Texas El-Paso Miners	Arizona Wildcats ©
Played August 31, 1996 at Arizona Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Texas El-Paso	0	0	3	0	.000					0	3	0	.000
Arizona ©	5	12	11	0	.522	5	4	0	.556	6	7	0	.462	1	0	0	1.000

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

The Texas El-Paso Miners of coach Charlie Bailey met the Arizona Wildcats of coach Dick Tomey in the 1996 opener for both teams.  Arizona PK Matt Peyton connected on 3 field goals & All-Pac 10 CB Chris McAllister intercepted 2 passes to lead the Wildcats to a 23-3 victory.  Neither team scored in the 1^st quarter but Arizona broke things open in the 2^nd quarter.  Wildcats’ QB Keith Smith scored on a 5-yard touchdown run before Peyton hit from 52 yards making the score 10-0 Arizona.  QB Brady Batten found WR Mike Metzler on a 17-yard touchdown pass as the Wildcats took a 17-0 halftime lead.  Peyton’s 49-yard field goal was offset by Texas El-Paso PK Jon Olsen’s 49-yard field goal for the only points of the 3^rd quarter.  Peyton’s final kick came, a 33-yard connection, came with 12:56 to play.  Smith finished with 24 yards passing with his rushing touchdown, Batten threw for 85 yards with a touchdown as well as an interception & RB Gary Taylor finished with 106 yards rushing for the Wildcats as they held the ball for 37:25 of the game.  Texas El-Paso QB Leonard Lilja threw for 95 yards with 2 interceptions in the loss.  Arizona finished the season 5-6 while the Miners finished 2-9.  Texas El-Paso would play for The Belt again in 9 weeks.

 

 

 

Arizona Wildcats ©	Iowa Hawkeyes
Played September 7, 1996 at Kinnick Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Arizona ©	5	13	11	0	.542	6	4	0	.600	6	7	0	.462	1	0	0	1.000
Iowa	1	4	3	0	.571	2	2	0	.500	2	1	0	.667

 

                        Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

The 1-0 Arizona Wildcats of coach Dick Tomey traveled to Iowa City to meet the 22^nd ranked Iowa Hawkeyes of coach Hayden Fry.  Iowa’s defense forced 5 turnovers & recorded 5 sacks while All-Big 10 RB Sedrick Shaw rushed for 115 yards with a touchdown as the Hawkeyes claimed The Belt with a 21-20 victory.  Arizona took a 7-0 lead in the 1^st quarter when QB Keith Smith connected with TE Mike Lucky for a 1-yard touchdown pass.  In the 2^nd quarter, the Hawkeyes turned a fumble by Arizona QB Brady Batten into 7 points when LB Vernon Rollins recovered the ball in the end zone tying the game at 7-7.  On the Wildcats’ next possession, Batten fumbled again & LB Matt Hughes recovered at the Arizona 18-yard line.  Two plays later, Iowa QB Matt Sherman found WR Damon Gibson for an 18-yard touchdown pass giving the Hawkeyes a 14-7 halftime lead.  After CB Tom Knight intercepted Smith, the Hawkeyes got a 1-yard touchdown run from Shaw.  The Wildcats comeback started with a 50-yard field goal by PK Matt Peyton midway through the 3^rd quarter &, after a short punt, Arizona had the ball at the Iowa 20-yard line.  Smith scrambled after finding his receivers covered & took the ball untouched into the end zone making the score Iowa 21 Arizona 17 with 5:56 left in the 3^rd quarter.  The Wildcats got a 39-yard field goal from Peyton 3 seconds into the 4^th quarter but could not score again as the Hawkeye ran off most of the last 6 minutes of the game with a 15-play drive.  The win gave the Hawkeyes their second Belt reign & first since 1981.  The Wildcats finished the season 5-6 while the Hawkeyes finished 9-3 & ranked 18^th nationally.  Arizona would play for The Belt again 2004.

