Cougars and Aztecs and Titles, Oh My

For once, we have in our midst a football game that has everything.

San Diego State vs. Brigham Young.

Roll the drums for this one.

It has . . .

Stakes

We all know this is for the Western Athletic Conference championship and an invitation to the Holiday Bowl. That’s nice.

But this is for much more than that.

How about national rankings?

BYU is ranked No. 23 in the nation. A victory by SDSU would likely lift the Aztecs from the ranks of the “also receiving votes” and into the ranks of the ranked. This has not happened since the Aztecs joined the WAC in 1978.

This may not be quite as big a deal to BYU, which won the national championship in 1984. But no one wants to fall out of the rankings.

Consolation prize

Even the loser gets to bowl.

The winner gets Iowa in the Holiday Bowl and the loser goes to Anaheim for the Freedom Bowl, probably against Tulsa. This too would be a bigger plum to SDSU than to BYU, which has visited many of the world’s bowl games.

In truth, Freedom Bowl officials are likely rooting very quietly, but earnestly, for SDSU to win tonight. Since both bowls are Dec. 30, a Freedom Bowl with San Diego State would have to draw from the same pool of San Diego fans who so strongly support the Holiday Bowl.

Given an SDSU victory tonight, the Freedom Bowl would happily get BYU and its highly mobile and motivated following.

And the Holiday Bowl would happily take the Aztecs and their built-in fan base.

Interest

People who could spell neither SDSU nor BYU a few weeks ago are talking about this game. What’s more, they are buying tickets to this game.

Maybe the Chargers have left the community starved for a consequential football game . . . or maybe SDSU is finally ready to stand up and be appreciated.

Regardless, tonight’s crowd will be the Aztecs’ largest home crowd. Forget early projections of 45,000 to 50,000. It will get much closer to 60,000.

Controversy

This was kind of silly. It had nothing to do with BYU saying something nasty about SDSU or vice versa. It was not exactly billboard stuff.

The end zones were to be painted blue-and-gold for the Chargers’ game with New Orleans Sunday. That would have to do for the Aztecs, thank you.

This incensed the folks at SDSU, who considered the notion of appearing on national television with Chargers colors to be appalling. A deal has since been struck to have the end zones done in appropriate red-and-black.

Reality: The Chargers wouldn’t find the end zone Sunday against the Saints if it was outlined in neon.

Star quality

BYU comes to town with Ty Detmer, last year’s Heisman Trophy winner. His team stumbled a bit earlier this year, and his stock tumbled as well, but everyone says he is playing even better than he did a year ago.

So much for the Heisman won last year by Detmer . . . and the one he won’t win this year.

Please whisper this, because it may seem outlandish, but another potential Heisman winner will be on the field.

Can an Aztec experience such national prominence?

Can BYU stop Marshall Faulk?

This is the kid’s chance to really shine.

Rivalry

I don’t buy this as being an intense two-sided rivalry, which a rivalry has to be to be a rivalry.

These teams have played for the WAC championship on two other occasions, BYU winning in 1979 and SDSU winning in 1986. It is not like it always comes down to these same two teams for the conference championship.

SDSU simply relishes the idea of beating BYU.

So does everyone else in the WAC.

Streaks

BYU has won seven straight games, its longest streak since 1988. A very bad (3-8) SDSU team ended that streak.

SDSU has won six straight games for the first time since 1977, when it won seven straight.

One of these streaks will end.

Which one?

A look at common opponents gives BYU a 9-point edge. The oddsmakers give BYU a 5-point edge.

Best guess: 9 plus 5 is probably about right.

Very little red-and-black paint will be left in these trampled end zones when this game ends.

BYU: 58-44.

But the Aztecs should smile and turn to the ESPN cameras at this game’s end and say: “No problem. We’re going to Disneyland!!!”