BYU's not afraid of Dennis Erickson

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

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There's a running joke in the sports department by my dear friend and colleague Mike Grant, from ksl.com's Crimson Corner. Every time Alabama wins a game (60-7 with three national championships since 2008), Mike turns to us and says, "I'm not afraid of ‘Bama".

Why would he be afraid?

In 2008, Alabama was a perfect 12-0 before losing in the SEC Championship game to Tim Tebow's Florida Gators. That loss, controversially, cost ‘Bama a chance at the BCS National Championship game (both Florida and Alabama had one loss at that point, but Florida had lost to Ole Miss earlier in the year).

So in Nick Saban's second year, the Tide found itself in New Orleans playing in the Sugar Bowl against Utah.

Although I lean Cougar Blue like Pisa and its tower, I was lucky enough to cover that game and watch the Utes dismantle that heralded Alabama defense, 31-17. Thus, Mike's credo, "I'm not afraid of ‘Bama."

It makes no sense, it's half in jest, but it is what you know. Your experience gives you a false sense of security.

So when the Utes hired Dennis Erickson on Monday as their offensive coordinator, Cougar fans look back and say (half in jest), "I'm not afraid of Dennis Erickson."

Despite the fact that he has been a collegiate head coach for 23 seasons, has won two national championships and was a head coach in the NFL for six years.

Cougar fans may be impressed, but they can also say that the reason he has two national championships instead of three, sits at the feet of LaVell Edwards and Ty Detmer.

In 1990, Ty Detmer was coming off a spectacular sophomore season and the #1 ranked Miami Hurricanes were coming to Provo to launch their bid for back-to-back championships.

I was at that game on Sept. 8, 1990. I was 14 years-old and I watched, what I believe to be, the greatest football performance in Utah history.

My brother was attending BYU and hooked me up with a ticket, which was consequently his single greatest act of kindness, while my dad had to scalp a ticket. We were three of the 66,235 fans that were on our feet for entire game. The result was that the 16th ranked Cougars upset the 13.5 point favorite Hurricanes 28-21.

Ty Detmer became the Heisman frontrunner with a magic night, completing 38-of-54 passes for 406 yards, three touchdowns and a pick.

Twenty years later I met Ty for an interview and I re-introduced myself, "Remember we met after the Miami game, me and sixty-six thousand of my closest friends were patting you on the back." I said with a smile that was pulled directly from that incredible memory.

Dennis Erickson was Miami's head coach and in a 10 year dynasty with Jimmy Johnson won three national championships.

It probably should have been four, but for the Cougars, "We're not afraid of Dennis Erickson."