Whether or not it was witchcraft or magic, New Mexico’s self-described “Land of Enchantment” had No. 12 BYU spellbound and all out of types on Saturday, Sept. 6, 1980.
Jim McMahon and the Cougars marched into College Stadium and misplaced the season opener to the Lobos, 25-21. BYU’s offense was held to 197 yards and McMahon was sacked 4 occasions.
The Cougars protection, which was recent off an 11-1 season in 1979, performed as if it have been in a trance, surrendering 400 yards of offense. Not even 5 New Mexico turnovers might flip the tide. The four-quarter haunting included 15 BYU penalties.
Nonetheless, the Cougars led 21-13 within the third quarter solely to observe Lobos kicker Pete Parks end the sport with 4 consecutive subject objectives.
As soon as out of the “enchantment” and again dwelling, BYU snapped out of its funk. McMahon and the Cougars ran off 12 straight victories, punishing groups alongside the best way, together with the likes of Wisconsin (28-3), UTEP (83-7), Utah (56-6) and UNLV (54-14).
The season finale pitted No. 14 BYU (11-1) in opposition to No. 19 SMU (8-3) within the Vacation Bowl in San Diego. The 2 groups mixed for 890 yards of offense and 91 factors. McMahon, months faraway from the head-scratcher in Albuquerque, threw for 446 yards and 4 touchdowns, together with a 41-yard bomb to Clay Brown to tie the game as time expired.
Kurt Gunther’s additional level capped a 21-point rally during the last 2:31 to stun the Mustangs 46-45 for BYU’s first bowl victory. Forty-one years later, in 2021, the San Diego Union-Tribune declared the sport as the perfect Vacation Bowl of all time. Forty-two years later, on Dec. 17, 2022, BYU and SMU will reunite within the postseason in Albuquerque, in the identical stadium the place McMahon’s magical season received off to a lower than “enchanting” begin.
For this yr’s BYU group, it wouldn’t matter in the event that they have been 10-2 or the present 7-5, as an unbiased, their bowl vacation spot was at all times going to be one thing of a comfort prize for profitable sufficient video games on the skin of a Energy 5 convention. It’s been that approach for a dozen years.
A ultimate date earlier than becoming a member of the Massive 12 in opposition to SMU (7-5) is greater than applicable and deeply intriguing, particularly when you think about the aggressive potential of every group’s offense and the generosity they every show on protection.
After which there may be New Mexico. The state tourism bureau has been bragging in regards to the landscapes, tradition and historical past with its “Land of Enchantment” catch phrase since 1941.
Locals laud the native chili peppers, blue corn pancakes, balloon festivals and occasional UFO sightings in Roswell. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and “Recreation of Thrones” mastermind George R. Martin are the head-turners relating to its most well-known residents.
The state even boasts Santa Fe because the oldest and highest elevated capital metropolis in the US (7,000 ft above sea degree) and a well-liked dwelling to artwork lovers.
However what New Mexico doesn’t market is soccer. The Lobos in Albuquerque and the Aggies in Las Cruces don’t reduce the mustard, or scorching pepper, relating to the gridiron.
New Mexico has simply two profitable seasons within the final 15 years, which is another than New Mexico State over the identical interval. To their credit score, the NMSU Aggies are 6-6 this season and one win away from matching their highest whole in 19 years.
No, for soccer, the “Land of Enchantment” turns to its New Mexico Bowl, the place a pair of out of doors applications have dropped in to go to in 15 of its 17 video games, together with BYU and SMU on Dec. 17.
Asking the Cougars and Mustangs to ship one other bowl sport that shall be talked about for the subsequent 4 a long time is the bowl committee’s dream, however it’s a very unreasonable request.
Nonetheless, as was portrayed within the “Unsolved Thriller” of Sept. 6, 1980, when you fire up the mystic “enchantment,” what appears affordable or sensible goes out the door — simply ask the 1980 BYU squad that’s nonetheless attempting to determine what occurred on that the majority uncommon evening at College Stadium that put them on the street to dealing with SMU for the primary time.
Dave McCann is a contributor to the Deseret Information and is the studio host for “BYU Sports activities Nation Recreation Day,” “The Publish Recreation Present,” “After Additional Evaluate,” and play-by-play announcer for BYUtv. He’s additionally co-host of “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com.
BYU quarterback Jim McMahon celebrates win over SMU along with his dad Jim McMahon Sr. on the Vacation Bowl in 1980.
