HOLIDAY BOWL NOTEBOOK : Earlier BYU Telecast Gives ESPN an Edge

They attended practices. They met with coaches. They had chalk talks, talked game plans and planned coverages.

They are the crew from ESPN.

Announcers Sean McDonough, Mike Gottfried and Neil Lomax, along with producer Jeff Gowen, met Thursday with Brigham Young Coach LaVell Edwards and Texas A&M; Coach R.C. Slocum as well as the offensive and defensive coordinators from each team.

Normally they meet with the head coach for about 30 minutes and with the coordinators for about 15, but this particular crew covered BYU’s game at Wyoming Nov. 10, so they didn’t need that much time with Edwards.

On Friday, they filmed interviews with three key defensive players from each team. They asked the BYU defenders how to stop Texas A&M;’s running attack, and they asked the Texas A&M; defenders how to stop BYU’s passing.

“Hopefully, if they give us good answers, we’ll put them on,” Gowen said before his crew spoke with the defenders.

Gowen said preparation for bowl games was easier than getting ready for a regular season game.

“One luxury with a bowl game is that the teams get here plenty early and we do, too,” he said.

Gowen, 32, lives in Farmington, Conn. After the Holiday Bowl, he begins traveling for ESPN’s basketball coverage. He works mainly Big Ten games on ESPN’s “Big Monday” each week. He still is thinking football this week, though.

“Candidly, we feel (the Holiday Bowl) is the best bowl game on ESPN this year,” he said. “We feel fortunate.”

Our special guest analyst comes to you this morning from Hawaii: Bob Wagner, University of Hawaii football coach.

The Rainbows are the only team to have played each of the Holiday Bowl participants. Hawaii lost Sept. 1 to Texas A&M;, 28-13. The Rainbows whipped BYU, though, 59-28, on Dec. 1. Both games were in Hawaii.

“I think it’s an interesting matchup,” Wagner said. “Maybe less than ideal for BYU. Texas A&M; will pressure you, play a lot of man-to-man, and they have good outside pass rushers.

“Conversely, I think BYU should probably match up well against Texas A&M;’s offense. . . . It might be a little more low-scoring than people anticipate. If you’re anticipating 44-38, I’d be surprised. But I’m a coach, not an expert prognosticator. I’d think high-teens or 20s.”

The Aggies will play man-to-man much of the time. Can they handle BYU’s talented receivers in that coverage?

“Oh yeah,” Wagner said. “They did it against Houston, and if they can do it against Houston, they can do it against BYU.”

So, coach, you’re picking Texas A&M; to win?

“I’m still going with BYU,” Wagner said.

Hmmm . . . Western Athletic Conference allegiance?

“It may be. It’s hard to separate objectivity from subjectivity, I guess. But BYU has done well in the Holiday Bowl, and they usually have great finishes.”

OK. The score?

“Is it going to get me in trouble with the NCAA?”

No.

“28-21, BYU.”

Final Injury Report: Nothing has changed from Thursday. BYU halfback Matt Bellini, who tore ligaments in his right ankle Nov. 10 against Utah, will play tonight but it is questionable as to whether he will start. Stacey Corley or Scott Charlton would replace him.

The BYU secondary is badly hobbled. Cornerback Tony Crutchfield (knee) and strong safety Norm Dixon (back) are both doubtful for tonight.

Texas A&M; reports no significant injuries. Fullback Robert Wilson had a virus Thursday but said he was fine Friday.

Grass: Bob Davie, Texas A&M; defensive coordinator, is concerned that San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium’s natural grass will be a factor tonight. Eleven of 12 Texas A&M; games this season have been on artificial turf, and the Aggies lost their only game on grass, 17-8, at Louisiana State.

“I think it’s a factor,” Davie said. “We rely on quickness. We’re a small defense with lots of speed.”

Of course, the Aggies have been practicing on their grass practice field in Texas for the past three weeks.

“It has a lot of grass,” Davie said. “We never use it.”

Davie is keeping an eye on the weather report, hoping it doesn’t rain and make the surface even more slow for his team. Considering BYU’s passing attack, though, Davie said he wouldn’t mind a lot of wind.

“About 35 mile-an-hour gusts,” he said, smiling.

The weather report calls clouds during the day, clearing by night, with a slight chance of showers, a high temperature of 60 and a low of 40.

We know BYU will pass. We know it could be an intriguing matchup--BYU passing against Texas A&M; running.

But what about surprises? Any in store from BYU?

“You always try to do something different,” Edwards said. “But the different plays you put in, you don’t win with those. The big games always come back to the things you do all year.”

Holiday Bowl Notes

The Holiday Bowl Parade will begin at 9 this morning. It starts at Broadway and Eighth avenues and continues down Broadway. . . . Both teams are coming off losses. BYU was beaten at Hawaii Dec. 1, 59-28, and Texas A&M; was beaten at No. 3 Texas, 28-27, also on Dec. 1. “What we’re glad for is to have another opportunity,” BYU Coach LaVell Edwards said. “But I’m not so sure Texas A&M; is what you look for.” . . . These two teams have played just once. Brigham Young defeated the Aggies, 18-17, in a game played at Rice Stadium in Houston in 1979. . . . In the John Hancock Bowl in El Paso, Tex. last year, Texas A&M; was defeated by Pittsburgh, 31-28. BYU lost to Penn State in last year’s Holiday Bowl, 30-29.