1974 BYU Cougars football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1974
| team = BYU Cougars
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Western Athletic Conference
| short_conf = WAC
| record = 7–4–1
| conf_record = 6–0–1
| head_coach = LaVell Edwards
| hc_year = 3rd
| off_coach = Dave Kragthorpe
| oc_year = 5th
| off_scheme = West Coast
| def_coach = Dick Felt
| dc_year = 3rd
| def_scheme = 4–3
| captain =
| stadium = Cougar Stadium
| champion = WAC champion
| bowl = Fiesta Bowl
| bowl_result = L 6–16 vs. Oklahoma State
}}
{{1974 Western Athletic Conference football standings}}
The 1974 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University during the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. The Cougars were led by third-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, winning the conference for the first time since 1965 with an undefeated conference record of 6–0–1. BYU was invited to the 1974 Fiesta Bowl, where they lost to Oklahoma State.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1974
| poll = AP
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 14
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Hawaii
| site_stadium = Honolulu Stadium
| site_cityst = Honolulu, HI
| score = 13–15
| attend = 23,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-hawaii-wins-1513-on-fi/156845649/|work=The Daily Herald|title=Hawaii wins 15–13 on five field goals|date=September 15, 1974|accessdate=October 9, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 21
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Utah State
| site_stadium = Cougar Stadium
| site_cityst = Provo, UT
| score = 6–9
| attend = 34,555
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-field-goals-sink-byu/156845776/|work=The Arizona Daily Star|title=Field goals sink BYU|date=September 22, 1974|accessdate=October 9, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 28
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Iowa State
| site_stadium = Clyde Williams Field
| site_cityst = Ames, IA
| score = 7–34
| attend = 29,419–32,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-isu-rips-byu-as-s/156845878/|work=The Sioux City Journal|title=ISU rips BYU as Strachan sets career rush record|date=September 29, 1974|accessdate=October 9, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 5
| w/l = t
| away = y
| opponent = Colorado State
| site_stadium = Hughes Stadium
| site_cityst = Fort Collins, CO
| score = 33–33
| attend = 17,458
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ogden-standard-examiner-byu-rams-ba/156845985/|work=The Ogden Standard-Examiner|title=BYU, Rams battle to tie|date=October 6, 1974|accessdate=October 9, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 12
| w/l = w
| homecoming = y
| opponent = Wyoming
| site_stadium = Cougar Stadium
| site_cityst = Provo, UT
| score = 38–7
| attend = 29,555
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/rapid-city-journal-byu-blasts-pokes/156846084/|work=Rapid City Journal|title=BYU blasts Pokes|date=October 13, 1974|accessdate=October 9, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 19
| w/l = w
| opponent = UTEP
| site_stadium = Cougar Stadium
| site_cityst = Provo, UT
| score = 45–21
| attend = 19,628
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-sheide-passes-cougars-p/156846270/|work=The Daily Herald|title=Sheide passes Cougars past Texas–El Paso|date=October 20, 1974|accessdate=October 9, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 26
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Arizona
| opprank = 16
| site_stadium = Arizona Stadium
| site_cityst = Tucson, AZ
| score = 37–13
| attend = 34,116
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-sentinel-sheide-shreds-wildcat/156846366/|work=The Daily Sentinel|title=Sheide shreds Wildcats 37–13|date=October 27, 1974|accessdate=October 9, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 2
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Air Force
| site_stadium = Falcon Stadium
| site_cityst = Colorado Springs, CO
| score = 12–10
| attend = 24,204
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-oregonian-byu-grounds-falcons/156846460/|work=The Sunday Oregonian|title=BYU grounds Falcons, 12–10|date=November 3, 1974|accessdate=October 9, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 9
| w/l = w
| opponent = Arizona State
| opprank = 16
