BYU football notebook: Former Y. great Ty Detmer to be honored at halftime

PROVO — Former BYU quarterback Ty Detmer, the 1990 Heisman Trophy winner, will be honored at halftime of Saturday's game against Oregon State.

BYU and the National Football Foundation and the College Hall of Fame will salute Detmer, who will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in December. The announcement came last May.

At BYU, Detmer not only won the Heisman Trophy, but he also received the Maxwell Award and two Davey O'Brien Awards. He set 59 NCAA records.

"There aren't many more accomplished players in the history of college football than Ty Detmer," said NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell. "He just about did everything as a Cougar that a college quarterback can do. He is a truly deserving member of the College Football Hall of Fame. It will be a thrill to honor him in front of the BYU faithful at LaVell Edwards Stadium."

Detmer will be the sixth BYU player to be inducted to the Hall of Fame, along with Gifford Nielsen (1994), Marc Wilson (1996), Jim McMahon (1998), Steve Young (2001), and Gordon Hudson (2009). Coach LaVell Edwards was inducted in 2004.

OSU'S RILEY: Oregon State coach Mike Riley, who has posted a 76-63 record in 11 seasons with the Beavers, has a good relationship with BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall.

"I consider him a friend," Mendenhall said. "He and his wife, Dee — Holly and I really like. They're great people. Oregon State has the perfect guy I think. He fits that community so well and he's a good coach."

Why has Riley been so successful at Oregon State?

"He's a great person and a really good coach. He has the right values and he's very consistent," Mendenhall said. "He's surrounded himself with the right coaches. He has the right perspective and he's a great fit for that community. I hope he stays there forever if he wants to."

JUST FOR KICKS: BYU placekicker Justin Sorensen received an epidural this week for his ailing back, and he has been kicking more this week in practice.

"We have a period dedicated to (kicking) now during practice, which we haven't had yet this season," Sorensen said. "It's really nice. It's kind of back to the way it was. It's good to have consistent, 10-12 reps at a time with your holder."

The Cougar kicking game has been an adventure this season. Riley Stephenson has missed three PATs in the last two games while Sorensen has had two field goal attempts blocked this year.

Sorensen has not missed a PAT in his career, having connected on all 51 attempts.

WE'RE NO. 1: BYU's defense is ranked No. 1 in the nation in rushing defense. Stopping the run is something Mendenhall has emphasized with his players.

"What I share with them is, you can't play good defense without stopping the run," Mendenhall said. "Each player has a specific gap and assignment. The way we practice it is if the ball crosses the line in their gap, then it's minus points. We kind of keep score. They're accountable. All 11 of them have to do the right thing and I think it's really fun. Of any statistic that I would be proud of, run offense and run defense is my favorite."

Oregon State, meanwhile, is No. 4 in the nation in rushing defense.

email: jeffc@desnews.com