COLLEGE FOOTBALL POSTSEASON BOWL GAMES : HOLIDAY BOWL : BYU Arrives, Heads to Practice

Two years ago, Brigham Young lost in the Holiday Bowl to Penn State, 50-39. Last year was even worse, as the Cougars were buried by Texas A&M;, 65-14.

So in their last chance to win a bowl with Ty Detmer at quarterback, BYU arrived Monday morning at Lindbergh Field with a mission. This year, these guys mean business.

Coach LaVell Edwards brought his team to town Monday--two days earlier than normal--and had a serious practice Monday afternoon. They’ll practice twice today and be back on the field Christmas morning.

By contrast, Iowa, which landed here midafternoon Monday, has today off and nothing serious planned until after Christmas.

“We realize we didn’t get ready to play last year,” Detmer said. “We had people hurt, it just wasn’t a good time of the year for us. It seemed like everyone was already satisfied just being in the bowl. (This year) Coach Edwards keeps us pretty focused. We talk about winning it more than last year.”

Edwards said, “I don’t know that we’re any more serious, but we’re gonna try to get a couple more days of practice.”

Though Iowa is the favorite, the Hawkeyes came to town with this caveat: Three previous times they’ve faced Heisman Trophy winners, and they haven’t fared well against any. In 1951, Vic Janowicz and Ohio State beat Iowa, 47-21. Archie Griffin-led Ohio State blasted them, 49-0, in 1975, and in 1979 the Hawkeyes lost to Billy Sims and Oklahoma, 21-6. All came during the regular season.

This time, the challenge is to slow Detmer, who won the Heisman as a junior in 1990.

Coach Hayden Fry said his concern isn’t so much defensing Detmer, who threw for 576 yards in the 1989 Holiday Bowl against Penn State, but not being mesmerized by him.

“We don’t see teams like BYU (in the Big Ten),” Fry said. “I’m going to have to watch myself during the ballgame. I can’t get caught up watching him when I need to be watching my defensive adjustments and coverages.”