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LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Sin City summoned brisk winter air and the most snowfall in 30 years to make BYU feel at home this week, but the No. 17 Cougars are hoping a win against Arizona in the Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday can set the team on a path that leads elsewhere next year.
Wide receiver Austin Collie told The Associated Press that to get to a more prestigious bowl in 2009 -- ideally a BCS game -- the team that has been to four straight Las Vegas Bowls must prove to itself that it deserves something better.
"We had high hopes in the beginning of the year -- we had a lot of goals set, and goals that were achievable," said Collie, a second-team AP All-American. "As the season went on I think we kind of dropped off a little bit.
"I don't think that's because of the teams we played -- I think we're equally if not more talented than the teams we've played -- it's just that we beat ourselves," he said.
BYU's 10-2 season was marred with two rough conference losses to ranked teams, a 32-7 road loss to TCU and a 48-24 loss at Utah in its last regular season game, Nov. 22.
"I think we've put it behind us, but I think we're hungry to play again and kind of end the season on a high note, said quarterback Max Hall, who had six turnovers against Utah, including five interceptions.
BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall, who made his team's theme for the season "Quest for Perfection," said he would measure progress for his team through its consistency and execution. He said 11 wins in three straight seasons -- which BYU would achieve if it beats the Wildcats -- would prove the program is moving in the right direction.
"It's about our preparation, our position mastery and our execution," Mendenhall said. "We really don't acknowledge whom we're playing or where, and so our approach has just been very consistent."
Still, Mendenhall said he believes Arizona will be the strongest opponent for BYU in its past four bowl games.
Arizona has garnered attention for its spread offense led by quarterback Willie Tuitama and tight end Rob Gronkowski. It is playing its first bowl game in 10 years.
"We are excited, but we know it's just another game," said Gronkowski, who leads the Wildcats with 10 touchdowns.
"It's good to be more excited because then you're going to be more focused, you're going to be more ready," he said.
Scoring used to be a problem for Arizona until it installed a spread offense at the beginning of 2007. In its season opener that year -- the last time Arizona faced BYU, the Wildcats didn't score until the final minute and lost 20-7. They have picked it up since then.
This year, Arizona ranks 16th nationally after scoring just over 37 points per game. It tallied 70 points in a shutout against Idaho. BYU ranks 19th, scoring 35.3 points per game.
Arizona coach Mike Stoops said a win would mean validation for a program that has not had a winning season since 1998, when it went 12-1 and beat Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl.
"Some programs take longer than others, let's face it. There's only so many Oklahomas, Texases, Ohio States and USCs," Stoops said. "The rest of us have to work really hard to develop our programs and to gain stability in programs."
Stoops, the brother of Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, took over at Arizona in 2004 after five seasons on the Sooners staff.
Before leading the Wildcats to the Las Vegas Bowl with a 7-5 record, Stoops was a combined 17-29 in his first four seasons coaching Arizona.
Las Vegas Bowl
No. 17 BYU (10-2, 6-2) vs. Arizona (7-5, 5-4) at Las Vegas, 8 p.m. (ESPN) Line: Arizona favored, minus-3. Series Record: Arizona leads 11-9-1. Last Meeting: 2007, BYU won 20-7.
What's at Stake
$1 million total payout; BYU would win its third straight Las Vegas Bowl, Arizona would win its first bowl game in 10 years.
Key Matchup
Arizona's offense (37 points per game) vs. BYU's offense (35.3 points per game). Both teams run versions of a spread offense tailored to get the ball into the hands of their playmakers.
Players to watch
BYU: Austin Collie, a second team AP All-American wide receiver who ranks first nationally in total receiving yards (1,419) and receiving yards per game (118.25), and fourth nationally with 15 touchdown receptions.
Arizona: Tight end Rob Gronkowski, Arizona's top target in the end zone with 10 touchdown catches on 43 receptions.
Facts & Figures
BYU's five offensive line starters average 6-foot-6, 326 pounds. Arizona's starting defensive line averages 6-foot-2, 259 pounds. ... Arizona's Nic Grigsby is the school's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2001. ... BYU has not returned a kickoff for a touchdown in 130 games, since Oct. 17, 1998, against Hawaii. ... BYU's Collie, a junior, has not said whether he'll remain with BYU for his senior season or declare himself eligible for the NFL draft. He declined to comment Thursday when asked by The Associated Press about his future.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
