Amazon Cessa's Place Amazon.com Category:  Sports/Recreation Publisher: Spring Creek Book Co. ISBN-10:  1932898336 Pages: 304 Copyright: August 2005 ISBN-13: 9781932898330 Could a college football team from the Rocky Mountains be crowned the best in the land? The idea was unthinkable—until BYU’s 1984 team took the national championship. Could a college football team from the Rocky Mountains be crowned the best in the land? The idea was unthinkable—until BYU’s 1984 team took the national championship. The Cougars’ perfect season left traditional college football powerhouses by the wayside, mesmerizing the national media and energizing fans. That year has been the stuff of legends ever since. What made that year so unique—and where are the players now? Inside this book you will find: • Compelling summaries of each game • Biographies of thirty players and coaches • Dozens of photos, including current ones of players’ families • Players’ thoughts on how the season changed their lives • The positive ripples still seen as a result of that unforgettable experience Immerse yourself in the magical season of 1984 and meet the remarkable men who achieved a seemingly unreachable goal. Excerpt It was an early December afternoon, cool and crisp outside, warm and toasty inside. Our house was decorated in all the colors of Christmas, and my first book, Out of the Shadows . . . Into the Light, had hit the shelves. All was well in the Salima Home. My publisher, Chad Daybell, of Spring Creek Book Co., arrived at our door with posters, bookmarks and other paraphernalia I would need for the myriad of book signings for which I was scheduled. We welcomed him into our home, and settled into an easy discussion. I didn’t see it coming. I swear . . . talk about being blind sided. Just out of the blue my husband, Alvin, pitched a book idea to my publisher. Almost as quickly, my publisher jumped all over the idea. So I sat there quietly as they tossed ideas about for a book on BYU’s 1984 National Championship team. They were having a lot of fun. I remember thinking that my husband really didn’t have a firm understanding of the complexities involved in writing a book, especially a nonfiction book. But I decided that was between Alvin and Chad. “Candace and I will write the book together.” I’m not sure, but I think time stood still. The Christmas tree lights stopped in mid-blink. The music froze somewhere in the middle of Donny Osmond’s A Soldier’s King, and my jaw dropped. “But I’m trying to finish up Dreams Die Hard (the sequel to Out of the Shadows).” My protest was feeble, even I could hear it, and I attempted to salvage the situation. Don’t get me wrong. I love BYU football. Nineteen-Eighty-Four was the dream season, not only for the players, but for the fans as well. I often tell neighborhood kids that, “In 1984 it was never a question of if we were going to win, but simply a question of by how much will we win?” I reminisce with my husband about the miraculous plays. I sit by his side as we watch the old games on BYUTV. Really, I’m a good wife. But the thought of trying to track these players down had me the slightest bit intimidated. My husband wanted this book so bad. I love my husband . . . so, there it was. I said it. “Okay, honey. If you’ll call all the players and arrange all the interviews, I’ll do the interviews and write the book. You’ll need to do the research on the season, the plays, the stats, etc.” “Absolutely.” “Chad, you’ll have to put the book on the fast track and be willing to take an unpolished manuscript.” What I mean by an unpolished manuscript is that it has not been through my editing team of five people, who are ruthless with me. Everybody was agreeing, yes, yes, they’d do it. And then Chad hit us with the zinger. “So, you’ll have this book done by the end of January, we’ll be able to get it in the stores by May and we can have it out before Father’s Day.” Thunk! I didn’t see how it was possible. Christmas and News Years guaranteed no interviews any time soon. That left me two and a half weeks in January because I was leaving January 22nd for a book tour. But the enthusiasm would not be curtailed. Alvin and Chad were riding high. Three days later, Chad showed up again with contract in hand. We signed it. Thus, began four of the most frustrating months of my life. Work situations had made life a little unsteady, my husband’s health dictates 13½ hours, in a dialysis chair, on a weekly basis, and I am possibly one of the most active aunties on the face of the earth. But we forged ahead, straight into a brick wall. Oh yeah, it hurt. Right off the bat, we approached Louis Wong, Robert Anae and Vai Sikahema. All family friends. They were incredibly gracious in providing timely interviews. But tracking down the players, their phone numbers, their email addresses, etc. made me start feeling a little bit like Mike Hammer. I combed the internet for the latest articles on any players, looking for cities, hometowns, job references, anything that would point in the right direction. Since my working hours are from 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., I tried locating email addresses of the players first. I emailed the questions to a few, but received no responses. In the meantime, Alvin wrote a series of incredibly insightful questions that would provide the framework for the book. He spoke with Shirley Johnson, the football office secretary and guardian to “her” boys. Mark Philbrick (the school photographer) was another on his list, and so on. He really did try hard to get the momentum going. But it rarely works quickly, and he grew discouraged. Every plan put into play was met with failure of one type or another. I notified Chad. There was no way the book would be completed by January 31st. He optimistically tried for February 28th and we forged on, right down into the valley of despair. I’m not really sure how it happened, but suddenly we were looking around at the metaphorical equivalents of bones bleached white by the sun, an endless sea of sand, cacti, and unsavory little creatures. We trudged back up to the mountains (undoubtedly God’s country), settled in and continued on. Some requests for interviews were met with resistance, but most were ignored. Let me say one thing here. People have lives. And trying to mesh the schedules of more than thirty people, and have them fit with my own, was mission impossible. We finally decided we were not explaining well enough, the intent of the book. But even I could not have seen the power and strength that would emerge from the answers of these men. I searched online websites of The Daily Herald, Deseret News and The Salt Lake Tribune for any articles on the ‘84 team. A retrospective was done by The Daily Herald from August to December of 2004. There was some good information. I found reams of microfiche at the Provo Library. I scoured them for key plays, quotes, and stats, trying to build the background for the book. January . . . February . . . March. My husband’s sweet mother finally shuffled off this mortal coil and joined her sweetheart on the other side. There were several weeks where numbness was the prevalent emotion in our home. Although we have a complete and firm understanding of the plan of salvation, we simply missed her. I’m afraid the football book took the back seat. Not only was the football book not done, I was drastically behind on Dreams Die Hard. Feeling discouraged, and okay, I’m a woman—I can say it, weepy, I called my mother. I didn’t know what to do, or where to go. Alvin was having no luck tracking down players, the keeper of the gate wasn’t relenting, and I felt I had let my husband and my publisher down. I like to complete the tasks I take on . . . this was not working for me. I really hate failure. So, as I whined to my mother on the phone, she spoke perhaps the wisest words to me . . . “Call the wives.” Three weeks later and the book was done. 13 and 0: Reflection of Champions came into being. I interviewed as many as five players a day, one to three hours at a stretch, typing as they spoke. I edited in between interviews, and sent completed sections to my mother for more in-depth editing. Vai Sikahema and Robert Anae received many phone calls as I needed quick answers to questions. The written word is powerful. As the men of the 1984 team answered these questions, something became very obvious. There was something different about this team. Who they became, made that very clear. As they discussed their memories, their professions, and their beliefs, the power was undeniable. I knew this book had to be completed, for it would of great value to many. Come with me, and let’s take a trip back to 1984.