 

 

 

Iowa State Cyclones	Iowa Hawkeyes ©
Played September 14, 1996 at Kinnick Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt Reigns

Overall Record

Home Record

Away Record

Neutral Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Iowa State

0

Iowa ©

2

5

3

0

.625

3

2

0

.600

2

1

0

.667

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

The 0-1 Iowa State Cyclones of coach Dan McCarney traveled to Iowa City to meet the 20^th ranked, 1-0 Iowa Hawkeyes of Hayden Fry.  For the first time, The Belt would be decided along with the Cy-Hawk Trophy.  The Hawkeyes rushed for 301 yards, led by RB Tavian Banks 182 yards with 3 touchdowns, as Iowa retained The Belt with a 38-13 victory.  Banks scored on an 89-yard run as time expired in the 1^st quarter & added a 13-yard touchdown run early in the 2^nd quarter.  Hawkeye QB Matt Sherman connected with WR Damon Gibson on a 42-yard touchdown pass & PK Brion Hurley hit a 54-yard field goal as Iowa took a 24-0 lead at the half.  Iowa State finally got on the board when All-American RB Troy Davis scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.  The Hawkeyes responded with 75-yard kickoff return by Ricchard Carter leading to WR Tim Dwight scoring on a 5-yard touchdown run.  The Cyclones again closed the margin when RB Joe Parmentier caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from QB Todd Doxzon.  Iowa finished the scoring when Banks scored his third touchdown of the day on a 28-yard run.  For the Hawkeyes, Sherman finished 13 of 16 passing for 149 yards with a touchdown.  For the Cyclones, Davis finished with 152 yards with his touchdown.  Iowa finished the season 9-3; ranked 18^th nationally while the Cyclones finished 2-9.  Iowa State would play for The Belt again in 1997.

 

 

 

Iowa Hawkeyes ©	Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Played September 21, 1996 at Skelly Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt Reigns

Overall Record

Home Record

Away Record

Neutral Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Iowa ©

2

6

3

0

.667

4

2

0

.667

2

1

0

.667

Tulsa

0

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

The 19^th ranked, 2-0 Iowa Hawkeyes of coach Hayden Fry met the 0-2 Tulsa Golden Hurricane of coach Dave Rader.  Tulsa had scored only one touchdown in its first two games & seemed to be little test for the 16 ½-point Big Ten favorite.  The Golden Hurricane defense held Iowa to 2 of 16 on third down conversions & All-WAC DL Salifu Abudulai recorded 3 sacks as the Golden Hurricane upset the Belt holders 27-20.  The Hawkeyes came out firing on all cylinders with a 7-play, 80-yard drive capped by an 8-yard touchdown run by All-Big 10 RB Sedrick Shaw.  Tulsa responded with a 37-yard field goal by All-WAC PK James Anderson.  After a short punt gave Tulsa the ball at their own 43-yard line, QB John Fitzgerald led an 8-play, 57-yard drive connecting with WR Wes Caswell on a 13-yard touchdown pass for the 10-7 lead.  Iowa regained the lead when QB Matt Sherman hit WR Tim Dwight on a 4-yard touchdown pass.  PK Brion Hurley gave the Hawkeyes a 17-7 lead when he hit a 45-yard field goal but Tulsa got a 29-yard field goal from Anderson just before halftime.  The 3^rd quarter belonged to the Golden Hurricane as RB Reggie Williams scored on an 8-yard touchdown run & RB Solomon White scored on a 1-yard touchdown run as Tulsa took a 27-17 lead to the 4^th quarter.  Iowa got a 26-yard field goal from PK Zach Bromert on the first play of the 4^th quarter to get the Hawkeyes within a touchdown but it was time for the Tulsa defense to step-up.  The Golden Hurricane defense held Hawkeyes’ offense without a point twice in the final 7:17 with Iowa inside the Tulsa 10-yard line.  The win gave the Golden Hurricane their first Belt reign.  Fitzgerald finished with 357 yards passing with his touchdown, Williams added 106 yards rushing to his score, Caswell had 7 catches for 120 yards, & WR Damon Savage added 4 catches for 101 yards.  Sherman finished with 149 yards passing with a touchdown but was sacked 6 times & Shaw had 123 yards rushing with his score in the losing effort.  The Hawkeyes finished the season 9-3; ranked 18^th nationally while the Golden Hurricane finished 4-7.  Iowa would play for The Belt again in 2006.

