BYU QB Hall one win from matching Detmer
November 13, 2009
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)—Two seasons ago in his first action as BYU’squarterback, Max Hall wasn’t thinking about the school’s legacy at the game’smost glamorous position.
“I was more worried about fumbling the snap than anything else,” Hallrecalled this week. “I was worried about remembering the plays and somehowbeing able to deliver a football and complete a pass.”
No problem. Things turned out fine for Hall.
Now a senior, he leads the No. 22 Cougars (7-2, 4-1 Mountain West) intoSaturday’s game at struggling New Mexico (0-9, 0-5) with a chance to makehistory.
With one more victory, Hall will match Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer’sschool record of 29 career wins from 1988-91. And while Hall doesn’t have enoughtime remaining in his playing days to threaten Detmer’s school record of 15,031yards passing, he’s satisfied.
“Ty absolutely dominated in his career,” Hall said. “He did some thingsand had some records that are unbelievable and almost unbeatable. Really, whatreally mattered to me was just winning games. We’ve tried to win at least 10games each year and at least have a shot at the conference title.”
Hall had a spectacular performance in last weekend’s 52-0 victory atWyoming.
He played into the third quarter, completing 20 of 22 attempts for 312 yardspassing and a season-high four touchdowns. His 90.0 percent completion rate fora single game was just shy of Steve Sarkisian’s school-record 91.2 percentagainst Fresno State from 1995.
Hall piled up the victories because he’s been fortunate to stay healthy andbecause BYU went 11-2 and 10-3 during his two earlier seasons as a starter.
“To have a chance to be up there and be mentioned with some of the greatsthat have played here, maybe even break a record while I’m here, having anopportunity to do that is great,” Hall said. “I want to take advantage of itand hopefully win the next few games.”
The Cougars have a chance at 10 regular-season victories for the fourthstraight year if they can win out against the Lobos, Air Force and rival Utah.If they do, they’ll also have an outside shot at a share of the Mountain Westtitle.
The Cougars can’t win the title outright without Utah or TCU losing twiceover the final three games.
Quarterbacks at BYU are always measured against the ones who played earlierduring a long line of standouts, from Gifford Nielsen, Marc Wilson, Jim McMahon,Steve Young and Robbie Bosco to Detmer, Sarkisian and, more recently, John Beck.
BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall was asked if Hall might have benefited from asofter schedule than what those other Cougars played against though the years.
He replied that it’s difficult to say—and irrelevant, at least toMendenhall.
“I do know I am very fortunate to be Max’s coach. I’m very fortunate thathe’s here with us and I’m fortunate that he has helped us win a lot of footballgames. … I think that speaks a lot about what he’s been able to accomplish,”Mendenhall said.
New Mexico seems to be the perfect opponent for Hall to pad his victorytotal.
The Lobos are still trying to snap a 13-game losing streak and avoid theirworst season since an 0-11 campaign in 1987. Worse, Mike Locksley’s first yearas coach has been mayhem off the field, most notably his altercation with anassistant coach and fallout from the university’s botched investigation.
Hall insisted the Cougars won’t be looking past the Lobos.
“New Mexico, obviously, has not had the kind of season they wanted,” hesaid. “They’ve had some bumps along the way and lost some games they shouldhave won. We’re not going to take them lightly, though. I still feel likethey’re going to be well prepared.”