Super Bowl XX Validated the BYU QB Factory

"Even while the BYU QB Factory was at its peak, an uprising had already started in the south. The University of Miami (FL) had only half as many good passing seasons and half as many good signal callers as BYU, yet the Hurricanes were already being labeled nationally as “Quarterback U.”



"Twenty five years ago, Jim McMahon found a way to validate the BYU Quarterback Factory. Even though his playing days in Provo had ended four seasons earlier, the record setting QB filled one of the final holes in the Quarterback Factory’s resume."



http://bluecougarfootball.blogspot.com/2011/02/flashback-jim-mcmahon-validates-brigham.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I don't know if it really validated anything, because popular perception is that the 1985 Bears were so dominant that they would have won the Super Bowl any of the starting QBs in the league. Their 46 defense is one of the best defenses in NFL history. Walter Payton is one of the best running backs in NFL history. If the Bears won the Super Bowl with McMahon leading the Bears in a shootout win over Dan Marino's Dolphins, the perceptions of McMahon might be different.



I hate kitchen sink arguments, but I believe what validated BYU's status as a QB factory was the combination of several events that happened within a 5 year period:



BYU winning 4 out of 5 Holiday Bowls from 1980-84

Having Gifford Nielsen, Marc Wilson, and Jim McMahon all on NFL rosters at the same time

Steve Young finishing runner up in the Heisman and signing a high-profile deal with the USFL

BYU winning the national championship



McMahon winning the Super Bowl helps, but by the time of the Super Bowl in Jan 86, I think BYU was already validated.



Here's a piece of unrelated trivia--by my count, Jim McMahon, Steve Young, and Ty Detmer are the only BYU QBs to grace the cover of SI.

Mingjai,



I agree that no one thing can grant a "blanket" validation. Each year built on the one before to get BYU to the point it was in the mid 80s--just like Boise State had to work hard for a decade to earn marginal respect.



I know a lot of people that place a lot of emphasis on Qbs moving on to the NFL and thriving. Look at the great things done recently at Hawaii and Texas Tech, yet they aren't viewed as being very legit because none their QBs are making waves at the next level.



Unfortunately, McMahon's play has been overshadowed by the 46 defense. McMahon, however, had as much to do with Chicago winning that game as the defense did. He didn't merely manage the game like a Trent Dilfer or a Eli Manning in recent years. McMahon turned in an MVP worthy performance.



Here's my unrelated tidbit: What does Heaps have to do to get his jersey in your signature picture?

McMahon turned in an MVP worthy performance? He missed three regular season games, completed under 57% of his passes, threw just 15 TDs to 11 INTs and had a rating of 82.9.



The 1985 NFL offensive MVP was Marcus Allen who played in all 16 games, ran for 1,759 yards and 11 TDs, had anotehr 555 yards receiving and 3 TDs.



The MVP may have been incorrectly given to Allen, but to whomever it should have gone, it certainly wasn't Jim McMahon.

How come Jim McMahon and his super hot BYU wife Nancy got a divorce?

kitic77 wrote:
McMahon turned in an MVP worthy performance? He missed three regular season games, completed under 57% of his passes, threw just 15 TDs to 11 INTs and had a rating of 82.9.



The 1985 NFL offensive MVP was Marcus Allen who played in all 16 games, ran for 1,759 yards and 11 TDs, had anotehr 555 yards receiving and 3 TDs.



The MVP may have been incorrectly given to Allen, but to whomever it should have gone, it certainly wasn't Jim McMahon.

I meant MVP of the Super Bowl.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

Ah. The biggest omission of Super Bowl XX was Ditka not allowing Payton to get in the endzone. The Bears put up 46 and had four offensive TDs. McMahon and Perry each had a 1-yard TD run. Either or both should have gone to Payton, one of the best of all-time.

kitic77 wrote:
Ah. The biggest omission of Super Bowl XX was Ditka not allowing Payton to get in the endzone. The Bears put up 46 and had four offensive TDs. McMahon and Perry each had a 1-yard TD run. Either or both should have gone to Payton, one of the best of all-time.

Peyton was much more deserving than the Fridge, who was a rookie that year, if I am not mistaken.



Let the Fridge block for the best RB of all-time (up to that point).