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How Far Will 12 Wins Go?
The Provo Daily Herald Feature Story
Dec. 13, 2001
By Patrick Ridgell PROVO, Utah - We're looking at the big picture here, the one that includes how BYU broke in a new coach in 2001 after the former one lasted 29 successful years, and how it's trying to raise money for new facilities, and how it missed a bowl game in 2000 for the second time in four years. Going 12-1 in 2001 was crucial for the Cougars. "I don't know if you can put the importance on something like that," BYU recruiting coordinator and running backs coach Paul Tidwell said. "LaVell (Edwards) and the staff and the tradition that's been here at BYU is just outstanding. To come in and continue that and even have the type of season that we did is remarkable. "It's just something that we needed to do and Gary (Crowton, the new coach who replaced Edwards) needed to do to continue the tradition at BYU and to establish his name. ... If we had come in and fallen on our face, I think it would have been disastrous." BYU's job now is to parlay a season in which it won the Mountain West Conference and climbed into the top 10 in both major polls into a successful recruiting season. As soon as the Cougars returned from Hawaii Sunday, Crowton sent as many coaches as possible out to recruit. Crowton made three in-home visits Monday and Tuesday. The late season has put BYU in a catch-up position. "The thing that was good about (12-1) is it got off to a good start," Crowton said. "It should help us in recruiting, I'm hoping. "The only problem I have with recruiting is we're behind because we played two games in December when most everybody else was done in November. So we haven't been out on the road as much as everybody else. Right now, I've got everybody out that can be out." Crowton believes the season has created momentum for recruiting. "People believe we're going in the right direction," Crowton said. "There's some people who weren't sure what was going to happen with myself coming in and what style of offense we'd have and would the players like the new coaching staff or whatever. "When I first got here, mostly (recruits) were asking questions like 'are you going to run the ball or just throw it every down,' 'what kind of personnel groups are you going to use?' All of those things are visible now, so they can see it, they don't have to ask questions. So now, the questions are a little bit different. I think we've established a solid base." BYU coaches can't comment on specific recruits until they sign a letter of intent to attend BYU. Signing day is Feb. 6. Tidwell, however, gave an example of what kind of difference the success of 2001 could mean to this year's recruiting class. "A great wide receiver -- I won't say any names -- but I don't know if we would have had a shot at him," Tidwell said. "But now he's very interested in our school and loves our offense and the excitement that it brings. "I think a combination of an exciting offense, a successful season and going to a bowl game is just priceless. "The feedback we get has been very positive. And this is a banner year for LDS kids, too. In the top 50 kids in the country, we probably got five or six LDS kids. They're being heavily recruited. We just hope we can get those kids." EXTRA POINTS: Crowton said senior running back Mike Nielsen, who suffered what was thought to be a season-ending leg injury in the opener against Tulane, might be available for the Liberty Bowl (Dec. 31, 2 p.m. kickoff, ESPN). BYU practices today.
Patrick Ridgell can be reached at pridgell@heraldextra.com
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