BYU football: Cougars' offensive line answered questions vs. Oklahoma

NEW ORLEANS — Questions about BYU's offensive line abounded prior to last week's season-opener.

The Cougars were replacing four starters and then two players were injured during fall camp.

But in facing what quarterback Max Hall called "the best front four in college football," the O-line proved itself against Oklahoma.

"When I realized we were going to be good (on the O-line) was the first drive," Hall said. "We had a couple of running plays where we really moved them back. Then to see (running back) Bryan Kariya blast into their linebackers and knock them backward and push the pile forward for first downs, I was thinking, 'We might be more physical than them right now.'

"Those guys did a phenomenal job. Say what you want, but those guys are warriors. They battled. They were the reason why we were able to get the ball into the end zone."

Tight end Dennis Pitta said the team had confidence in the offensive line long before last weekend.

"From spring ball, early on, we knew they would be a group we could depend on. We had some injuries in fall camp, but we were confident in what those guys could do," he said. "They certainly proved themselves against Oklahoma. What better test in week one than against Oklahoma? And they passed."

COMING OF AGE: Tulane coach Bob Toledo has made a big deal this week about the ages of BYU players, many of whom have served missions.

"I've played BYU several times. They're an older, much more mature football team than anybody in the country," Toledo said. "They've got guys going on two-year missions and they come back. I would venture to say that I heard that there's like forty-something guys that are married on that football team and I know they have kids, too. So, they're mature guys who are responsible people, too.

"But they're an experienced football team because of the Mormon faith they have to do the two-year mission as I mentioned, they come back. ... I know one guy went away as a quarterback and when he came back he was a nose tackle."

THE SERIES: BYU and Tulane have met only twice, but both matchups were memorable.

In 1998, the Cougars were paired against the undefeated, No. 10 Green Wave in the Liberty Bowl. Tulane, led by quarterback Shawn King, built up a 34-6 halftime before cruising to an eventual 41-27 victory, which capped a 12-0 season for the Green Wave.

A few years later, BYU hosted Tulane in the Black Coaches Association Classic to open the 2001 season. It marked former coach Gary Crowton's debut — the first time the Cougars weren't coached by the legendary LaVell Edwards in 30 years. BYU's offense, led by Brandon Doman and Luke Staley, rolled over Tulane, 70-35.

CORRECTION: A story that ran Friday on backup quarterback Riley Nelson had an erroneous statement about how many games BYU starting QBs have missed due to injury. Since the beginning of the 2005 season, the Cougars' starting quarterbacks have missed only one start.

e-mail: jeffc@desnews.com