College football again is at the top of the list when reviewing the year in sports.

The Deseret Morning News sports staff voted the resurgence of BYU football as the most noteworthy local sports story of 2006.

From the day coach Bronco Mendenhall took over BYU's program two years ago, he vowed that the program would return to glory. In 2006, the Cougars did exactly that, posting one of the finest, and most memorable, seasons in school history.

After starting the year 1-2 with close losses at BCS-conference opponents Arizona and Boston College, BYU finished the year with 10 consecutive wins, including a last-second thriller over archrival Utah to cap a perfect Mountain West Conference record and a rare blowout bowl victory, over Oregon, in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Late in the season, the Cougars, who finished 11-2 and claimed their first Mountain West Conference title since 2001, returned to the national rankings for the first time in years.

While the BYU offense produced the type of explosive scoring expected from a group of playmakers like quarterback John Beck, running back Curtis Brown and tight end Jonny Harline, it was the defense that took most observers by surprise.

Mendenhall switched his 3-3-5 scheme to a 3-4 alignment to showcase the strength of the defense, and it worked amazingly well. The Cougar 'D,' led by linebacker Cameron Jensen, limited opponents to only 15 points per game, about half of what it had surrendered the previous season.

Last year's top story included the first-pick selection of U. quarterback Alex Smith in the NFL draft. The Utes' undefeated football season was the top local sports story of 2004.

2. Soccer stadium

Whether among state legislators, Sandy City officials or parents at youth soccer games, Real Salt Lake's pursuit of a soccer-specific stadium — for which construction has not yet begun — was a hot topic.

In May, Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon denied a funding plan that called for $35 million in hotel-room taxes. A month later, Sandy City pitched a revamped funding proposal, which was rejected by the County Council. A month later, Corroon revived RSL's stadium plans and a verbal agreement was reached, enabling Real Madrid superstar David Beckham to assist with the ceremonial ground breaking on Aug. 12.

Months later, the $180 million, 136-acre project is still in negotiation. In early December, the team finally released financial information to Salt Lake County leaders who hired an independent consultant to review the team's books and make a recommendation regarding funding. That decision, and Corroon's ensuing decision, should come in January.