This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
PROVO - Trying to remain grounded, as coach Bronco Mendenhall would say, players on Brigham Young's football team insist the success they are having this season is not going to their heads.
Just their helmets.
Have you seen one of those lately?
The average Cougar's helmet is chock full of circle-shaped Cougar decals, reminding many BYU fans of the days of Jim McMahon, Steve Young and Jason Buck. Footage and photographs of past Cougar greats show dozens of stickers on their helmets.
Now, every player on the team has them.
"I love them," said linebacker Bryan Kehl. "I was elated when I heard coach Mendenhall was bringing back the stickers. It kind of gives us a link to all those BYU heroes of the past."
Mendenhall is quick to point out these decals have a different purpose, and are earned through a different criteria, while acknowledging they are "another symbolic representation of returning the program to what it once was. Tradition is what inspired the idea."
BYU coaches first began giving out stickers for exceptional plays in 1978, and the practice continued through most of the LaVell Edwards era. But in 1994, players voted to discontinue using stickers, saying the awards had become too individual-oriented.
As part of an overall uniform change, BYU dropped the traditional white helmet in 1999 and went to a dark blue helmet with a tan stripe over the crown, seemingly burying the sticker program forever. But one of the first things Mendenhall did when he replaced Gary Crowton in 2005 was to bring back the white helmets and re-institute the stickers.
"I talked to some former coaches and players, and found that most of the previous stickers were individual awards that came because of touchdown passes or points scored or sacks or something like that," he said. "With these [blue stickers], they are all team awards. We are trying to bring the team together and eliminate any distinction on the individual or any particular unit, offense or defense."
Also, there are now two colors of stickers, blue for football feats and gold for individual off-the-field endeavors.
Blue heaven
Blue stickers are given out on a game-by-game basis when on-the-field team goals are met, but the team must win the game. For instance, when BYU held Air Force to fewer than 24 points in last week's 33-14 win, a team goal was met and every player, regardless of position or playing time, got a blue sticker.
"They are a good way to show that we've been successful," said cornerback Ben Criddle. "The more stickers we have on there, the more it means we are meeting our goals as a team."
Every player, then, should have the same number of blue stickers, although not all of them place all of their stickers on their helmets, and some, such as star running back Curtis Brown, have chosen to wait.
"Before the bowl game, when we've achieved all the goals we want to achieve, I will get my helmet cleaned up and I will throw them on as decorations for the bowl game," Brown said, explaining the absence of blue stickers on his helmet. "It's just the way I do things."
Kick returner and backup receiver Brett Cooper said blue stickers "support the three pillars of our program and are important as far as moving the program forward."
Although the goals could change slightly week-to-week, a maximum of four blue stickers can be earned. Some of the criteria involves the Cougars scoring more than 24 points, holding an opponent to fewer than 24 points, forcing more turnovers than they commit, rushing for more than 100 yards, or holding an opponent to fewer than 100 rushing yards. If the Cougars lose, no stickers are awarded.
Tight end Jonny Harline examined his helmet after practice one day last week and wondered where he will find the space for more decals if the Cougars keep winning.
"I don't think about it that much, but, you know, it is cool to throw a few stickers on there," he said.
Striking gold
Gold stickers are for personal, off-the-field accomplishments and are meant to reflect the program's renewed emphasis on academics, character, community service and religious faith, Mendenhall said. While blue stickers are to be removed after every season, gold stickers are designed to stay on the helmet the player's entire career.
"They represent the type of young men we are are recruiting here and the kind of conduct we are promoting," said Mendenhall, who noted the team's cumulative GPA is around a 3.0 and that it performed more than 400 hours of community service last semester.
"I like the distinction between the two," said receiver Matt Allen. "Mostly, it is great that the [blue stickers] are all about the team, nothing individual."
Cooper, a senior from Bonneville High, is believed to lead the team with 17 gold stickers, although Mendenhall doesn't ask sticker distributor Steve Clark to keep track. Linebacker Andrew Stacey and receiver Matt Smith also have their share of gold decals.
"I take a lot of pride in my academics," Cooper said. "I am glad I can represent that side of my helmet with the reminder that I am a student-athlete, and not an athlete-student."
