1986 WAC PREVIEW : Latest Model BYU Quarterback : Lindsley, Like Those Before Him, Is Inexperienced

The rest of the Western Athletic Conference should rest easier since perennial champion Brigham Young University doesn’t have an experienced quarterback this year.

Not so fast.

The last time BYU started an inexperienced quarterback, his name was Robbie Bosco. Before Bosco, inexperienced quarterbacks at BYU were Steve Young, Jim McMahon, Marc Wilson and Gifford Nielsen.

The latest quarterback off the BYU production line is Steve Lindsley, who has thrown only three passes for BYU, completing two for 26 yards.

Lindsley, an all-state quarterback at Skyline High School in Salt Lake City, played one year at Ricks Community College before going on an 18-month Mormon mission in Anaheim. After two years away from football, Lindsley returned to Ricks and earned second-team All-American honors.

He redshirted one year at BYU and was the third-string quarterback last year. So now, two months before his 25th birthday, Lindsley has become the next in the line of the Wilsons, McMahons and Youngs.

“You can talk in terms of inexperience,” BYU Coach LaVell Edwards said. “Our quarterbacks have always been in the program two or three years before they play for us. We never have to go with a freshman or sophomore. That gives a guy the chance to develop.”

Normally, quarterback controversies don’t develop at BYU, which shared the conference title with the Air Force Academy last year, because the starter usually was the backup the previous season.

However, BYU’s top two quarterbacks last year were seniors. Thus, a quarterback controversy involving Lindsley, Mike Young (Steve’s brother) and Bob Jensen has evolved, with Lindsley holding the edge.

Chris Tunis, who hosts a weekly radio talk show with Edwards, said the quarterback situation has been a hot topic lately.

“People aren’t exactly sure who they want,” Tunis said. “It’s kind of split among the folks. They put their trust in LaVell Edwards.”

At BYU’s final spring intrasquad game, there were actually factions in the stands pulling for each quarterback.

“The other two played better than Steve,” Edwards said. “What we did was probably fractionalize the community. Overall, Steve has been the most consistent. If he gets the job done, we’ll stay with him. If not, we won’t live or die with him just because we made the decision to start him.”

Going into the season, there appears to be three tiers of WAC teams. The upper class is BYU, Utah and Air Force. The middle class is Colorado State, Hawaii and San Diego State. The lower class is New Mexico, Wyoming and Texas El Paso.

The WAC outlook:

Air Force Academy

Last season’s record: 7-1, 12-1.

Finish: First, Tie.

Coach: Fisher DeBerry.

Top players: Pat Evans, fullback; Terry Maki, linebacker.

Outlook: The Falcons must replace eight starters on offense and eight on defense. The man they will miss most is wishbone quarterback Bart Weiss, the WAC’s Offensive Player of the Year in 1985. Weiss will be replaced by sophomore Troy Calhoun, who only played in two games last year. Senior fullback Pat Evans rushed for 1,015 yards as a sophomore but was slowed last year by a knee injury. Senior guard Steve Hendrickson is the only returning starter on the offensive line. Senior linebacker Terry Maki has recorded 137 tackles each of the past two years. Senior cornerback Tom Rotello set a school record with eight interceptions last year. Senior Mark Simon was the nation’s leading punter with a 47.3-yard average.

Brigham Young

Last season’s record: 7-1, 11-3.

Finish: First, Tie.

Coach: LaVell Edwards.

Top players: Jason Buck, defensive tackle; Sean Knight, defensive tackle.

Outlook: Hawaii Coach Dick Tomey said BYU defensive tackles Jason Buck and Sean Knight may be the best pair on the same college team in 10 years. Buck was the WAC’s Defensive Player of the year in 1985. Senior Rodney Thomas led the team with five interceptions last year. However, the remainder of the defense is inexperienced. Steve Sanders, who was to start at inside linebacker, suffered a season-ending knee injury while jogging. Quarterback Steve Lindsley will throw to all-WAC returnees Mark Bellini (63 receptions, 1,008 yards) at wide receiver and Trevor Molini (63-849) at tight end. Rich Zayas, a community college All-American from Grossmont, is another top receiver. BYU must replace four offensive line starters.

Colorado State

Last season’s record: 4-4, 5-7.

Finish: Fifth.

Coach: Leon Fuller.

Top players: Steve Bartalo, running back; Edgar Mitchell, guard.

Outlook: Fullback Steve Bartalo has led the WAC in rushing in each of his first three seasons. He has run for 3,394 career yards, leading all returning NCAA players. Senior quarterback Kelly Stouffer has passed for 4,538 yards and 29 touchdowns the past two seasons. The offensive line returns four starters, including senior center Guy Goar and senior guard Edgar Mitchell. Both were all-WAC selections in 1985. Senior linebacker Dale Carr, who missed last season with a knee injury, was the team’s leading tackler in 1984. Senior cornerbacks Jim King (Patrick Henry High School) and Hardy Griffin will start for the third straight year.

Hawaii

Last season’s record: 4-3-1, 4-6-2.

Finish: Fourth.

Coach: Dick Tomey.

