Utah Decade Debates: Offensive MVP- 1990s
The 1990s had its fair share of memorable offensive moments, but the wins didn’t follow on a yearly basis like they largely did in the 2000s and the 2010s. However, the 1990s produced more successful NFLer’s on offense with the likes of: Jamal Anderson, Stevonne Smith (Steve Smith Sr.), Kevin Dyson, and Mike Anderson. Out of those four, Dyson and Mike Anderson could both lay claim to the argument of 1990s offensive MVP, as Jamal Anderson and Steve Smith reach their full-potential and we’re more utilized in the NFL.
In our opinion, though, the argument comes down to two guys that had storied college careers that didn’t achieve wild NFL success:
Alex Markham’s pick
Mike McCoy | 1992-1994
The rise of Utah football can be largely placed on the shoulders of not just Luther Elliss, but also quarterback Mike McCoy. A captain of the 1994 team that finished in the top ten with only two losses, McCoy led a prolific offense, with really no headliners—yes, Kevin Dyson was a teammate, but he was a seldom-used freshman.
In two years as the school’s starting quarterback, threw 49 touchdown passes, and piled up 6,895 passing yards—he had 7,404 passing yards total during his Ute career. During the historic 1994 season, he ranked near the top of all NCAA quarterbacks with in completion percentage (64.8), passing yards (3,035), and touchdowns thrown (28).
That 1994 season doesn’t happen unless Long Beach State drops their football program, ultimately leading a freshman McCoy to move two states over.
He was a leader that honestly rubbed some teammates wrong, but he was a winner and another “coach” on the field. His mastery of late-game heroics gave Ute fans memories to last a lifetime—although it was Ute Nation’s Cal Beck that set up one of the most iconic game-winning touchdowns in Utah history against Arizona in the 1994 Freedom Bowl.
McCoy was tough as nails, and he took plenty of beatings, partially because he was strictly a pocket passer. Leading into the 1994 season, he suffered from a pinched nerve in his rib cage that caused him to be in constant excruciating pain up until the surgery. Therefore, the fact that he not only played, but led the offense as one of top rated units in the country, was that much more remarkable.
A master of the corner end zone fade, McCoy also completed passes with his off-hand, at times. He wasn’t known for his running ability but he delivered one of the greatest plays in Utah history, escaping the pocket on fourth down, getting wrapped up and taken to the ground by an Arizona defender, only to somehow flip it up to an emerging freshman, Kevin Dyson.
As the team returned to the hotel to celebrate, Mike walked into the lobby with two gym bags, sat in a lobby chair, and threw ice packs all over his body—barely moving for a couple hours. That is the definition of a warrior, that laid it all out on the line for his team,
Joe Middleton’s pick
Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala | 1995-1997
An icon for Utah fans who grew up watching the Utes play football in the 90’s, Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala or “Fu” as the crowd would shout, was one of the most dominating players at any position Utah has ever seen. Listed at around 250 lb’s, Fuamatu-Ma’afala was arguably the most physically imposing player in the country at the time.
As a freshman in 1995, ‘Fu’ shared carries with Juan Johnson yet outrushed Johnson on far less carries (Johnson 191 to 141 for ‘Fu’). Fuamatu-Ma’afala racked up 834 yards, (5.9 ypc) and nine touchdowns leaving defenses battered and bruised. His efforts earned ‘Fu’ Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Freshman of the Year.
In 1996, more of the same dominating, downhill power running from ‘Fu’ that was unfortunately cut short due to an in-season knee surgery. Still, in eight games Fuamatu-Ma’afala was able to record 982 yards and nine TD’s at 5.8 YPC earning him First Team All-WAC.
As a junior, ‘Fu’ battled ankle and hamstring issues to rush for 814 yards, five total TD’s (4 rush and 1 receiving) at a 5.3 YPC clip. Despite somewhat of a down year for ‘Fu,’ finishing second on the team in rushing behind Juan Johnson, he still managed to receive an Honorable Mention All-WAC in 1997.
Fuamatu-Ma’afala would enter the draft the following year and have a solid seven year career as an NFL fullback for Pittsburgh (5 years) and Jacksonville (2 years).
Despite never rushing for 1,000 yards in a season and splitting carries almost every game with Juan Johnson, ‘Fu’ is currently 5th on the all-time rushing list for the Utes with 2,630 yards and his 22 rushing TD’s are good for 8th all-time. What’s really impressive is his career yards per carry average. Of the top-10 all-time running backs for Utah, ‘Fu’ is tied with Zack Moss, Eddie Johnson and Eddie Lewis with 5.7 YPC. That number is insane considering ‘Fu’ didn’t exactly have prototypical break-away speed. In the combine, he ran a 4.82. Unfortunately yards after contact wasn’t a stat tallied by the media in the 90’s, but one would assume that his YPC at his speed combined with his size and strength that Fuamatu-Ma’afala’s had to be one of the best in the country in yards after contact.
Although many talented running backs came before and during Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala’s tenure, there’s no denying that his legacy can be viewed as an ambassador for a consistently dominating Utah running game the past 25 years.
Ute Nation consensus
This one was split evenly as some of our guys didn’t know enough about this era—due to being too young or not living in Utah at the time—and chose not to vote. Therefore, the vote was expanded to a select few that followed the team closely back then. In that vote, it was unanimous for McCoy.
This one is a great debate and had Kevin Dyson or Steve Smith had a consistent quarterback, they would have been in the discussion, as well.
However, here’s what sets McCoy apart: McCoy had one go-to target that hung on in the NFL for a few years: Curtis Marsh. That offense had no superstars. Fuamatu-Ma’Afala shared the backfield with Juan Johnson, and he also had Dyson who had emerged as a superstar stretching the field.
If Fuamatu-Ma’Afala had ever carried the rock enough to top 1,000 yards in a season, you might be looking at a different story. Although, even though teams keyed on him all game, they could rarely stop him.
As time passes, the legendary tales of the 275 pound running back carrying two defenders on his back for twenty yards, outweighs all memories of the unflappable signal-caller other than his Freedom Bowl magic act. Fuamatu Ma’Afala will always be one of the most beloved players in Utes history, but McCoy was the more influential and therefore, their MVP on offense for the 1990s.