Crowton longs for the good old days

Gary Crowton wants a return to 2001. The new old days.

And who wouldn't?

Three years ago, Crowton took basically the same talent from a 6-6 Cougar team in 2000, fired up a veteran offensive line, dialed in a pair of NFL tight ends, utilized experienced running backs, found a languishing quarterback and blew things up statistically.

Oh, sure, there was a lot of luck involved. Great bounces in games with New Mexico, UNLV, Wyoming, Mississippi State and Utah. But it ended 12-2 after going 12-0 and BYU led the nation in scoring (46.8 points per game) and total offense (542.8).

Those are pretty lofty numbers — 46 and 542. In fact, they are down right scary.

But they are not outside the realm Crowton has worked with in his career, although a Doak Walker Award winner — a guy who scores 28 touchdowns — just doesn't pop in every season like Luke Staley did in 2001.

Crowton got nearly 5,000 yards passing out of La. Tech's offense in 1998. The following year for the Chicago Bears, his system provided the league's third-ranked passing attack.

But this isn't a history lesson. Sure, at La. Tech, he got Troy Edwards 4,352 career reception yards in 34 games. But can he get a chunk of that kind of action for Todd Watkins in 2004? That, ultimately, is the main deal today.

Crowton talked of a return to 2001 a few weeks ago. I asked for a clarification this week after a 32-play scrimmage to end Thursday's spring practice session.

Here's how Crowton explained it: After 2001, the Cougars lost two top quarterbacks, two NFL caliber tight ends, the two top running backs (including Staley) and really suffered with a vacated veteran offensive line.

To complicate things, Crowton said he understood but did not fully grasp or comprehend the depth and impact of BYU's revolving missionary matrix. It took the next two seasons to balance out BYU recruiting and supplement the roster with junior college and non-LDS four-year players.

Now, he believes the cylinder has rotated around and he can reload bullets into the firing chamber.

Added to this, is his direct coaching of the quarterbacks and offense - something he did out of necessity in 2001 as he and Mike Borich implemented his offense and had teaching roles as newcomers.

So, will it work?