Todd Christensen, Anne Marie Anderson
  • Source:

Wyoming

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1 234Total
Wyoming 0 007 7
#25 BYU 21 101014 55
  • Date: November 9
  • Location: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT
  • Game start: 6:06 p.m. MST
  • Elapsed time: 2:50
  • Game attendance: 59,901
  • Game weather: 38 °F (3 °C), overcast, wind N 4 mph (6.4 km/h)
  • Referee: Scott Novak
  • TV announcers (CSTV, BYU SN): Jonathan Coachman, Chris Rix (CSTV)
    Chris Twitty, Gary Sheide (BYU SN)
  • Source:

New Mexico

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1 234Total
New Mexico 3 0140 17
#23 BYU 14 1477 42
  • Date: November 18
  • Location: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT
  • Game start: 2:07 p.m. MST
  • Elapsed time: 3:02
  • Game attendance: 63,814
  • Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C), partly cloudy, no wind
  • Referee: Karl Richins
  • TV announcers (mtn., BYU SN): Rich Cellini, Jon Berger, Blaine Fowler (mtn.)
    Chris Twitty, Gary Sheide (BYU SN)
  • Source:

Utah

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1 234Total
#21 BYU 14 0019 33
Utah 0 10147 31
  • Date: November 25
  • Location: Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT
  • Game start: 1:38 p.m. MST
  • Elapsed time: 3:18
  • Game attendance: 45,330
  • Game weather: 42 °F (6 °C), mostly sunny, wind SW 4 mph (6.4 km/h)
  • Referee: Rich Kollen
  • TV announcers (mtn., CSTV): James Bates, Todd Christensen, Blaine Fowler
  • Announcer James Bates: "Five in a row won't happen." Referring to Utah winning the past four years in the rivalry series.

Las Vegas Bowl

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Las Vegas Bowl
1 234Total
#19 BYU 0 17714 38
Oregon 0 008 8
  • "Um, remind me again who's in the Mountain West Conference." - Mike Bellotti on BYU's undefeated conference record
  • "Collectively, no, they couldn't compete at the highest level in the Pac-10. They lost to Arizona this year. They wouldn't even be a midlevel Pac-10 team." - Bellotti on BYU as Pac-10 team
  • BYU first bowl win since 1996 season

References

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