BYU football: Fiery Kozlowski 'grew up' at Y.

Editor's note: This is the fourth in an eight-part series celebrating the 25th anniversary of BYU's 1984 national college football championship.

PROVO — Glen Kozlowski arrived at BYU in the fall of 1981 as a brash freshman with loads of talent and a wild streak.

Kozlowski started at wide receiver, establishing himself as one of quarterback Jim McMahon's favorite targets. But, off the field, he admits he pushed the limits too far.

"After the bowl game, (McMahon) and I were both asked to leave school," Kozlowski remembers. "I was suspended for a semester. I wasn't a good example of what you were supposed to be as a BYU student. It's not something I'm proud of, but it was something I was doing and BYU held to its guns and held to its standards and said, 'You can't behave this way. You have to leave.' "

Frustrated at the time, Kozlowski decided to shop around for a new school. But two things convinced him to return to Provo — his future wife, Julie, and Cougars head coach LaVell Edwards.

"LaVell called me about once a month just to see how I was doing, encouraging me to come back and work hard and make things right," Kozlowski said. "I could have gone to other schools and I had opportunities to go elsewhere. I wanted (Julie) to go with me to another college. She said, 'Well, I'm going back to BYU. You can go wherever you want.' I kind of followed her back."

Good thing.

BYU and Kozlowski mended their strained relationship and, a few years later, both won a national championship in 1984. Kozlowski, known for his circus catches, giving high-fives to fans after touchdowns, and vexing opponents with his "six-shooter" antics, was a key contributor on that '84 team.

Today, Kozlowski, who is the new football coach at North Chicago High School, is grateful he finished what he started at BYU.

"Being at BYU changed my life," he says. "I was a pretty wild kid. I was a free spirit and I liked doing whatever I wanted to do, and I really enjoyed fighting for whatever reason. LaVell, Norm Chow, the other coaches and my teammates and friends helped me grow up."

Following his Cougar career, Kozlowski played for eight seasons for the Chicago Bears in the NFL. He's also been involved in broadcasting for many years in Chicago.

Meanwhile, he wanted his boys to go to BYU, too — but not because of football. Still, today, his oldest son, Tyler, is a member of the Cougar football team. Just like dad, Tyler wears the No. 7 jersey.

"I'm excited that he's passionate about playing football," Glen says of Tyler. "I'm glad he can wear the BYU uniform, period. To wear my number is a bonus. I wanted my sons to go to school there because I knew how it changes your life, the experiences that you have. I'm just happy that he's happy and working towards a degree."