BYU football notebook: QB week raises $1 million in endowments

PROVO — Making his first return to BYU's campus since 1998, former Cougar quarterback Jim McMahon, wearing his No. 9 royal blue jersey, led BYU out onto the field prior to Saturday's 23-17 victory over Washington at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

McMahon was one of eight former Cougar All-America quarterbacks honored at halftime, along with Virgil Carter, Gifford Nielsen, Marc Wilson, Steve Young, Robbie Bosco, Ty Detmer and Steve Sarkisian.

Joining them was legendary coach LaVell Edwards.

Sarkisian, who was coaching Washington, remained in the locker room at halftime with his team nursing a 17-13 edge.

"This has been the first time all eight of us have been together. It's been a great weekend," Young said. "We're gathered here because we bleed Cougar blue. ... We want Bronco to know we embrace him and his team."

The school announced that during the weekend's "Y Quarterback" festivities more than $1 million was raised for athletic scholarship endowments.

"This has been a remarkable weekend to have all of these young men come back and give their time for the university and come back renew the great relationships we had when they were playing for us," said Edwards.

Said Nielsen, who spearheaded this QB reunion: "There's a special feeling when we get together and when our paths cross. There's a feeling of respect for what we were able to do at BYU and how we were able to play a part in putting the program on the map. Every stage was absolutely vital in the progress of the program, even back to the time of Virgil (who starred at BYU, finishing in 1966, then went on to a career in the NFL), then just building upon this succession of All-American quarterbacks. For us to win a national championship and for Ty to win the Heisman Trophy, I honestly believe we all had to do what we did and really get the program to the point where there was respectability throughout the country. We all had a small part to play in the success of where that program is today."

WIN NO. 50: BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall earned the 50th win of his career Saturday.

He becomes only the second Cougar coach to reach the 50-win plateau. Edwards is the other and he earned his 50th victory midway through his seventh season at the helm. Mendenhall is in his sixth season.

Asked about the milestone after the game, Mendenhall replied, "I had no idea."