Top players: Al Noga, defensive tackle; Joe Onosai, guard.

Outlook: The Rainbows are solid defensively with eight returning starters. Junior tackle Al Noga was named to the all-WAC first-team last year. Senior linebackers M.L. Johnson and Thaddius Jefferson are also top returnees. The offense will miss leading rusher Nuu Faaloa and leading receiver Walter Murray. Senior Gregg Tipton passed for 2,130 yards last year but had rotator cuff surgery in the off-season. Senior guard Joe Onosai anchors the offensive line. Senior tight end Ron Hall from San Pasqual High School is considered another top player.

New Mexico

Last season’s record: 2-6, 3-8.

Finish: Seventh, Tie.

Coach: Joe Lee Dunn.

Top players: Terence Mathis, receiver; Billy Rucker, quarterback.

Outlook: Coach Joe Lee Dunn is so frustrated with the Lobos that he told reporters he should have followed Joe Morrison, the previous coach who went to South Carolina. Dunn has senior quarterback Bill Rucker, who set a school record last season with 2,857 yards in total offense. Senior receiver Terence Mathis caught 49 passes for 852 yards. New Mexico returns seven defensive starters from a team that allowed an average of 37.7 points. No wonder Dunn signed 14 community college defensive players and two defensive players from Texas-Arlington, which discontinued its football program.

San Diego State

Last season’s record: 3-4-1, 5-6-1.

Finish: Sixth.

Coach: Denny Stolz.

Top players: Chris Hardy, halfback; Todd Santos, quarterback.

Outlook: The Aztecs return three offensive starters, and all are standouts. Junior quarterback Todd Santos has passed for 4,940 yards and 30 touchdowns in two years. Senior halfback Chris Hardy rushed for 1,150 yards last season, earning all-WAC honors. Senior guard Doug Aronson was also an all-WAC selection. The defense is strong in the line and secondary but inexperienced at linebacker. Seniors Levi Esene and Mike Hooper are the top linemen. Sophomore Mario Mitchell and junior Clarence Nunn are solid cornerbacks, and senior Steve Lauter is among the WAC’s top safeties.

Texas El Paso

Last season’s record: 1-7, 1-10.

Finish: Last.

Coach: Bob Stull.

Top players: Sammy Garza, quarterback; John Harvey, tailback.

Outlook: The Miners recorded one of the biggest upsets in college football history last year when they defeated Brigham Young, 23-16. It was the only victory for a team that hasn’t had a winning season since it was 6-4 in 1970. Senior quarterback Sammy Garza passed for 1,654 yards and seven touchdowns last year. Sophomore tailback John Harvey rushed for 777 yards and five touchdowns. Top defensive players are junior tackle Joe Terry and senior tackle Blair Fowler.

Utah

Last season’s record: 5-3, 8-4.

Finish: Third.

Coach: Jim Fassel.

Top players: Andre Guardi, place-kicker; Loren Richey, receiver.

Outlook: Kicker Andre Guardi has made 88 consecutive extra-point attempts, and he won three games with field goals in the final minute last year. Quarterback Larry Egger passed for 2,988 yards and 18 touchdowns, and Loren Richey caught 73 passes for 748 yards and 7 touchdowns. The Utes return three offensive line starters. Utah won three of five games last year when it allowed 37 points or more, including a 39-37 victory over San Diego State. Utah must replace cornerback Errol Tucker, who was the team’s top defensive player in addition to leading the NCAA in punt and kickoff returns. The Utes must replace eight defensive starters.

Wyoming

Last season’s record: 2-6, 3-8.

Finish: Seventh, Tie.

Coach: Dennis Erickson.

Top players: Pete Baldacci, guard; Galand Thaxton, linebacker.

Outlook: First-year Coach Dennis Erickson is replacing Wyoming’s wishbone offense with a passing-oriented attack. The Cowboys had two returning quarterbacks, but Erickson recruited community college transfer Craig Burnett, a strong passer. Senior guard Pete Baldacci was an all-WAC second-team player in 1985. Junior fullback Toriano Taylor rushed for 692 yards and three touchdowns. Junior linebacker Galand Thaxton is the team’s top defensive player.

WAC 1986 POLLS

PRESEASON Coaches

Team Record Pts 1.BYU (8) 7-1-0 64 2.Utah 5-3-0 53 3.Air Force (1) 7-1-0 49 4.Colorado St. 4-4-0 42 5.Hawaii 4-3-1 38 6.San Diego St. 3-4-1 32 7.New Mexico 2-6-0 21 8.Wyoming 2-6-0 16 9.Texas El Paso 1-7-0 9

Sportswriters

Team Record Pts 1.BYU (18) 7-1-0 193 2.Utah (4) 5-3-0 163 3.Air Force 7-1-0 155 4.Hawaii 4-3-0 118 5.Colorado St. 4-4-1 107 6.San Diego St. 3-4-1 91 7.Wyoming 2-6-0 72 8.New Mexico 2-6-0 62 9.Texas El Paso 1-7-1 29

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams. The 22 writers participating could vote for any team. Records reflect 1985 conference results.