| site_stadium = Cougar Stadium
| site_cityst = Provo, UT
| score = 21–18
| attend = 26,922
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/albuquerque-journal-cougars-edge-arizona/156846544/|work=Albuquerque Journal|title=Cougars edge Arizona State|date=November 10, 1974|accessdate=October 9, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 16
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = New Mexico
| site_stadium = University Stadium
| site_cityst = Albuquerque, NM
| score = 36–3
| attend = 12,672
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-times-byu-nears-title-after-363/156846624/|work=The El Paso Times|title=BYU nears title after 36–3 romp|date=November 17, 1974|accessdate=October 9, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 23
| w/l = w
| opponent = Utah
| site_stadium = Cougar Stadium
| site_cityst = Provo, UT
| gamename = Holy War
| score = 48–20
| attend = 30,978
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-billings-gazette-sheide-leads-byu-to/156846709/|work=The Billings Gazette|title=Sheide leads BYU to crown|date=November 24, 1974|accessdate=October 9, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 28
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| neutral = y
| rank = 17
| opponent = Oklahoma State
| site_stadium = Sun Devil Stadium
| site_cityst = Tempe, AZ
| gamename = Fiesta Bowl
| score = 6–16
| attend = 50,878
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-cowboys-turn-over/156846843/|work=The Arizona Republic|title=Cowboys 'turn over' Cougars, 16–6|date=December 29, 1974|accessdate=October 9, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}
Game summaries
=At Hawaii=
{{see also|1974 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=Cougars
|R1=0
|R2=0
|R3=7
|R4=6
|Home=Rainbow Warriors
|H1=3
|H2=3
|H3=6
|H4=3
}}
| class="wikitable" style="float: left;"
! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics | |||
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|BYU Cougars}}; text-align:center;"|BYU | Passing | Gary Sheide | 13/22, 154 yards, TD, 4 INT |
| Rushing | Jeff Blanc | 31 rushes, 165 yards | |
| Receiving | Craig Van Leeuwen | 3 receptions, 62 yards | |
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Hawaii Rainbow Warriors|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|Hawaii | Passing | Alex Cloi | 13/21, 167 yards, INT |
| Rushing | Arnold Morgado | 19 rushes, 45 yards | |
| Receiving | Mel de Lora | 10 receptions, 143 yards |
{{clear}}
=Utah State=
{{see also|1974 Utah State Aggies football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=Aggies
|R1=0
|R2=3
|R3=6
|R4=0
|Home=Cougars
|H1=6
|H2=0
|H3=0
|H4=0
}}
| class="wikitable" style="float: left;"
! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics | |||
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Utah State Aggies}}; text-align:center;"|Utah State | Passing | Tom Wilson | 10/16, 106 yards |
| Rushing | Louie Giammona | 21 rushes, 59 yards | |
| Receiving | Jerry Cox | 4 receptions, 44 yards | |
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|BYU Cougars}}; text-align:center;"|BYU | Passing | Gary Sheide | 18/28, 170 yards, 4 INT |
| Rushing | Jeff Blanc | 22 rushes, 104 yards | |
| Receiving | Tom Toolson | 5 receptions, 58 yards |
{{clear}}
=At Iowa State=
{{see also|1974 Iowa State Cyclones football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=Cougars
|R1=0
|R2=0
|R3=0
|R4=7
|Home=Cyclones
|H1=5
|H2=10
|H3=7
|H4=12
}}
| class="wikitable" style="float: left;"
! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics | |||
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|BYU Cougars}}; text-align:center;"|BYU | Passing | Mark Giles | 2/6, 31 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Mark Giles | 6 rushes, 26 yards | |
| Receiving | John Betham | 2 receptions, 31 yards, TD | |
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Iowa State Cyclones}}; text-align:center;"|Iowa State | Passing | Wayne Stanley | 4/16, 53 yards, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Steve Wilson | 22 rushes, 107 yards | |
| Receiving | Luther Blue | 2 receptions, 26 yards |
{{clear}}
=At Colorado State=
{{see also|1974 Colorado State Rams football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=Cougars
|R1=7
|R2=13
|R3=6
|R4=7
|Home=Rams
|H1=0
|H2=6
|H3=14
|H4=13
}}
| class="wikitable" style="float: left;"
! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics | |||
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|BYU Cougars}}; text-align:center;"|BYU | Passing | Gary Sheide | 10/13, 123 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Charley Ah You | 13 rushes, 72 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | Jeff Blanc | 2 receptions, 43 yards | |
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Colorado State Rams}}; text-align:center;"|Colorado State | Passing | Jack Graham | 22/46, 305 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Jim McKenzie | 11 rushes, 40 yards | |
| Receiving | Willie Miller | 6 receptions, 157 yards, TD |
{{clear}}
The game ended in controversy as Colorado State scored on the game's final play but the ensuing extra point from the 35-yard line, due to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, was missed although one official ruled that the attempt was good.Eugene Register-Guard. 1974 Oct 6{{full citation|date=October 2024}}
=Wyoming=
{{see also|1974 Wyoming Cowboys football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=Cowboys
|R1=0
|R2=7
|R3=0
|R4=0
|Home=Cougars
|H1=3
|H2=14
|H3=7
|H4=14
}}
| class="wikitable" style="float: left;"
! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics | |||
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Wyoming Cowboys}}; text-align:center;"|Wyoming | Passing | Rick Costello | 8/17, 85 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Charlie Shaw | 7 rushes, 20 yards | |
| Receiving | Archie Gray | 3 receptions, 55 yards | |
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|BYU Cougars}}; text-align:center;"|BYU | Passing | Gary Sheide | 20/27, 263 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Jeff Blanc | 24 rushes, 74 yards, 2 TD | |
| Receiving | John Betham | 4 receptions, 69 yards, 2 TD |
{{clear}}
=UTEP=
{{see also|1974 UTEP Miners football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=Miners
|R1=7
|R2=14
|R3=0
|R4=0
|Home=Cougars
|H1=21
|H2=14
|H3=7
|H4=3
}}
| class="wikitable" style="float: left;"
! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics | |||
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|UTEP Miners}}; text-align:center;"|UTEP | Passing | Bob McKinley | 7/16, 121 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Bob McKinley | 15 rushes, 103 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | Flash Collins | 2 receptions, 67 yards, TD | |
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|BYU Cougars}}; text-align:center;"|BYU | Passing | Gary Sheide | 27/40, 387 yards, 6 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Jeff Blanc | 22 rushes, 90 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | Jeff Nilsson | 9 receptions, 176 yards, 3 TD |
{{clear}}
=At No. 16 Arizona=
{{see also|1974 Arizona Wildcats football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=Cougars
|R1=21
|R2=7
|R3=0
|R4=9
|Home=No. 16 Wildcats
|H1=7
|H2=0
|H3=6
|H4=0
}}
| class="wikitable" style="float: left;"
! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics | |||
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|BYU Cougars}}; text-align:center;"|BYU | Passing | Gary Sheide | 20/35, 268 yards, 5 TD |
| Rushing | Charley Ah You | 22 rushes, 69 yards | |
| Receiving | John Betham | 10 receptions, 144 yards, 3 TD | |
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Arizona Wildcats|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|Arizona | Passing | Bruce Hill | 9/29, 200 yards, 2 TD, 5 INT |
| Rushing | Jim Upchurch | 21 rushes, 108 yards | |
| Receiving | Willie Hamilton | 2 receptions, 83 yards, TD |
{{clear}}
=At Air Force=
{{see also|1974 Air Force Falcons football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=Cougars
|R1=6
|R2=0
|R3=6
|R4=0
|Home=Falcons
|H1=0
|H2=3
|H3=0
|H4=7
}}
| class="wikitable" style="float: left;"
! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics | |||
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|BYU Cougars}}; text-align:center;"|BYU | Passing | Gary Sheide | 18/30, 215 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Charley Ah You | 30 rushes, 87 yards | |
| Receiving | Sam LoBue | 7 receptions, 109 yards | |
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Air Force Falcons}}; text-align:center;"|Air Force | Passing | Rob Shaw | 16/28, 226 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Ken Wood | 15 rushes, 56 yards | |
