1973 BYU Cougars football team

American college football season

1973 BYU Cougars football
Conference	Western Athletic Conference
Record	5–6 (3–4 WAC)
Head coach	LaVell Edwards (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Dave Kragthorpe (4th season)
Offensive scheme	West Coast
Defensive coordinator	Dick Felt (2nd season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Cougar Stadium
Seasons← 1972 1974 →

1973 Western Athletic Conference football standings
v t e	Conf					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 9 Arizona State +	6	–	1	–	0	11	–	1	–	0
Arizona +	6	–	1	–	0	8	–	3	–	0
Utah	4	–	2	–	0	7	–	5	–	0
BYU	3	–	4	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
New Mexico	3	–	4	–	0	4	–	7	–	0
Wyoming	3	–	4	–	0	4	–	7	–	0
Colorado State	2	–	4	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
UTEP	0	–	7	–	0	0	–	11	–	0

+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

The 1973 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University during the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. The Cougars were led by second-year head coach LaVell Edwards and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. The team competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, finishing tied for fourth with a conference record of 3–4.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance
September 15	Colorado State	Cougar Stadium Provo, UT	L 13–21	28,255
September 29	Oregon State*	Cougar Stadium Provo, UT	W 37–14	27,434
October 6	at Utah State*	Romney Stadium Logan, UT (Beehive Boot)	L 7–13	15,046
October 13	Iowa State*	Cougar Stadium Provo, UT	L 24–26	25,580
October 20	at No. 12 Arizona State	Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ	L 12–52	47,137
October 27	at Wyoming	War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY	L 21–41	18,746
November 3	New Mexico	Cougar Stadium Provo, UT	W 56–21	11,412
November 10	Arizona	Cougar Stadium Provo, UT	L 10–24	19,597
November 17	Weber State*	Cougar Stadium Provo, UT	W 45–14	14,548
November 24	at Utah	Robert Rice Stadium Salt Lake City, UT (rivalry)	W 46–22	18,243
December 1	at UTEP	Sun Bowl El Paso, TX	W 63–0	6,100
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries

Colorado State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Rams	0	0	7	14	21
Cougars	0	0	7	6	13

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Colorado State	Passing	Jan Stuebbe	15/34, 211 yards, INT
	Rushing	Scot MacLachlan	23 rushes, 54 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Willie Miller	4 receptions, 89 yards
BYU	Passing	Randy Litchfield	12/22, 135 yards, 3 INT
	Rushing	Randy Litchfield	11 rushes, 32 yards, TD
	Receiving	Jay Miller	6 receptions, 63 yards

Oregon State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Beavers	7	7	0	0	14
Cougars	14	7	7	9	37

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Oregon State	Passing	Alvin White	15/41, 193 yards, INT
	Rushing	Ray Taroli	13 rushes, 70 yards
	Receiving	Dick Maurer	3 receptions, 50 yards
BYU	Passing	Randy Litchfield	12/23, 118 yards, TD
	Rushing	Gil Gillenwater	30 rushes, 136 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Sam LoBue	1 reception, 68 yards, TD

At Utah State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cougars	0	7	0	0	7
Aggies	7	3	0	3	13

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
BYU	Passing	Randy Litchfield	8/17, 91 yards, 3 INT
	Rushing	Mark Terranova	15 rushes, 76 yards, TD
	Receiving	Jay Miller	8 receptions, 99 yards
Utah State	Passing	Tom Wilson	3/6, 22 yards
	Rushing	Archie Gibson	22 rushes, 143 yards, TD
	Receiving	Kelley Deist	1 reception, 12 yards

Iowa State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cyclones	10	10	3	3	26
Cougars	7	0	7	10	24

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Iowa State	Passing	Buddy Hardeman	9/18, 123 yards
	Rushing	Buddy Hardeman	16 rushes, 88 yards
	Receiving	Keith Krepfle	4 receptions, 95 yards
BYU	Passing	Gary Sheide	30/47, 445 yards, 3 TD, 4 INT
	Rushing	Mark Terranova	20 rushes, 111 yards
	Receiving	Jay Miller	13 receptions, 193 yards, TD

At No. 12 Arizona State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cougars	0	0	6	6	12
No. 12 Sun Devils	16	13	16	7	52

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
BYU	Passing	Gary Sheide	22/39, 169 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Mark Terranova	13 rushes, 74 yards
	Receiving	Jay Miller	14 receptions, 95 yards, TD
Arizona State	Passing	Danny White	17/25, 303 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Woody Green	17 rushes, 128 yards
	Receiving	Morris Owens	6 receptions, 173 yards, TD

At Wyoming

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cougars	0	0	0	21	21
Cowboys	0	10	21	10	41