 

 

 

Tulsa Golden Hurricane ©	Oklahoma Sooners
Played September 28, 1996 at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Tulsa ©	1	1	0	0	1.000	1	0	0	1.000
Oklahoma	1	2	1	1	.625	1	1	0	.500	1	0	1	.750

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

The 1-2 Tulsa Golden Hurricane of coach Dave Rader, fresh off their upset of 19^th ranked Iowa, traveled to Norman to meet the 0-2 Oklahoma Sooners of first-year coach John Blake.  Tulsa played without starting QB John Fitzgerald out due to a shoulder injury but back-up QB Troy DeGar threw for 277 yards with 2 touchdowns including a 99-yard strike to WR Wes Caswell in the 31-24 win.  Things started poorly for the Sooners as RB De’Mond Parker fumbled on the first play from scrimmage & Tulsa DT Ryan Farley recovered at the Oklahoma 31-yard line.  Golden Hurricane RB Solomon White scored on a 1-yard touchdown run for the 7-0 Tulsa lead.  Oklahoma tied the game early in the 2^nd quarter when RB James Allen scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.  All-WAC PK James Anderson connected on a 37-yard field goal to give Tulsa the lead back at 10-7 &, after Oklahoma pinned the Golden Hurricane at their own 1-yard line with a punt, DeGar hit WR Wes Caswell for the 99-yard touchdown pass giving Tulsa a 17-7 advantage.  It looked like the Sooners would respond with a touchdown of their own but Parker fumbled again & Tulsa S Jeremy Bunch recovered in the end zone for a touchback.  DeGar directed a 13-play, 80-yard drive & finished it with a 4-yard touchdown pass to WR Jeff Utter with just 0:26 left in the half.  Oklahoma’s offense opened the 2^nd half after a short Tulsa punt with a 3-play, 45-yard drive with QB Justin Fuente connecting with WR Mike McDaniel for a 41-yard touchdown pass to close to 24-14.  The Golden Hurricane next drive was stopped as Oklahoma CB Corey Ivy blocked the Tulsa punt & three plays later, Fuente scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.  Late in the 3^rd quarter, Oklahoma PK Jeremy Alexander hit a 49-yard field goal to tie the game at 24-24.  Each teams exchanged interceptions on their first drives of the final period before White scored for Tulsa on a 2-yard touchdown run with 7:22 left.  The Sooners could not get the ball into Golden Hurricane territory the rest of the game & Tulsa had the win 31-24.  Tulsa RB Reggie Williams rushed for 105 yards & Caswell added 7 catches for 194 yards to his touchdown.  Parker finished with 143 yards rushing but 2 fumbles, McDaniel added 5 catches for 108 yards to his score, & WR Stephen Alexander had 4 catches for 102 yards for the Sooners.  Tulsa finished the season 4-7 while the Sooners finished 3-8.  Oklahoma would play for The Belt again in 1997.

 

 

 

Colorado State Rams	Tulsa Golden Hurricane ©
Played October 12, 1996 at Skelly Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Colorado State	2	3	2	0	.600	1	2	0	.333	2	0	0	1.000
Tulsa ©	1	2	0	0	1.000	1	0	0	1.000	1	0	0	1.000

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

The 3-3 Colorado State Rams of coach Sonny Lubick battled the 2-2 Tulsa Golden Hurricane of coach Dave Rader.  Tulsa RB Charlie Higgins rushed for two touchdowns & All-WAC PK James Anderson kicked two field goals as the Golden Hurricane posted a 20-14 victory to retain The Belt.  Anderson hit a 36-yard field goal after the first Tulsa drive stalled after 11 plays & 56 yards.  Late in the quarter, Colorado State RB Damon Washington broke loose for a 73-yard run that set-up a 5-yard touchdown run by RB Calvin Branch as the Rams took a 7-3 lead to the 2^nd quarter.  Tulsa CB Brian Self intercepted Colorado State QB Moses Moreno to set-up the 8-play, 37-yard touchdown drive for the Golden Hurricane with Higgins scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run for the 10-7 Tulsa lead.  Self intercepted Moreno again to & Tulsa again scored on a similar drive of 7 plays & 38 yards with Higgins scoring from 4 yards on this possession for a 17-7 halftime lead.  Colorado State CB Eason Ramson intercepted Tulsa QB Troy DeGar midway through the 3^rd quarter & the Rams mounted a 10-play, 86-yard drive capped by Washington’s 9-yard touchdown run to close to 17-14 as the game entered the 4^th quarter.  Anderson’s 28-yard field goal accounted for the only points for the final period & Tulsa had secured the 20-14 win.  Tulsa RB Reggie Williams finished with 104 yards rushing while QB John Fitzgerald returned for an injured shoulder to throw for 182 yards.  Washington finished with 188 yards rushing with his score for the Rams.  Tulsa finished the season 4-7 while the Rams finished 7-5.  Colorado State would play for The Belt again in 2004.