New book gives update on '84 title-team players
The topic brings up pride in Cougar fans, taunts and scrutiny from others.

That's why picking up the newly published "13 and 0 — Reflections of Champions" stirred mixed reactions. What more could be added to the chronicle of BYU's 1984 season? The season that triggered controversy after controversy until money moguls hatched the Bowl Championship Series we have today?

Well, the 289-page soft-cover book by Candace and Alvin Salima (Spring Creek Book Company, Provo) surprisingly delivered new material. The focus is a look into the lives of 30 players and staff of that team, a work made more complicated by the publisher's race to go to print this summer, cramping the Salimas' research.

Just the same, time with Glen Kozlowski in Chicago, Philadelphia's Vai Sikahema, Robbie Bosco on campus and a solid crew of others, "13 and O" provided the skeleton for some interesting life updates and lessons learned.

The 1984 team has some history, some of it sad. The struggles of the late Craig Garrick, the trials and triumph of Hawaii-game hero safety Kyle Morrell and the rebellious run of Kozlowski to return to BYU's football team after being asked to leave are part of the drama. Some of these stories could make books in and of themselves, something the Salima husband/wife combination either could not get on the record or simply ran out of time to produce.

After starting last January with a manuscript deadline to produce by spring, Candace — the writer — immediately ran into trouble. The boys of 1984 were reluctant to be part of a project that made money off their fortunes. There is a $1 donation to the BYU Cougar Club on each sale of the book, and that loosened some tongues.

Candace got the book rolling by doing an end run of her own. She went to the wives of players, and they delivered biographies, family photos and other information. Plus, they got their hubbies involved.

The result is a poignant reflection by these players on how that season changed their lives. Anecdotal accounts of preparation, camaraderie and struggles during and after 1984 are the gems in this book, which concludes with a spiritual tone discussing faith and the leadership of LaVell Edwards and his staff.

Chapters include a summary of each game of the season, biographies of 30 players, a Bosco focus, a BCS system commentary from players and an update on families. Other sections explore advice for youth, pivotal plays and some spiritual offerings on faith and what it brings on the field in life.

Remembering the confidence and tradition — what current coach Bronco Mendenhall is attempting to restore in current Cougar players — is this story from Kozlowski, now a radio analyst in Chicago: "There are times in the huddle when you're in a fourth-down situation, and you can see panic in the eyes of some of the players," Kozlowski remembered.

"They didn't want the ball, and it was clear. Not that team. Everyone wanted the ball, everyone knew they could make the play. Me, I was the cockiest. I would receive the play from other wide receivers, and I'd change them. I'd tell Robbie (Bosco) a different play. I did get in trouble, if it didn't work. If it worked, Norm (Chow) would just scold us, and then it was cool. Every skill-position guy wanted the ball. We'd all be screaming at Robbie, 'I'll make the play for you, I'll make you look good.' "

The book has timely updates. Take, for instance, former Utah sprint champion Brian Hazelgren of Murray. He has written six books and CDs in the Business Game Plan Collection. Two of his books are college textbooks and have been translated into three languages. He also co-designed the Gumball Wizard spiral gumball machine found in retail outlets throughout the world.

Offensive lineman Dave King, a computer security specialist, just served as an LDS bishop on BYU's campus and interviewed and processed 150 missionaries, sent all over the world.

The Salimas, indeed, added to the knowledge base of 1984. But they also may have just scratched the surface of a remarkable group of men who, in that season 21 years ago, were perfect for one time in their lives.