Gold stickers are earned by maintaining a 3.0 or better GPA after each semester, performing 10 hours of community service, speaking at a church service or fireside, earning a 4.0 GPA in any one semester, participating in a voluntary team event (such as Mendenhall's "eco-challenge" in the summer) or winning the weekly "Ultimate Warrior" contest conducted by strength coach Jay Omer.
The blue decals are handed out after practice on Mondays - only after wins, of course - and have even caught the attention of former players, Kehl said.
"The other day, I ran into [former linebacker] Mike Tanner, and he was asking about them," Kehl said. "He was jealous that they didn't have them [from 2000-03], when he was here."
Back then, though, the Cougars didn't have to worry about running out of helmet space.
BLUE STICKERS are awarded for on-field team goals met in victories. Every player gets a sticker, regardless of position or playing time. A maximum of four stickers can be earned per game, and they are supposed to be removed after each season.
Ways to Get a Blue Sticker
Hold opponents to less than 100 rushing yards
* Rush for more than 100 yards
* Hold opponents to fewer than 24 points
* Score more than 24 points
* Have +1 turnover margin or better
GOLD STICKERS are given out for off-the-field individual accomplishments, and are reflective of BYU's focus on character, religious faith, community service and academics.
Ways to Get a Gold Sticker
* Maintain above a 3.0 cumulative GPA after each semester
* Earn a 4.0 GPA in any semester
* Perform 10 hours community service
* Speak at a church fireside or perform exemplary church service
* Participate in a voluntary team event such as the "eco-challenge"
* Excel in strength coach Jay Omer's "Ultimate Warrior" program
THREE came from getting 4.0 grade point average in three different semesters
FOUR came from performing 10 hours or more of community service four times
10 came from maintaining a 3.0 cumulative GPA at various junctures of the school year
FOUR in a 49-24 win over Tulsa because the Cougars scored more than 24 points, had 100+ yards rushing (227), had a positive turnover ratio (+1) and held Tulsa to fewer than 82 rushing yards.
FOUR in a 38-0 win over Utah State because the Cougars scored more than 24 points, had more than 100 rushing yards (136), had a +1 turnover ratio and held the Aggies to fewer than 24 points.
FOUR in a 31-17 win over TCU because the Cougars scored more than 24 points, had a +2 turnover ratio, held the Horned Frogs to fewer than 24 points and won the game.
FOUR in a 47-17 win over SDSU because the Cougars scored more than 24 points, had more than 100 rushing yards (141), had a +1 turnover ratio and held the Aztecs to fewer than 24 points.
FOUR in a 52-7 win over UNLV because the Cougars scored more than 24 points, had more than 100 rushing yards (308 ) had a +5 turnover ratio and held the Rebels to fewer than 24 points.
FOUR in a 33-14 win over Air Force because the Cougars scored more than 24 points, had a +1 turnover ratio, held the Falcons to fewer than 24 points and won the game.
Stickers stacking up
Some players "stack" their blue stickers, while others don't apply every sticker they earn to their helmet. Running back Curtis Brown's helmet is sticker-free . . . for now. "My thing is to save them up and put them on before the bowl game," he said. Upon leaving the program, BYU players don't get to keep their helmets, but are given the option of purchasing them for roughly half their original price. That usually amounts to about $90.
Ohio State is probably the school most known for handing out helmet stickers, but the decals are not actually buckeyes. They are leaves, and they are given out for both team and individual success.
Some other schools who use similar decals:
School Decal
Clemson Paw print
Florida State Tomahawk
Georgia Dog bone
N.C. State Blood-tipped wolf fang
Purdue Purdue Pete (mascot)
Vanderbilt Ship anchor
The criteria used for issuing blue and gold stickers
BYU coaches began giving out Cougar decals for helmets in the 1960s, and the practice continued through most of the LaVell Edwards era. However, in 1994, players voted to end the practice because they felt the stickers were too individual-oriented. In 2005, Bronco Mendenhall became BYU's head coach and re-instituted the sticker program. "Tradition is what inspired the idea," he said. "Team-building is the emphasis of the nature of the stickers."
Today's Games
BYU at Colorado State
TODAY, 4:30 p.m. TV: mtn.
Hawaii at Utah State
TODAY, 1 p.m., TV: KJZZ
Weber St. at E. Wash.
TODAY, 1 p.m., no TV