Conference crown still Cougars' goal

PROVO — BYU defensive lineman Brady Poppinga stayed awake until 4 a.m. last Sunday, unable to sleep. He couldn't stop reliving the Cougars' painful loss to Stanford.

"I'm a competitor and I hate to lose," Poppinga said. "That game hurt. I was thinking about the game and what we need to improve on and what we need to do to be successful. That's one good thing about football. You can have a game like last week and the next week comes and you can redeem yourself, and with a win you can erase those bitter feelings. That's what we plan to do. I can't wait to get that bitter feeling out of my system. The only way to do that is to win."

Indeed, the Cougars desperately need a win as they return to Mountain West Conference action by hosting Air Force today (1 p.m., Ch. 14) at LaVell Edwards Stadium. A victory over the Falcons (4-0, 1-0) could get the Cougars (2-2, 1-0) back on the right track. Another defeat, however, could mean a lot more sleepless nights in Provo.

As disappointing as the Stanford defeat was for BYU, its biggest goal — the MWC championship — remains a possibility. "The thing we talk the most about is winning the conference," said cornerback Jernaro Gilford. "That's our main thing."

For BYU to win today, and to have a shot at capturing the league title, Gilford and Poppinga will need a lot of help from their friends on the offensive side of the ball.

It's amazing how in the space of two years, the roles have reversed so dramatically.

In 2001, the Cougar offense was very good (No. 1 in total offense and scoring offense) and the defense was very bad (No. 102 in total defense). This season, the defense (ranked No. 12 in total defense) has been carrying BYU while the offense (No. 83 in total offense and No. 98 in scoring offense) has been punchless. The Cougars have scored only seven touchdowns this year.

Still, coach Gary Crowton is optimistic. Today, freshman quarterback John Beck will be making his second start while center Scott Jackson and running back Marcus Whalen return to the starting lineup. Crowton believes the offense can turn things around.

"I think we're going to do it this week," Crowton said, "but it's hard for me to say it until it happens. Until it happens, it's all talk. I was very discouraged after the last game because I thought we would play well on offense."