 

 

 

Brigham Young Cougars	Tulsa Golden Hurricane ©
Played October 19, 1996 at Skelly Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Brigham Young	1	1	2	0	.333	0	1	0	.000	1	1	0	.500
Tulsa ©	1	3	0	0	1.000	2	0	0	1.000	1	0	0	1.000

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

The 18^th ranked, 6-1 Brigham Young Cougars of coach Lavell Edwards traveled to meet the 3-2 Tulsa Golden Hurricane of coach Dave Rader.  Brigham Young All-WAC QB Steve Sarkisian threw for 329 yards & 5 touchdowns as the Cougars’ won 55-30 & claimed The Belt.  After Brigham Young CB Eddie Sampson intercepted Tulsa QB John Fitzgerald, the Cougars drove 39 yards in 9 plays to set-up a 51-yard field goal by PK Ethan Pochman.  A short punt gave the Cougars another short field & Sarkisian found All-WAC TE Itula Mili for a 25-yard touchdown.  The Golden Hurricane got on the board when All-WAC PK James Anderson connected on a 22-yard field goal but the Cougars responded with a 25-yard field goal by Pochman.  On the ensuing drive, Brigham Young All-WAC LB Shay Muirbrook intercepted Fitzgerald & returned it to the Tulsa 1-yard line.  RB Ronney Jenkins carried the final yard as Brigham Young took a 20-3 lead as the 1^st quarter ended.  Early in the 2^nd quarter Brigham Young drove 86 yards in 7 plays with Sarkisian finding WR K.O. Kealaluhi for the 31-yard touchdown pass.  During that drive, Tulsa CB Jeremy Bunch intercepted Sarkisian but the play was nullified by an offside penalty against the Golden Hurricane.  Tulsa KR Jason Jacoby returned the Brigham Young kick-off 56 yards to the Brigham Young 29-yard line but the Golden Hurricane had to settle for a 41-yard field goal by Anderson.  The Cougars were forced to punt on their next possession &, helped by a Brigham Young personal foul, Tulsa completed a 10-play, 59-yard drive with RB Reggie Williams scoring on an 8-yard touchdown run.  With 1:02 left in the half, Sarkisian tried for another score but his pass was intercepted by Tulsa S Terrance Joseph who returned the pass 48 yards for a Tulsa touchdown & the teams went to their locker rooms with the score Brigham Young 27 Tulsa 20.  The Cougars opened the 2^nd half with a 7-play, 80-yard drive with Sarkisian finding RB Mark Atuaia for a 9-yard touchdown pass pushing the lead to 34-20.  Tulsa replaced the ineffective Fitzgerald with QB Troy DeGar who drove the Golden Hurricane 80 yards in 9 plays hitting WR Damon Savage for the 12-yard touchdown pass.  A 43-yard field goal by Anderson got Tulsa within 4 points at 34-30 but Brigham Young controlled the rest of the game.  Sarkisian found All-WAC WR James Dye for a 47-yard touchdown pass & after a DeGar fumble, Jenkins scored on a 1-yard touchdown run as Brigham Young took a 48-30 lead to the 4^th quarter.  Sarkisian’s fifth touchdown pass came early in the final period on a 6-yard pass to All-WAC TE Chad Lewis.  Brigham Young RB Brian McKenzie finished with 132 yards rushing while DeGar threw for 207 yards with his touchdown & WR Wes Caswell made 6 catches for 106 yards in the losing effort.  The win gave the Cougars their second Belt reign & first since 1995.  The Golden Hurricane finished the season 4-7 while the Cougars finished 14-1, WAC Champions, & ranked 5^th nationally.  Tulsa has not played for The Belt again.