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
BYU	Passing	Gary Sheide	18/39, 317 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	David Coon	17 rushes, 51 yards
	Receiving	Jay Miller	7 receptions, 117 yards
Wyoming	Passing	Steve Cockreham	13/24, 208 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Bruce Williams	17 rushes, 67 yards, TD
	Receiving	Archie Gray	6 receptions, 112 yards, TD

New Mexico

	1	2	3	4	Total
Lobos	7	0	0	14	21
Cougars	12	21	0	23	56

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
New Mexico	Passing	Troy Williams	8/21, 142 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Cliff Crenshaw	12 rushes, 34 yards
	Receiving	Paul Labarrere	2 receptions, 80 yards, TD
BYU	Passing	Gary Sheide	32/50, 402 yards, 6 TD, INT
	Rushing	Mark Terranova	14 rushes, 46 yards
	Receiving	Jay Miller	22 receptions, 263 yards, 3 TD

Arizona

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	0	10	7	7	24
Cougars	0	10	0	0	10

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Arizona	Passing	Bruce Hill	5/17, 72 yards, INT
	Rushing	Jim Upchurch	17 rushes, 146 yards, TD
	Receiving	Mark Neal	2 receptions, 50 yards
BYU	Passing	Gary Sheide	10/19, 82 yards, 2 INT
	Rushing	Mark Terranova	12 rushes, 55 yards
	Receiving	Jay Miller	7 receptions, 50 yards

Weber State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	0	6	0	8	14
Cougars	14	10	14	7	45

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Weber State	Passing	Rob Bockwoldt	4/14, 62 yards
	Rushing	Blaine Church	12 rushes, 51 yards
	Receiving	Gary Childress	6 receptions, 126 yards, TD
BYU	Passing	Gary Sheide	20/32, 244 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Jeff Blanc	17 rushes, 90 yards
	Receiving	Jay Miller	10 receptions, 155 yards, 3 TD

At Utah

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
BYU	Passing	Gary Sheide	22/34, 349 yards, 4 TD
Rushing	Steve Stratton	18 rushes, 121 yards
Receiving	John Betham	3 receptions, 126 yards, 2 TD
Utah	Passing	Don Van Galder	12/38, 224 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Rushing	Hutch Roosevelt	10 rushes, 69 yards
Receiving	Hutch Roosevelt	3 receptions, 77 yards, TD

At UTEP

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cougars	6	30	7	20	63
Miners	0	0	0	0	0

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
BYU	Passing	Gary Sheide	17/28, 219 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Jeff Blanc	17 rushes, 96 yards, TD
	Receiving	Mike Pistorius	5 receptions, 68 yards
UTEP	Passing	Frank Duncan	3/10, 51 yards, 4 INT
	Rushing	Don Willis	15 rushes, 93 yards
	Receiving	Lonn Crittenden	2 receptions, 32 yards

Personnel

Coaching staff

Head coach: LaVell Edwards
Assistants: Dave Kragthorpe (OC/OL), Dick Felt (DB), J.D. Helm (RB), Mel Olson (JV), Tom Ramage (DL), Dewey Warren (QB/WR), Fred Whittingham (LB)

Awards

All-WAC: DT Paul Linford (1st), SE Jay Miller (1st)

References

"Colorado State captures 21–13 upset over BYU". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. September 16, 1973. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
"Brigham Young rips winless OSU, 37–14". The Sunday Oregonian. September 30, 1973. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
"Utags upset Cougars, 13–7". Albuquerque Journal. October 7, 1973. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
"Cyclones escape scrappy BYU". The Des Moines Register. October 14, 1973. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
"Devils thump Cougars, 52–12". The Sunday Oregonian. October 21, 1973. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
"Wyoming upends fumbling BYU". The Arizona Daily Star. October 28, 1973. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
"Sheide passes Cougars past New Mexico, 56–21". Fort Collins Coloradoan. November 4, 1973. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
"Wildcats rake Cougars". The El Paso Times. November 11, 1973. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
"BYU blasts Weber State". The Daily Herald. November 18, 1973. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
"BYU gives Utes 46–22 snow job". The El Paso Times. November 25, 1973. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
"Cougars shut out UTEP". The Arizona Daily Star. December 2, 1973. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
"1973 NCAA Football Statistics (BYU)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
"BYU stops Utah in blinding snow." Eugene Register-Guard. 1973 Nov 25.
CougarStats.com Archived 2011-10-11 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved December 4, 2011.
CougarStats.com Archived 2011-10-11 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved December 4, 2011.

v t e BYU Cougars football
Venues	LaVell Edwards Stadium (1964–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Utah: Holy War (Beehive Boot) Utah State (Beehive Boot, The Old Wagon Wheel)
Culture & lore	Cosmo the Cougar "The Cougar Song" BYU Cougar Marching Band Mormons vs. Mullets
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
National championship seasons in bold

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