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Show a look back Utah in the polls ASSOCIATED PRESS Rank School Points 1 Nebraska 1,539 2 Perm State 1,497 3 Colorado 1,410 4 Florida State 1,320 5 Alabama 1,312 6 Miami 1,249 7 Florida 1,153 8 Texas A&M 1,117 9 Auburn 1,110 10 Utah 995 11 Oregon 810 12 Michigan 732 13 Southern Cal 691 14 Ohio State 672 15 Virginia 648 16 Colorado State 630 17 North Carolina State 511 18 Brigham Young 500 19 Kansas State 496 20 Arizona 364 21 Washington State 344 22 Tennessee 303 23 Boston College 236 24 Mississippi State 160 25 Texas 90 USA TODAY/CNN Rank School Points 1 Nebraska 1,542 2 Penn State 1,496 3 Colorado 1,382 4 Alabama 1,344 5 Florida State 1,329 6 Miami 1,229 7 Florida 1,186 8 Utah 1,029 9 Ohio State 842 10 Brigham Young 832 11 Oregon 831 12 Michigan 787 13 Virginia 765 14 Colorado State 681 15 Southern Cal 670 16 Kansas State 661 17 North Carolina State 626 18 Tennessee 520 19 Washington State 449 20 Arizona 405 21 North Carolina 313 22 Boston College 304 23 Texas 244 24 Virginia Tech 189 25 Mississippi State 158 UTAH'S MARCH UP THE POLLS WEEKS IN THE POLLS ASSOCIATED PRESS Date Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Nov. 27 Dec. 4 Rank 25 21 18 12 9 12 21 15 12 14 10 USA TODAY/CNN Date Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Nov. 27 Dec. 4 Jan. 3 .... Rank 23 21 18 15 11 8 14 20 13 1132 4 8 A stunning come-from-behind 16-13 win over Arizona in the Freedom Bowl capped a record-breaking 10-2 season for the Utes, who received national recognition never previously accorded a Utah gridiron team. The Utes, who opened the season as Sports Illustrated'^ No. 20 preseason pick, would break into both the Associated Press and USA Today-CNN Coaches polls before the season's midpoint. Following is the time line on the latter two polls: Sept. 25-The Utes are ranked No. 23 in the USA Today- CNN Coaches poll, after jumping to a 3-0 start, including a startling 34-16 road win over eventual Pac-10 champion Oregon. Oct. 2-For the first time since 1947, when Utah was ranked No. 18 by AP for one week, the Utes cracked the AP rankings. Despite sitting out with a bye, the 4- 0 Utes checked in at No. 25 in the AP poll and moved up to No. 21 in the coaches poll. Oct. 9-Utah shoots to No. 21 in the AP-the first time a Ute team has ever received an AP ranking for two straight weeks. The Utes are tabbed No. 18 by the coaches. Oct. 16-The 6-0 Utes earn the No. 18 position in the AP poll and are No. 15 by vote of the coaches. Oct. 23-After upsetting No. 12 Colorado State in Ft. Collins, the still undefeated Utes rise all the way to No. 12 (AP) and No. 11 (coaches). The ranking is the highest in school history, topping the 1964,9-2 Liberty Bowl champion Utes, who finished the season with a No. 14 UPI rank- Quarterback Mike McCoy helped Utah defeat Arizona in the 1994 Freedom Bowl. 1 9 9 5 U T A H F O O T B A LL ing. Oct. 30-Off to the fastest start in school history (8-0, tied), the Utes burst into the AP Top-10 for the first time ever-climbing to No. 9 (No. 8 coaches). They are one of five unbeaten, untied teams nationally. Nov. 6-Utah's unexpected 23-21 loss at New Mexico knocks it to No. 12 (AP) and No. 14 (coaches). Nov. 13-A second-straight loss-this time to Air Force-drops Utah all the way down to No. 21 (AP) and No. 20 (coaches). Nov. 20-Utah's stunning 34-31 win over Brigham Young propels the Utes back to No. 15 (AP) and No. 13 (coaches). Nov. 27-A week after finishing the regular season, Utah moves back up to No. 12 (AP), remaining at No. 13 in the coaches' poll. Dec. 4-Another off week results in a No. 14 position (AP) for the Utes, No. 12 in the coaches' poll. Jan. 3-After defeating Pac-10 runner-up Arizona, 16-13, in the Freedom Bowl, the Utes close 1994 ranked in the Top-10-a school first. The coaches poll awards Utah a No. 8 final ranking, while AP hands a No. 10 rank to the Utes. a year to remember UTAH! B. V. U. TIME OUTS LI TOGO BALL OH ***** •*•*£ *.