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

"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."

Tyler, who was born just months before the start of that 1984 championship season, knows he is one of the links between that team and today's squad guided by Bronco Mendenhall.

"Anytime you put that 'Y' on your helmet and go out to play, you're representing the school. Not only the school, but the Church as well," Tyler said. "When we play football, we're not just playing football. We're trying to accomplish something much greater. For me, when I get on the field, I wear No. 7 to honor my dad. I have expectations to be great, just like my dad was. I won't settle for anything less."

Growing up in Chicago, Tyler and his brothers would watch a highlight video of the 1984 season over and over again.

"I remember that one catch against Pittsburgh, where my dad dove across the middle, got up and I think he threw the ball at the (defender)," Tyler says. "That one sticks out."

But it wasn't until recently that Tyler could appreciate the accomplishment of winning a national title.

"I don't think you can fully understand unless you actually play and see how hard that is to go undefeated," he says. "It's hard to go undefeated in any conference — and to go on and win a national championship, that's pretty special."

Glen Kozlowski is making his mark in the coaching profession and he draws upon the many lessons he learned at BYU, including going undefeated in 1984.

"I talk to my team about the fact that, in life, you're never going to be perfect because nobody is," he says. "But you have a chance to be perfect as a team. It's rare that you can do that."

Kozlowski spent seven seasons coaching Wauconda High, where he hired one of his teammates on that '84 team — tight end David Mills. When Kozlowski left Wauconda for North Chicago, Mills was promoted to head coach at Wauconda.

"We made a deal 27 years ago that if either one of us got a head coaching job, the other would come work with him," Kozlowski says. "I got the job out here and he came out. Then I left Wauconda and he got the job. We were best friends in college and roommates on the road that year we won the national championship. It was nice to do something that we talked about during the season. To actually get to do it was great."

Though Glen was rowdy when he was younger, Tyler says his dad has mellowed over the years.

"I'm telling you, he's a sensitive man now," he said. "Back in the day, there were stories about him fighting and all of this other stuff. Even growing up, we weren't allowed to cry. Nowadays, he might be the biggest crybaby of us all. He doesn't give me crap anymore."