 

 

 

Brigham Young Cougars ©	Texas Christian Horned Frogs
Played October 26, 1996 at Carter Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Brigham Young ©	2	2	2	0	.500	0	1	0	.000	2	1	0	.667
Texas Christian	1	1	2	0	.333					1	2	0	.333

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

At 2-4, the Texas Christian Horned Frogs of coach Pat Sullivan hosted the 15^th ranked, 7-1 Brigham Young Cougars of coach Lavell Edwards.  Brigham Young’s All-WAC QB Steve Sarkisian threw for 313 yards with 3 touchdowns as the Cougars ruined the Horned Frogs’ Homecoming with a 45-21 victory.  Brigham Young scored on their opening drive when RB Dustin Johnson carried in from 7 yards & PK Ethan Pochman closed the quarter with a 34-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.  Sarkisian took over in the 2^nd quarter finding WR Ben Cahoon on a 12-yard touchdown pass & WR K.O. Kealaluhi on a 13-yard touchdown pass as the Cougars pushed the lead to 24-0 before the quarter was 3 minutes old.  Texas Christian got on the scoreboard with a 35-yard touchdown pass from QB Jeff Dover to WR Jason Tucker but Brigham Young RB Mark Atuaia broke loose for a 42-yard touchdown run as the Cougars took a 31-7 halftime lead.  In the 3^rd quarter Brigham Young sandwiched 2 touchdowns around the sole Horned Frogs’ score; Sarkisian connected with Johnson on a 5-yard touchdown pass & RB Ronney Jenkins scored in a 6-yard touchdown run.  In between, Dover found RB Basil Mitchell for a 9-yard touchdown pass.  Texas Christian finished the scoring with a 6-yard touchdown run by RB Koi Woods.  Brigham Young finished the season 14-1; WAC Champions, ranked 5^th nationally while the Horned Frogs finished 4-7.  Texas Christian has not played for The Belt again.

 

 

 

Texas El-Paso Miners	Brigham Young Cougars ©
Played November 2, 1996 at Cougar Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Texas El-Paso	0	0	4	0	.000					0	4	0	.000
Brigham Young ©	2	3	2	0	.600	0	1	0	.000	3	1	0	.750

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

The 2-5 Texas El-Paso Miners of coach Charlie Bailey traveled to Provo to meet the 13^th ranked, 8-1 Brigham Young Cougars of coach Lavell Edwards.  This was Texas El-Paso’s 2^nd chance for The Belt this season after having lost to Arizona to open the season.  The game featured two of the longest scoring plays in Belt history with the Cougars taking control by scoring 21 points in the 3^rd quarter on their way to a 40-18 win.  The Cougars opened the scoring when CB Chris Ellison intercepted Texas El-Paso QB Leonard Lilja & returned it 65 yards for a touchdown.  RB Brian McKenzie scored on a 32-yard touchdown run as Brigham Young pushed the lead to 12-0.  Texas El-Paso got a 21-yard field goal by PK Jon Olsen but still trailed 12-3 as the teams headed for their locker rooms.  Brigham Young opened the 2^nd half with All-WAC WR James Dye returning the kick-off 100 yards for a touchdown but the Miners responded with WR Cedric Johnson returning the ensuing kick-off 53 yards & Lilja finding Johnson for a 5-yard touchdown pass.  When Lilja found TE Clifford Johnston for the 2-point conversion, Texas El-Paso had closed to 19-11.  McKenzie’s second touchdown came on a 2-yard run & after a Miners’ punt, the Cougars went 68 yards in 9 plays with All-WAC QB Steve Sarkisian connecting with All-WAC TE Chad Lewis for a 1-yard touchdown pass on fourth down for a 33-11 advantage.  Brigham Young appeared to be driving for another score when Texas El-Paso CB Michael Hicks intercepted Sarkisian for the second time in the game.  Hicks returned this pick 100 yards for a touchdown making the score Brigham Young 33 Texas El-Paso 18.  The Cougars scored the final points of the game when Sarkisian found WR K.O. Kealaluhi for a 17-yard touchdown pass.  Sarkisian finished with 235 yards passing with 2 touchdowns while Lilja finished with 175 yards passing with a touchdown for Texas El-Paso.  Brigham Young finished the season 14-1; WAC Champions, ranked 5^th nationally while the Miners finished 2-9.  Texas El-Paso had not played for The Belt again.