**• 7994 clockwise from top: Once again, it's Utah 34, BYU 31! Bronzell Miller and Luther Elliss celebrate the best season in school history; Ron McBride's happy face tells the story of 1994; Cal Beck races 72 yards on a game-breaking kickoff return at the Freedom Bowl; punter Jason Jones exults in the endzone after scoring on a fake punt at Oregon. F R E E D O M BOWL C H A M P I O NS es rewrite the books The Utah football team hit the books hard in 1994, then dispensed a lesson to its opponents. The Utes, who rewrote the record book with each passing week, proved a near impossible assignment for opposing teams. Ten teams fell victim to Utah's rugged syllabus in this record-setting season. Not until three quarters of the season came and went did a team find an answer to Utah's attack. Four bowl teams would flunk their test with the Utes during the remarkable 10-2 year. And the pollsters gave Utah a final grade in the nation's Top-10. It doesn't take much studying to determine the reason for the Utes' success. Their defense, the best across the board in the Western Athletic Conference, ranked in the Top-20 nationally in total defense (18th), rushing defense (9th) and passing defense (13th). Their offense, the most prolific scoring unit in the WAC, ranked fourth nationally, at 36.4 ppg. Their play in the clutch- phenomenal at times- featured a game-saving endzone-to-endzone interception return, and two kickoff returns of 65- plus yards that set up game-winning touchdowns. The impressive numbers on both sides of the ball helped the Utes jump to an 8-0 start-tying a 64-year-old school record. Included in the streak were road victories over eventual Pac-10 champion Oregon (34-16), and previously undefeated and No. 12-ranked Colorado State (45- 31), in a nationally televised contest. Also sprinkled in were blowouts of Idaho State (66- 0), Wyoming (41-7) and UTEP (52-7). A week after Utah slammed the door on Wyoming, which entered the game with the WAC's best offense, the Cowboys scored 32 points against national champion Nebraska (losing 42-32, in Lincoln). With the Utes' record-setting pace came recognition. They broke into the Associated Press Top-25 poll on Oct. 2 at No. 25, owners of a 4-0 record. The following week, they jumped to No. 21, marking the first time a U. team had ever been ranked for two consecutive weeks. They would not drop out of the Top-25 all season. After winning its eighth game without a loss on Oct. 29 against UTEP, Utah shot all the way to No. 9 in the AP poll (No. 8 USA Today/CNN)-the highest ranking in school history. Utah failed to maintain its lofty perch, however, when a week later, a New Mexico field goal with 0:32 remaining gave the Lobos a 23-21 upset. The following week, the Utes BronzellMiller and the Utes sacked Oregon in Utah's 34-16 win over the Pac-10 champs. blew an early 17-0 lead and the game at Air Force. But even in defeat, these Utes established a school first: The goal posts came down on back-to-back weeks at the U. opponents' fields. Out of the conference race, losers of two straight, down to No. 21 in the polls and faced with elimination from the bowl picture, the Utes staggered into their traditional finale with archrival Brigham Young. They must have reviewed their notes from 1993, because the Utes kicked their slump against the bowl-bound Cougars by the identical score of the previous year: 34-31. It had 1 9 9 5 U T A H F O O T B A LL been 23 years since a U. football team had last beaten B YU in back-to-back seasons. This time, it was Utah's goal posts that bit the turf. The Freedom Bowl came calling for a second- straight year after the Utes' ninth win. The polls restored Utah to a No. 14 (AP) and No. 12 (USA-Today/CNN) ranking. The team didn't disappoint. In a miracle reminiscent of their regular season win over B YU, the Utes climbed from the brink of defeat to edge Arizona, 16-13. Players from all facets of the game stepped up during the record-breaking season. Senior Luther Elliss made nearly everyone's All- America first team and collected WAC Defensive Player of the Year honors after anchoring Utah's stifling defense. Sophomore Harold Lusk picked off a game-saving interception in the Colorado State endzone and returned it 100 yards to pay dirt-securing Utah's upset of the WAC champion Rams. Senior quarterback Mike McCoy polished off critical drives with last minute touchdown passes against Colorado State, BYU and Arizona. Freshmen rose to the head of the class, as well. Cal Beck set up both game-deciding TDs in the BYU and Arizona games, with 67 and 72- yard kickoff returns, respectively. Beck was named MVP of the Freedom Bowl after his 72- yard dash against the Wildcats. Classmate Kevin Dyson capped the Freedom Bowl festivities by coming from nowhere to catch McCoy's desperation fourth-down heave in the endzone for the go-ahead score. Seven Utes made the all-WAC first-team- more than any other school. They were: Elliss, center Lance Scott, receiver Curtis Marsh, offensive tackle Anthony Brown, linebacker Mark Rexford and defensive backs Ernest Boyd and Kareem Leary. When the Utes finally closed the book on 1994, it took its place alone on the shelf as the best football season in school history. |
