Last Friday, BYU legend Steve Young stated that throwing the ball is in BYU Football’s “DNA,” and that BYU should aspire to “fulfill the measure” of its DNA by becoming a premiere passing offense.
Young’s message resonated with those in the BYU fanbase that yearn for the days of old, when BYU and a handful of other programs spurned the wishbone and the option in favor of a pass-heavy offensive attack.
Recent Struggles
After a brutal 2017 season, it is hard to fault those who bemoan Tanner Mangum’s meager 2018 passing stats. In BYU’s heyday (1976 to 1991), it had six All-American quarterbacks, one Heisman Trophy winner, and three Davey O’Brien award winners (Ty Detmer was an All-American and two-time O’Brien winner).