This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Shortly after the Cougars lost 35-20 to Utah State, I mentioned on this blog that "there have probably been more devastating losses in BYU football history than the one that occurred Friday night in Provo, but nothing comes immediately to mind."

Of course, I was referring not only to the loss that quashed BYU's dream of an undefeated season, but the loss for the season of quarterback Taysom Hill, the most dynamic all-around player I've covered in seven years on the BYU football beat.

Dennis Pitta, Austin Collie, Max Hall, Kyle Van Noy, Harvey Unga and Cody Hoffman were dominant players, but Hill stands alone, in my mind, as being able to carry the team to victory on his shoulders. Van Noy came close, evidenced by his performance in the Poinsettia Bowl.

I got several emails and direct messages on Twitter about my "most devastating loss" presumption, some agreeing with me, and others saying there have been worse. Far worse.

Some interpreted it as a slam at Utah State. It certainly wasn't intended as that.

Over the years, reader Robert Garrick of Clayton, Missouri, has commented on my work from time to time with some insightful perspectives, and I've come to appreciate his opinions and sense of BYU history. He's had his eye on the football program since 1972, a lot longer than I have.

That said, Garrick weighed in from the "Dept. of Devastating Losses" and offered some worse ones. Here they are, in his words. See if you agree.

1. The loss to Indiana in the 1979 Holiday Bowl. BYU was undefeated, favored by a TD, and a win would have given BYU an undefeated season and probably a top 5 ranking. At the time, that was a big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big deal. Come to think of it, a top 5 ranking would still be a big deal. Just a few years before 1979, BYU had no football presence. They were about as important on the national scene as Southern Utah. Anyway, BYU lost on a last second missed (and very makeable) field goal. The kicker is still devastated (Doug Robinson wrote a column about him) and it was probably the most devastating loss in BYU's history.

2. The loss to UCLA in the second game of the 1985 season, 27-24. BYU had the nation's longest winning streak, about 25 games; it was the national champion; and it was dealing with a lot of disrespect from people like Bryant Gumbel. BYU had just smashed Boston College in the Kickoff Classic on national television, and was looking to further impress the world in a nationally televised game from Cougar Stadium against a powerful UCLA team. It was a real opportunity. BYU solidly outplayed UCLA in this game, and thought it had the game won. The BYU players were celebrating on the sidelines. While they were celebrating, UCLA threw a long pass for a TD and won the game. It was devastating, but mostly it was sickening. As a guy from St. Louis once said, the game isn't over until it's over. Someone should have told the BYU players.

Another game, later that season, is the most shocking loss in BYU football history. That was the 23-16 loss to UTEP. I think it's the biggest NCAA football upset in my lifetime, involving any two schools The only other game (not football) I can think of that is comparable is the 1982 Virginia versus Chaminade game in basketball. Virginia had Ralph Sampson and was ranked #1, and Chaminade was nothing. But Chaminade won. Those are the two biggest upsets in at least fifty years in major NCAA sports.

3. The loss to Oregon in the 1990 season, 32-16. This was the year of the win over Miami, and BYU had a high national ranking and they certainly weren't going to play anyone as good as Miami for the rest of the season. After beating Miami in game two, BYU destroyed Washington State 50-36 and then trashed San Diego State 62-34. There was national championship talk. Then the Oregon game, and the season was over. BYU creamed the next six teams on its schedule—all cupcakes (including Utah) from the WAC. But then BYU was itself obliterated by Hawaii 59-28, and skewered in an embarrassing bowl game by Texas A&M, 65-14. This to me was the most humiliating BYU football season. It started with great promise, but the Emperor had no clothes. BYU (and Detmer) could toy with mediocre teams but once other coaches had a look at their defense, they were toyed with by good teams. And it was typical of the Detmer years, which were extremely soft compared to the great years of 1979-1985.

4. The loss to Hawaii in 2001, 72-45. BYU was 12-0; they were ranked in the top ten; it was Crowton's first season and he looked like a genius; and there was a lot of BCS talk. But again, there was national disrespect, and the naysayers were ratified by this pathetic showing against Hawaii. BYU had three skill players that year—Doman, Staley, and Mahe—and all were either out or playing semi-lame for this game. That's why BYU lost. If BYU had won this game, Crowton might still be their coach.

And I'm tempted to add . . .

The loss to Boise State in 2004. Crowton was on the hot seat, and this was BYU's toughest schedule ever. BYU already had tons of injuries after playing Notre Dame, Stanford, and USC in its first three games. Boise was undefeated (and it would finish the season undefeated, with a top ten ranking). And the game was on the blue turf at Boise. But BYU should have won this game. Their placekicker was talented, and he'd made a long string of kicks in a row. He missed one from about 37 yards out on the final play, or BYU would have ruined Boise's great season.

And . . . BYU's loss to Utah in 2010. This was another missed (actually, blocked) and makeable field goal on the game's final play. BYU wasn't very good that year, but it was Utah and we are getting sick of losing to inferior Utah teams.

Those losses were all way worse than the one to Utah State last Friday, and they meant a whole lot more.

— Jay Drew