As improbable as it was, the Cougars’ perfect season was a Cinderella story of a team that, by the rest of the college football world’s standards, had no business winning a national championship.
From its season-opening 20-14 upset victory over No. 3 Pittsburgh to its season-ending 24-17 win over Michigan in the Holiday Bowl to its eventual crowning as national champions, everything about BYU’s 1984 football season fell into the right places.
“We caught some breaks that season,” said Sikahema. “We had the right chemistry and we had a chip on our shoulder to prove ourselves.”
And prove themselves they did.
“I think we all sensed that what we were doing would be difficult to duplicate by teams that followed at BYU,” Sikahema claimed. “I don’t want to say impossible, because I know how dedicated the young men at BYU are.”
Spiritual Strength
Though the excitement and exhilaration of winning the national championship are things Sikahema will never forget, the words of a Church leader are what he remembers most about that season 25 years ago.
“At one point during the dinner,” recalled Sikahema, “President Hinckley got up and addressed us. He told us that President Kimball (then president of the Church) was too ill to attend the dinner, but that he was watching the proceedings via closed circuit television.”
President Hinckley went on to remind the young men about who they were and what they represented. What he went on to say sent a wave of excitement and motivation through the audience.
“He told us that ordinarily, the Lord doesn’t pay attention to football games, not even BYU’s,” laughed Sikahema. “He told us that the circumstances we found ourselves in were so extraordinary, that he suspected the Lord would be paying attention to our game.”
President Hinckley proceeded to tell the team that many people would be paying attention to the game as well – though not so much for the game’s outcome.
“He said that how we handled ourselves and the success that the team had had would directly impact the missionary efforts of the Church,” said Sikahema. “Through the eyes of a 46-year-old man looking back, I know now that President Hinckley wasn’t telling us we would win the game, but to a room full of 20- and 21-year-old football players, we interpreted his words to mean just that.”
Interpretively motivated by President Hinckley’s words, the Cougars went into their bowl game with a great amount of confidence – confidence that would propel them to the national title.
Spiritual and Athletic Legacy
Sikahema feels honored to be a part of the legacy of BYU and its football program and feels the school offers a unique opportunity to all of its students.
“It is a unique aspect that we enjoyed then, and that current students enjoy now, by being students at BYU,” said Sikahema. “Being able to see and hear prophets of God speak to us on a regular basis is one of the unique features of BYU.
“I know a lot of the Brethren are involved with the University of Utah as well,” continued Sikahema. “That is something we have in common with them. But, that is surely not a benefit students at Arizona, USC or most other colleges enjoy. These things were more memorable to me than any one game or the actual championship itself.”
