A last-minute bid to a northern-climate bowl against a MAC team is hardly a way to end a season that began with such great promise.

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For BYU, however, it's the best of the three bowls available to the Mountain West Conference -- based on the caliber of the opponent. Unbeaten Marshall has won 16 consecutive games and has Chad Pennington, a likely high NFL draft pick, to match arms with QB Kevin Feterik.

Will the last one out of the end zone turn off the SilverDome lights?

Feterik, who opened with a 500-yard nationally televised outing, had great success out of BYU's new shotgun this season. But he also didn't get much protection from his line, and the sacks took their toll. Increasingly, the Cougars relied on running back Luke Staley, the MWC freshman of the year, to take some of the heat off Feterik.

As a result, the regular season ended on a sour note with losses to Wyoming and Utah when Staley missed the last two games following a knee scope. He returned to practice for the bowl in a limited capacity but the answer to the most frequently asked question in Provo these days is "day to day."

Whether or not he plays, the talented rookie is scheduled for some ACL repair work in January.

Marshall's offense, ranked fourth nationally with an average of 471 yards a game, will be just the challenge the defense wants after the bitter finishes against Wyoming and Utah. Second team All-American linebacker Rob Morris can make up for a disappointing injury-plagued senior year and defensive secondary leaders Brian Gray, Heshimu Robertson and Jared Lee will get a chance to show off for the pro scouts against Marshall's Randy Moss successors, James Williams and Nate Poole.

A season-ending win could restore the No. 25 Cougars to the Top 20 status they enjoyed most of the season in both polls.

The team is in far better spirits than a year ago, when they were coming off a loss to Air Force in the WAC title game and preparing to play unbeaten Tulane in a bowl game. There were numerous distractions with a number of player suspensions.

"The attitude has been good," said BYU coach La Vell Edwards. "This has been a remarkable group."

The Personnel File

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Feterik had no peer in the league at quarterback. Benefiting from a switch to the shotgun formation, Feterik ranked seventh nationally in total offense at 316 yards a game and 15th in passing efficiency. Edwards was bitterly disappointed Feterik didn't win the MWC offensive player of the year award, which went to Colorado State running back Kevin McDougal.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Although linebacker Rob Morris missed more than a month because of an abdominal injury, he still intimidated when on the field. He led the team with 77 tackles (10 for loss), including six sacks. He forced two fumbles.

COACH UPDATE: Living legend LaVell Edwards collected a milestone 250th career win and wrapped up his 28th season with a 251-94-3 record. He also signed a new five-year contract extension.

STRENGTHS: The passing game has a deep corps of receivers led by Margin Hooks, and BYU has an ideal pass/run combination when Luke Staley is healthy. On the other side of the ball, the Cougars led the MWC in rushing defense, allowing 102.5 yards per game.

CONCERNS: The offensive line has been Feterik's worst enemy; the Cougars gave up 37 sacks, second worst in the league. And special teams were a weakness despite Owen Pochman's midseason hot streak. Pochman struggled early with some critical misses (when his kicks weren't getting blocked), but finished converting 18 of 25 field goal attempts.

Noteworthy

HAPPY HESHIMU: Cornerback Heshimu Robertson is happy just to play in a bowl. He was suspended before last year's Liberty Bowl and has a lot of family in Detroit. He told the Deseret News spending Christmas with his family instead of his team a year ago provided the motivation he needed to turn things around at BYU.

BOWL FUN: Unlike a year ago when BYU held all its practices in Memphis, the Cougars stayed home to do the work and enjoyed relatively good weather. Plans in Detroit included taking in the Denver-Detroit Christmas Day NFL game, going to the Ford Museum, and an interactive arcade.

EDWARDS HONORED: Edwards received the Johnny Vaught Head Coach Lifetime Achievement Award on Dec. 17 in Las Vegas. His wife, Patti, received the All-American Football Foundation's First Lady of Football honor, no doubt for all the years spent accompanying her husband to awards banquets.

LOTS AND LOTS OF BOWLS: This will be BYU's 22nd bowl appearance since 1972 and the sixth different bowl for the '90s.

Starters to replace

OFFENSE: Five. The biggest void will be left by Feterik, a three-year starter. The entire interior offensive line must be replaced.

DEFENSE: Four. The Cougars lose their three first-team All-MWC picks, all ranking among the best to ever play their positions for BYU -- Morris, DE Byron Frisch and CB Brian Gray.

SPECIAL TEAMS: One. Punter Jesse Soward graduates. The Cougars never hurt in the punting department.