 

 

 

Rice Owls	Brigham Young Cougars ©
Played November 9, 1996 at Cougar Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Rice	1	1	1	0	.500	0	1	0	.000	1	0	0	1.000
Brigham Young ©	2	4	2	0	.667	1	1	0	.500	3	1	0	.750

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

The 5-3 Rice Owls of coach Ken Hatfield came to Provo with a 4-game winning streak to meet the 12^th ranked, 9-1 Brigham Young Cougars of coach Lavell Edwards.  They left with a healthy respect for the Cougars.  Brigham Young’s All-WAC QB Steve Sarkisian threw 2 touchdowns passes, including an 87-yard connection to RB Dustin Johnson, while the defense held Rice to 0 completions & 1 interception in 5 passing attempts on their way to a 49-0 rout of the Owls.  Neither team scored in the opening quarter but the Cougars took control of the game with a 21-point 2^nd quarter.  Sarkisian & Johnson hooked up for the first score with 10:23 left in the half.  Just over a minute later, Sarkisian found WR K.O. Kealaluhi open for a 5-yard touchdown to push the lead to 14-0.  When RB Brian McKenzie scored on a 2-yard run, Brigham Young seemed ready for the rout.  Cougar WR James Dye squashed any hopes Rice may have had of a rally when he returned the Owls’ first punt of the 2^nd half 67 yards for a touchdown & 28-0 Brigham Young lead.  McKenzie followed with his second touchdown coming on a 37-yard run before RB Mark Atuaia scored on a 1-yard touchdown run giving the Cougars a 42-0 lead heading into the 4^th quarter.  Brigham Young’s final points came on a 4-yard touchdown pass from QB Paul Shoemaker to WR Tyler Bolli.  Sarkisian finished 10 of 13 passing for 206 yards with 2 touchdowns, RB Ronney Jenkins added 109 yards rushing, & Johnson finished with 3 catches for 105 yards with his touchdown.  Brigham Young finished the season 14-1; WAC Champions, ranked 5^th nationally while the Owls finished 7-4.  Rice has not played for The Belt again.

 

 

 

Brigham Young Cougars ©	Hawaii Warriors
Played November 16, 1996 at Aloha Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Brigham Young ©	2	5	2	0	.714	2	1	0	.667	3	1	0	.750
Hawaii	0	0	2	0	.000	0	2	0	.000

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

The 2-8 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors of first-year coach Fred vonAppen welcomed the 10^th ranked, 10-1 Brigham Young Cougars of coach Lavell Edwards to Honolulu.  The Cougars used 260 yards rushing including a 44-yard touchdown run from RB Brian McKenzie to control Hawaii in a 45-14 victory that was marred by a fight that included players & spilled into the stands.  The Cougars took the lead with a 10-yard touchdown run by RB Mark Atuaia & All-WAC QB Steve Sarkisian found RB Ronney Jenkins for a 12-yard touchdown pass giving Brigham Young a 14-0 lead heading into the 2^nd quarter.  Hawaii LB Stephen Gonzales intercepted Sarkisian & returned it 79 yards for a touchdown to keep the Rainbow Warriors close at 14-7 but Brigham Young PK Ethan Pochman connected on a 25-yard field goal to keep the Cougars in front 17-7 at the half.  In the 3^rd quarter, Sarkisian found RB Dustin Johnson for a 23-yard touchdown pass & Hawaii got a 5-yard touchdown run from RB Carlos Shaw but the next 93 seconds secured the game for the Cougars.  Jenkins scored on a 5-yard touchdown run & DT Henry Bloomfield returned a fumble 12 yards for another score.  Cougars’ All-WAC CB Tim McTyer intercepted Hawaii QB Glenn Freitas at the Hawaii 44-yard line before McKenzie broke loose for his score on the next play.  McKenzie finished with 129 yards rushing with his score while Sarkisian added 206 yards passing to his 2 touchdowns.  Brigham Young finished the season 14-1; WAC Champions, ranked 5^th nationally while the Rainbow Warriors finished 2-10.  Hawaii would play for The Belt again in 2005.

