Not just a jersey: The story behind BYU’s football uniforms
Imagine having a feeling of complete self-control, only for things to go completely haywire.
Such was the experience of the Kansas State Wildcats when they traveled to Provo back in September for a Big 12 matchup with BYU.
The stakes were high despite the game being scheduled for early in the season. The winner would have a step ahead in the conference before the bulk of the season really started.
This game was special for BYU due to several reasons. First, and perhaps most obvious, was how the game turned out. Also, the uniforms that the throwback white Cougars wore that night were part of the story.
With two minutes to go in the first half, Kansas State seemed poised to take a 6-3 lead into halftime.
But things went south very quickly. A third-and-2 fumble led to a BYU scoop and score. On the next series, The Cougars snatched a poor throw and scored another touchdown just a few plays later. The halftime score was now 17-6 instead of 6-3.
But that wasn’t all. Another Kansas State interception led to easy BYU points, and then a wild punt return for a touchdown was all but the nail in the coffin.
That made it 31-6, BYU. The Wildcats were shellshocked, no doubt about it. Just a few minutes of game time gone, and their hopes of winning were dashed just as quick. You wouldn’t have guessed the Wildcats ended up out-rushing the Cougars 228 yards to 92.
That sequence of events was likely the most improbable for BYU this season. What was it like on the field that night? Taylor Noblit, a senior from Pennsylvania, has worked on the grounds crew for four seasons.
“The barrage of turnovers and special teams plays turned LaVell Edwards into a house of horrors that night,” Noblit said. “Seeing everything up close from the field level is a really neat experience, to know you have a hand in something that is watched on TV all across the country on Saturdays.”
It wasn’t the first time BYU and Kansas State played, but it had been several years. The all time series is a close 5-4 margin in favor of BYU. Fans may remember the last time the two teams squared off; in the Cotton Bowl to conclude the 1996 season. BYU won 19-15, sporting some blue jerseys with special lettering. Foreshadowing, perhaps?
