College Career
As a true freshman in 1998, Mahe had a significant role on the football team at Brigham Young University. He served as backup to star running back Ronney Jenkins. Mahe rushed for 481 yards and scored 7 touchdowns during the season. Mahe scored a touchdown in his first-ever college football game, a 38-31 BYU loss against Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
After a promising freshman season, Mahe was suspended from BYU for one year because of Honor Code violations. He was kicked off the football team for having pre-marital sex. The BYU honor code stipulates that students must "be honest, live a chaste and virtuous life…use clean language" and abstain from alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee and drugs. Mahe transferred to Dixie College in St. George, Utah. His only season at Dixie was sensational. He switched from running back to wide receiver, and led the nation in receiving with 57 receptions for 1,387 yards (an average of 24.3 yards per reception) and 19 touchdowns. He was named a Junior College Gridwire Second Team All-American. He led the Western States Football League in receiving and scoring (122 total points) and was named to the All-WSFL First Team.
Mahe returned to BYU for his junior season in 2001. Under first-year coach Gary Crowton, BYU had the highest scoring offense in the nation that year, and Mahe was a big part of the Cougars' success. He started all 14 games at wide receiver, and led the Mountain West Conference in receiving with 91 receptions for 1,211 yards and 9 touchdowns. He was named to the All-MWC First Team. Mahe became a favorite of BYU fans for his heroic efforts in a game against rival Utah. The Monday before the game he had an emergency appendectomy procedure where his appendix was removed with a laser. He still managed to play in the following game with blood running down his shirt. The appendectomy did not affect his playing ability: he caught 5 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown in BYU's 24-21 victory. When BYU's star running back Luke Staley suffered a season-ending injury against Mississippi State, Mahe stepped up with a season-high 189 receiving yards (and 2 touchdowns) and the Cougars escaped with a 41-38 victory. The following game against Hawaii, Mahe set another season high with 14 receptions for 181 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also filled in at running back, carrying the ball 8 times for 69 yards in Staley's absence. Despite Mahe's efforts, the Cougars lost, 72-45. The defeat shattered BYU's perfect season (they had a 12-0 record before the game against Hawaii).
Mahe's senior season at BYU wasn't as successful. The Cougars finished the season with a losing record, and Mahe's statistics declined. He totaled 59 receptions for 771 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was still good enough to earn All-MWC First Team honors again, and he finished his college career as one of the best receivers in BYU history.
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