 

 

 

Brigham Young Cougars ©	Utah Utes
Played November 23, 1996 at Rice Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Brigham Young ©	2	6	2	0	.750	2	1	0	.667	4	1	0	.800
Utah	1	2	1	0	.667	1	0	0	1.000	1	1	0	.500

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

The 8-2 Utah Utes of coach Ron McBride welcomed the 8^th ranked, 11-1 Brigham Young Cougars of Lavell Edwards to Salt Lake City for the annual “Holy War” rivalry.  The Utes were unable to match the Cougars falling behind 20-3 at half before falling 37-17.  RB Brian McKenzie scored on a 12-yard run between two 22-yard field goals by PK Ethan Pochman giving Brigham Young a 13-0 lead at the end of the 1^st quarter.  The Cougars stretched the lead to 20-0 when RB Ronney Jenkins scored on a 4-yard run.  Utah finally got on the board when PK Dan Pulsipher connected on a 38-yard field goal.  The teams traded scores throughout the 2^nd half but the Utes were unable to overcome the 1^st half deficit.  Jenkins scored on a 16-yard run for the Cougars before the Utes finally got in the end zone on a 1-yard run by All-WAC RB Chris Faumatu-Ma’afala.  Pochman’s 41-yard field goal put the Cougars up 30-11 as the 4^th quarter started.  All-WAC WR Kevin Dyson finished the scoring for Utah with a 19-yard touchdown catch from QB Mike Fouts but Jenkins third touchdown of the day on a 2-yard run gave the Cougars their final margin of victory.  McKenzie finished with 176 yards with a touchdown while Jenkins added 156 yards to his 3 scores for Brigham Young.  For the Utes, Fouts threw for 179 yards with a touchdown & an interception in the losing effort.  Brigham Young rushed for 366 yards while holding the ball for 37:54 of the game.  Brigham Young finished the season 14-1; WAC Champions, ranked 5^th nationally while the Utes finished 8-4.  Utah has not played for The Belt again.

 

 

 

Brigham Young Cougars ©	Wyoming Cowboys
WAC Championship Played December 7, 1996 at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Brigham Young ©	2	7	2	0	.778	2	1	0	.667	5	1	0	.833
Wyoming	1	2	2	0	.500	1	0	0	1.000	1	2	0	.333

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

The 20^th ranked, 10-1 Wyoming Cowboys of coach Joe Tiller met the 6^th ranked, 12-1 Brigham Young Cougars of coach Lavell Edwards with both the WAC Championship & The Belt to be decided in Las Vegas.  Brigham Young PK Ethan Pochman hit 4 field goals including a 32-yarder in overtime to help the Cougars retain The Belt & claim the WAC Championship with a 28-25 win.  The first half was dominated by Brigham Young with Pochman hitting field goals from 30 & 47 yards sandwiched around an 11-yard touchdown run by RB Brian McKenzie.  With Brigham Young leading 13-0 at the half, Wyoming finally responded in the 3^rd quarter when LB Jay Jenkins returned a fumble by Brigham Young All-WAC QB Steve Sarkisian 25 yards for a score & a field goal from All-WAC PK Cory Wedel got the Cowboys within 13-10.  A 7-yard touchdown pass from Cowboys’ All-WAC QB Josh Wallwork to WR David Saraf gave Wyoming a 17-13 lead.  Brigham Young All-WAC CB Omarr Morgan intercepted Wallwork &, 3 plays later, Sarkisian found All-WAC TE Chad Lewis for a 13-yard touchdown that gave the Cougars the lead 20-17.  The Cowboys came back with a 14-yard touchdown from Wallwork to Saraf.  The 2-point conversion came on a fumbled snap with Wedel finding Todd Grosskopf open giving Wyoming a 25-20 lead.  With 1:56 to play, Wyoming took an intentional safety when P Aron Langley stepped out of the end zone.  Brigham Young took the ball back &, as time expired, Pochman hit on a 20-yard field goal leaving the game tied 25-25 at the end of regulation.  For the first time, The Belt would be decided in overtime.  When Wedel missed on a 47-yard field goal attempt on the Cowboys’ opening possession of overtime, Pochman hit from 32 yards to give Brigham Young the victory.  Sarkisian finished with 250 yards passing with a touchdown for the Cougars.  For the Cowboys, Wallwork threw for 282 yards with 2 touchdowns but 3 interceptions while All-American WR Marcus Harris added 6 catches for 188 yards.  Brigham Young finished the season 14-1; WAC Champions, ranked 5^th nationally while the Cowboys finished 10-2 & ranked 22^nd nationally in Tiller’s final season.  Wyoming has not played for The Belt again.

 

 

 

Brigham Young Cougars ©	Kansas State Wildcats
The Cotton Bowl Played January 1, 1997 at the Cotton Bowl

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Brigham Young ©	2	8	2	0	.800	2	1	0	.667	5	1	0	.833	1	0	0	1.000
Kansas State	0

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None