Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
By DOUG ALDEN AP Sports Writer
PROVO, Utah (AP) -- Brigham Young quarterback John Beck hopes to lose a couple layers of tape from his sore ankles this week when the Cougars host San Diego State after a 10-day layoff.
While his ankles are still healing, his arm is just fine.
"I've been able to heal a lot over the last couple weeks and I expect myself to be closer to 100 percent," Beck said Tuesday, his right ankle secured in a walking cast.
He said the cast, worn whenever he's off the field, seems to have hastened his recovery. Beck has been hurting since the season opener and he had to take a week off against Utah State on Sept. 23 because his right ankle was too sore to practice or play.
The extra rest worked. Although he was still barely mobile, and had both ankles taped heavily, Beck led the Cougars to a 31-17 win over then-No. 17 TCU on Thursday. The Horned Frogs basically left it up to BYU's hobbled quarterback to beat them, and he did.
Beck was 23-for-37 for 321 yards and three touchdowns and didn't throw an interception. He was named Mountain West Conference offensive player of the week for leading the Cougars to their first win over a ranked team since 1999.
"It's something that we've wanted to accomplish since I've been here. We've had a number of opportunities," Beck said. "There had been a lot of close ones. It was good to have finally a game where it wasn't close and we were able to win."
Beck plans to start Saturday at home against San Diego State, even though the Aztecs are 0-4. BYU is off Oct. 14, which will give him more time to heal before the final six games of the season.
By beating the defending Mountain West champion Horned Frogs, the Cougars (3-2) are in control of where they will finish in the league standings.
And Beck has a little vindication over critics who were starting to label him as not being able to carry the Cougars in the biggest games.
"We played a good team in TCU and beat them so right now everything is set up for us the way we want," he said.
Beck and fellow captain Cameron Jensen addressed the team Monday, reminding the Cougars there were seven games left and the only way they can guarantee anything is to keep winning.
Beck's game last week, when he couldn't put much pressure on either ankle as he threw the ball, was an example to the younger Cougars.
"It's good to see him getting better each day," Jensen said. "It was just a great performance."
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-10-03-06 1748MDT
