By Doug Alden
The Associated Press

PROVO, Utah - BYU's home opener against Notre Dame tonight will give two teams with storied programs a chance to erase memories of a dismal 2003 season, when they managed only nine wins between them.

The Cougars were 4-8 last season and went just 1-5 at home. Notre Dame fared slightly better, going 5-7. The Fighting Irish are 3-1 against BYU in the "Holy War" between the religious schools with strong football traditions, though Notre Dame linebacker Brandon Hoyte said the past shouldn'tmatter.

"They don't care ... about history. And they shouldn't, because it's the present that really counts," Hoyte said.

Still, Notre Dame has an edge in tradition. The Irish have 11 national titles to BYU's one.

"Granted we're playing BYU and granted they have athletes, but we're still who we are and we still have to represent the Notre Dame defense," Hoyte said.

BYU is 3-0 in season openers under coach Gary Crowton, and another win today would be a giant boost. This is the 20th anniversary of BYU's 1984 national title, and that team will be honored in ceremonies today as the 2004 Cougars try revive at least some of the school's past success.

BYU's 4-8 finish last season, which included a 33-14 loss at Notre Dame, was its second straight losing year. The Cougars hadn't done that since 1970-71.

"Obviously, I recognize that we didn't have a good year last year, but I don't feel any different pressure," Crowton said. "This is an important time for me because of the fact that this is my fourth year and I'm getting some guys in there that I have recruited."

The Irish were scheduled to visit BYU Oct. 30 but got the Cougars and several other teams to rearrange their schedules so Notre Dame wouldn't have to open the season next weekend against Michigan, which plays Miami University today. The original schedule had defending national champion Southern California visiting BYU in the season opener.