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Flashback Friday: BYU vs. Alabama; September 5, 1998

By Jeff Hansen

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Everyone knows about Throwback Thursday on social media but we’re switching things up at Lawless Republic. Today is the first article in a weekly series of Flashback Friday articles where we remember some of the most memorable games in BYU history. Today we look at one of my earliest memories of BYU football and remember our Cougars’ trip to Tuscaloosa in 1998. Let’s re-live BYU vs. Alabama.

Sep 13, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; a general view of Bryant-Denny Stadium during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Southern Miss Golden Eagles. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

September 5, 1998

I was only nine years old when this game was played but I remember the excitement as my family gathered around a family member’s big screen TV in Petersboro, Utah. Alabama wasn’t the dominant powerhouse that they were under the great Bear Bryant or that they currently are under Nick Saban, but this was still a huge game for BYU against The Crimson Tide.

BYU was coming off a disappointing season in 1997 that resulted in the Cougars not receiving a bowl bid for just the second time since 1976 but was looking to start the 1998 season with a bang in Tuscaloosa. Alabama was coming off a 4-7 season under first year head coach Mike Dubose but was optimistic that they had things headed in the right direction in 1998. At the time, neither team was living up to the expectations of their fans but it was still a great matchup that was televised by ESPN.

Alabama’s offense was headlined by junior running back Shaun Alexander who was set to be the primary running back in the Crimson Tide offense for the first time in his career. The defense, like any Alabama defense, was stout and going to be difficult for a BYU offense that struggled.

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BYU was led by Kevin Feterik at quarterback. Joining Feterik in the backfield was a whole bunch of Cougar tailbacks like Junior Mahe, Ronney Jenkins, Will Snowden and Aaron Cupp among others. BYU had talent, but nobody had emerged as “the guy” during Fall Camp.

The BYU defense, headlined by Rob Morris, found out early on that they would have their hands full with the Bama offense. Quarterback J.D. Phillips and receiver Quincy Jackson hooked a few times on the opening drive and eventually Alexander punched it in the end zone. The drive was long and methodical and Alabama virtually got whatever they wanted against BYU.

When the BYU offense got the ball they quickly found out how hard moving the ball would be. Feterik was sacked on the opening play, an incomplete pass and then a screen pass to Kalani Sitake netted a loss of five yards after a fumble and the Cougs were already punting.

Alabama got the ball back and it was all Alexander. A long touchdown run by the future Seattle Seahawk put BYU in a 14-0 hole and that score held true into the second quarter.

BYU started to show some life after that. Early in the second quarter BYU forced an Alexander fumble and the great Byron Frisch recovered the fumble for BYU and ran it into the endzone to pull BYU within a touchdown. The offense had sputtered and this was a huge play for the defense and it shot some life back into the sideline.

Alabama quickly answered with a touchdown drive of their own. Alexander capped off the long drive with his third touchdown run of the game. The Crimson Tide scored another field goal in the second quarter and the score was 24-7 before BYU’s offense finally was able to put a scoring drive together.

With just over six minutes left in the first half, BYU punted the ball to Alabama and Arvin Richards muffed the punt and BYU’s Carlos Nuno recovered on the Alabama 46 yard line. Feterik found Margin Hooks for a 23-yard pass from there and BYU put a few first downs together before Feterik found Tevita Ofahengaue for a 10-yard touchdown pass that took the score to 24-14. That score held through halftime.

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BYU got the ball to start the second half and the opening drive was highlighted by true freshman Reno Mahe and sophomore Will Snowden. Each had long first down plays and the two carried the BYU offense as they put together their first full drive down the field. An Alabama personal foul set up the Cougars for a Mahe touchdown run.

After a fourth down stop by the BYU defense on the ensuing Alabama drive, BYU got the ball and marched down the field and Owen Pochman connected on a 23-yard field goal that evened the score at 24.

The third quarter ended with the score still tied and each team traded punts to start the fourth quarter. With just over eight minutes to play in the game, Alexander put his team on his back and took over the game. A 28-yard touchdown run (his fourth of the game) put Alabama in front 31-24 and BYU couldn’t ever get back in it.

Feterik fumbled on the following BYU drive, giving Alabama the ball at the BYU 30. Phillips found Jackson again for a third down conversion that set up yet another touchdown run from Alexander that put BYU down by a score of 38-24 with just over a minute to play.

The Cougars took over and quickly marched down the field in an effort to make a comeback. Four straight first downs and some quality red zone running set up a touchdown run by Feterik. After the Pochman PAT BYU was within a touchdown and only 15 seconds left to play.

Sep 20, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide fans cheer after a touchdown in the second quarter of their game against the Florida Gators at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 42-21. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

BYU attempted an onside kick that was recovered by Alabama. Phillips took a knee and the game ended at 38-31 in favor of the Crimson Tide.

All in all, it was an impressive football game for BYU. They battled back against a big name in college football in one of the toughest venues in the country. Ultimately, they had no answer for Shaun Alexander who finished his huge game with 115 yards rushing and five touchdowns.

As a team, BYU only put up a total of 280 yards on offense but they only gave up 339 yards. Ultimately, the difference was Alexander.

Alabama went on to finish 7-5 in the SEC while BYU finished 9-5 in the WAC. This game was the only matchup between these two teams’ histories but we can all hope we see them square off again one day.

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