| Receiving | Bob Farr | 10 receptions, 117 yards, TD |
{{clear}}
=No. 16 Arizona State=
{{see also|1974 Arizona State Sun Devils football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=No. 16 Sun Devils
|R1=6
|R2=6
|R3=6
|R4=0
|Home=Cougars
|H1=2
|H2=6
|H3=6
|H4=7
}}
| class="wikitable" style="float: left;"
! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics | |||
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Arizona State Sun Devils}}; text-align:center;"|Arizona State | Passing | Ray Alexander | 8/20, 148 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| Rushing | Fred Williams | 14 rushes, 48 yards | |
| Receiving | John Washington | 7 receptions, 110 yards | |
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|BYU Cougars}}; text-align:center;"|BYU | Passing | Gary Sheide | 24/41, 224 yards, 2 TD, 5 INT |
| Rushing | Jeff Blanc | 30 rushes, 77 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | Jeff Blanc | 6 receptions, 61 yards |
{{clear}}
=At New Mexico=
{{see also|1974 New Mexico Lobos football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=Cougars
|R1=7
|R2=13
|R3=6
|R4=10
|Home=Lobos
|H1=3
|H2=0
|H3=0
|H4=0
}}
| class="wikitable" style="float: left;"
! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics | |||
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|BYU Cougars}}; text-align:center;"|BYU | Passing | Gary Sheide | 15/29, 244 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Jeff Blanc | 24 rushes, 74 yards | |
| Receiving | Jeff Blanc | 3 receptions, 94 yards, TD | |
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|New Mexico Lobos}}; text-align:center;"|New Mexico | Passing | Ken Bryant | 9/30, 66 yards, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Ken Bryant | 20 rushes, 42 yards | |
| Receiving | Preston Dennard | 2 receptions, 20 yards |
{{clear}}
=Utah=
{{see also|1974 Utah Utes football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=Utes
|R1=0
|R2=6
|R3=0
|R4=14
|Home=Cougars
|H1=14
|H2=7
|H3=14
|H4=13
}}
| class="wikitable" style="float: left;"
! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics | |||
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Utah Utes|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|Utah | Passing | Homer Warner | 7/14, 103 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Ike Spencer | 6 rushes, 31 yards | |
| Receiving | Mike Cordy | 4 receptions, 60 yards | |
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|BYU Cougars}}; text-align:center;"|BYU | Passing | Gary Sheide | 11/22, 104 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Jeff Blanc | 20 rushes, 122 yards, 2 TD | |
| Receiving | John Betham | 2 receptions, 40 yards |
{{clear}}
=Vs. Oklahoma State (Fiesta Bowl)=
{{see also|1974 Fiesta Bowl|1974 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=Cowboys
|R1=0
|R2=7
|R3=3
|R4=6
|Home=No. 17 Cougars
|H1=6
|H2=0
|H3=0
|H4=0
}}
| class="wikitable" style="float: left;"
! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics | |||
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Oklahoma State Cowboys}}; text-align:center;"|Oklahoma State | Passing | Charlie Weatherbie | 6/16, 64 yards, TD |
| Rushing | Kenny Walker | 6 rushes, 34 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | Leonard Thompson | 3 receptions, 42 yards, TD | |
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|BYU Cougars}}; text-align:center;"|BYU | Passing | Mark Giles | 12/27, 138 yards, 3 INT |
| Rushing | Jeff Blanc | 19 rushes, 53 yards | |
| Receiving | Sam LoBue | 3 receptions, 50 yards |
{{clear}}
Roster
{{American football roster/Header
| year = 1974
| team = BYU Cougars
| teamcolors = f
| offensive_players =
{{American football roster/Player|num=33|class=Fr|first=Todd|last=Christensen|pos=FB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=14|class=Fr|first=Gifford|last=Nielsen|pos=QB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=12|class=Sr|first=Gary|last=Sheide|pos=QB|link=y}}
| defensive_players=
| special_teams_players=
}}
{{American football roster/Footer|roster_url=https://byucougars.com/roster/football/1974
| head_coach = *LaVell Edwards
| asst_coach =
| accessdate=
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{BYU Cougars football navbox}}
{{Western Athletic Conference football champions}}
Category:BYU Cougars football seasons
Category:Western Athletic Conference football champion seasons