I started this series last week with my ranking of seasons 41-36. In that post you can also read the criteria I used to put together these rankings.
What I will say about this group (which is very different from the last group) is that there are some really good QBs in that just had lousy seasons. Which goes to show you that you can’t make a final judgement on a player after less than a season.
BYU Season Rankings No. 35-31
No. 35: Marc Wilson, 1978
Stats: 1499 yards; 52% comp; 8 TDs; 13 INTs; 6.43 yards per completion; Season: 9-4, 1st in the WAC, 23-16 loss to Navy in the Holiday Bowl
Thoughts: Gary Crowton and Bronco Mendenhall weren’t the only BYU coaches who tried a QB rotation. LaVell rotated Wilson and Jim McMahon, before Wilson took over in 1979 and played very well. But in 1978 he played poorly, completely a low percentage of passes and turning the ball over too often.
No. 34: Sean Covey, 1987
Stats: 1668 yards; 61% comp; 8 TDs; 9 INTs; 7.69 yards per comp; Season: 9-4, 2nd in WAC, 22-16 loss to Virginia in the All-American Bowl
Thoughts: Another time share season, as Covey shared the position with Bob Jensen (who’s season came in at No. 37 ). This was during the great BYU QB drought between Bosco and Detmer. Covey showed some signs of life in 1987, but he never put it all together.
No. 33: Sean Covey, 1988
Stats: 2607 yards; 55% comp; 10 TDs; 10 INTs; 8.17 yards per comp; Season: 9-4, 3rd in WAC, 20-17 win over Colorado in the Freedom Bowl
Thoughts: Little did Covey realize that he was keeping the seat warm for the little QB from Texas. Though Detmer didn’t really outplay Covey that much during the season, Detmer came into the season-ending Freedom Bowl and brought home a victory, truly launching his historic career. Covey’s inability to make the leap between 1987 and 1988 sealed his fate, and opened up Detmer’s door.
No. 32: Jim McMahon, 1978
Stats: 1307 yards; 49% comp; 6 TDs; 8 INTs; 7.43 yards per comp; Season: 9-4, 1st in the WAC, 23-16 loss to Navy in the Holiday Bowl
Thoughts: Obviously McMahon and Wilson struggled in 1978, but great things were in the future for both. In the Holiday Bowl loss to Navy, both QBs played. McMahon was 9-18 for 133 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT, and he also rushed for a TD. Though he flashed the McMahon potential, he was inaccurate and undisciplined.
No. 31: Kevin Feterik, 1997
Stats: 1767 yards; 60% comp; 11 TDs; 5 INTs; 8.50 yards per comp; Season: 6-5, 4th in the WAC
Thoughts: This is where the crappy seasons turn into the decent ones. I actually really liked watching Feterik. He was as tough as nails, and he made things exciting. This was not his best season, and the team didn’t make a bowl game. But this season launched much better things for 1998 or 1999.
– Adam
Rise and Shout 
October 26th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
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