HOLIDAY BOWL COMPARISONS

BYU QUARTERBACK: * Ty Detmer won the Heisman as a junior and was probably better this year. How about 4,031 yards and 35 touchdowns passing, only 12 interceptions in 403 attempts? RUNNING BACKS: Solid and getting better. Fullback Peter Tuipulotu had 1,206 combined yards running, receiving. Freshman Jamal Willis and Mark Atuaia teamed for 891 yards rushing, 311 receiving. RECEIVERS: Nine players caught at least 10 passes. Sophomores Eric Drage emerged as 1,000-yard receiver, Tyler Anderson as late-season deep threat. Tuipulotu dangerous out of the backfield. OFFENSIVE LINE: Beefy group (275 to 305 pounds) needs to protect Detmer better than last year’s did in Holiday Bowl, when he got crunched under Texas A&M; blitz. Brian May an all-WAC pick. DEFENSIVE LINE: They don’t come younger than this: Three-man front includes sophomore Lenny Gomes, freshman Greg Pitts and Randy Brock. Gomes named all-WAC. LINEBACKERS: This may be Cougars’ deepest position on defense. Rocky Biegel set a school record for tackles. Shad Hansen made all-WAC second team. SECONDARY: Believe it or not: BYU defensive backs Tony Crutchfield, Derwin Gray named all-WAC while wiping Aztec tread marks off faces. Freshman Patrick Mitchell may be Matt Rodgers’ target. SPECIALISTS: * Earl Kauffman had midseason knee surgery, his punting average droped from 43.3 yards to 39.9. He also place kicks. Brad Clark ninth in U.S. in punt returns (13.5 average). IOWA QUARTERBACK: Maybe nobody measures up to Detmer, but don’t underrate Matt Rodgers, all-Big Ten quarterback past two seasons. The pros like his 6-4, 205 frame. RUNNING BACKS: * Hawkeyes are so deep here, Leroy Smith had to shift to defense to become All-American. Mike Saunders (919 yards, 11 touchdowns) was player of game five times this season. RECEIVERS: All-Big Ten Danan Hughes potential gamebreaker, Alan Cross solid at tight end, Mike Saunders and Lew Montgomery can catch out of the backfield. OFFENSIVE LINE: * Two Hawkeyes were all-conference--Mike Devlin and Rob Baxley--and tackle Baxley was even offensive player of game one week. Iowa outrushed opponents by 619 yards. DEFENSIVE LINE: * Proof that biggest isn’t always best: Starters include 214-pound All-American end Leroy Smith, end Larry Blue (235), nose guard Brett Bielman (235). Ron Geater was all-Big Ten. LINEBACKERS: * Teammates tip to all-conference John Derby, who led Iowa in tackles. Leroy Smith often lines up at outside post. SECONDARY: Three-year starting safeties Brian Wise (three blocked punts), Gary Clark (51 tackles) asked to control run while keeping eye on Detmer. Another three-year vet, Eddie Polly, at corner. SPECIALISTS: Neither Jim Hujsak nor Scott Fisher was good for 36 yards a game. Jeff Skillett didn’t sizzle on field goals, making 11 of 18. * advantage