2-0! GO COUGARS!!!

So last night when I was writing about what has happened since my last post I noticed I left out the most important events in my life; BYU FOOTBALL! The Cougars have won their first two games! And I am so excited!

The first game was against Northern Iowa. It was good game! I got a nervous when it became a 10 point game, but I have faith in my cougars, and they pulled ahead to win 41-17. They extended their winning streak to 11 straight games, which happens to be the nation's longest winning streak. But there were some concerns like ball protection, there were 5 fumbles. Come on guys, hold on to the ball! But they did win so I can't complain. Here is a great highlight video:



Coach Mendenhall addressed the media and talks about one of my concerns, ball protection:



Then the next week they played the Washington Huskies. I was a bit nervous. BYU played Washington 6 times, dating back to 1985, and the Huskies have won 4 of those games. And the Cougars have never won in Seattle. But again I had faith.

I was really hoping to watch the game with some friends but I woke up early that morning with a horrible migraine. ): So I ended up watching it in bed. And the stress of the game, especially at the end did not do well for my migraine.

Most people ended up talking about the celebration call at the end of the game. With the score 21-28, Jake Locker (Washington's quarterback) scored a touchdown with 4 seconds left in the game. If the PAT was good then the game would be tied and it would go into the ever exciting over-time. But a celebration call took the extra point attempt into a 35 yard field goal like kick. Sure the celebration rule is dumb but it is a rule and Locker broke the rule. And Washington still had a chance to win. BUT defensive lineman Jan Jorgensen blocked the kick, giving the Cougars a 28-27 victory!

And just to clear it up this is the NCAA rule on celebration:
After a score or any other play, the player in procession immediately must return the ball to an official or leave it near the dead-ball spot.

And Locker clearly threw the ball in the air and did not return it to the official. But you be the judge...



Coach Mendenhall addressed the media after the game. I really think he has so much class. I wish I could find what he said immediately after the game when asked about the celebration call. But coach Mendenhall has class in any interview.



On Saturday BYU faces the UCLA Bruins for the third time in 370 days. UCLA holds a 7-2 advantage in the series but BYU did beat them in the 2007 Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl game. However the handed the Cougars one of only two losses of the 2007 season. Both teams are good. UCLA has Norm Chow who is a Offensive genuis and if they played like they did against Tennese then they have a good chance. BYU has Max Hall leading the Cougars amazing offensive. So if both teams bring it Saturday's game will be amazing.

Oh the cougars better win because if they do not I have to do 5 push ups in front of cute boys. And I recently tried to do regular, not girl, push ups and I could barely do 2. So I have a lot on this game!! GO COUGARS!!!

A DREAM COME TRUE!

No dreamer is ever to small; no dream is ever to big.

Everyone knows that I love BYU football. It is a part of me. I’ve loved it for as long as I can remember. And every year at the start of the new season I dream that I could somehow meet the players and coaches. Well last Thursday my dream came true! I went to the BYU Football Women’s Clinic. I wasn’t quite sure what it would be like, I only new that 25 dollars was a small fee to pay for anything dealing with the BYU football team. My friend and I drove from California all day Thursday and she even changed her schedule and left early so I could make it to the clinic on time. So I got to Utah, met up with my sister and mom and walked over to the stadium for the clinic. I was so excited with anticipation!

My mom, my sister, and I, along with 500 other women checked in, got our shirts and ate some food. After I ate I walked around the building we were in a realized that football players were all around us. The first one I met was Max Hall, the quarterback. Oh my gosh, I was like a giddy schoolgirl. I had him sign my shirt and took a picture with him! After I walked away from him I couldn’t help but scream! My sister and I spent the next little while finding all the football players, getting them to sign our shirts (which were ON us by the way, oh yea baby!), and taking pictures with them. Then we were asked by Coach Lamb to take a seat so they could start the presentation. My sister and I managed to find a way to the front and we sat a few feet away from the podium. We sang the fight song and then Coach Mendenhall spoke to us. He talked about “The Quest” for 2008. Taking the program from good to great! I loved listening to Coach Mendenhall. Coach Mendenhall then answered questions. Followed by the players answering questions. They were so nervous standing in front of 500 screaming woman. But they handle it well and answered the questions with a little bit humor. My favorite was when Harvey Unga introduced himself as Steve Young. (: After the Q&A we had the opportunity to meet the players and coaches again. Getting signatures and pictures of anyone we missed. Then we went to the field to do drills! Yes I said drills and I actually participated!

We then walked onto the field! Words cannot express the feelings I got as I walked onto the field. I couldn’t believe I was just walking right on to the field. We then did drills at 4 different stations. And let me just say that football drills look easy but they ARE SO NOT! I have a greater respect for anyone that has done these drills, and done them well! After the drills we came to midfield and watched a highlight film from last year on the big screen scoreboard. Before watching it Coach Lamb asked us to take a minute to realize where we were and what that meant. I immediately got the chills. I couldn’t believe I was sitting on the field Johnny Harline got the game winning touchdown against Utah in 2006, where Steve Young played, where Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer played, where the 1984 team beat Michigan and went on the be the National Champions! It was incredible. The highlight film was awesome as we relived the moments we loved from last season, especially the 49-yard reception on fourth-and-18 by Austin Collie to beat Utah. And the amazing block of UCLA field goal attempt in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Afterwards my sister and I just spent time laying on the field and taking goofy pictures! And although we had already taken pictures with Coach Mendenhall and had him sign our shirts and media guide we wanted to wait in line to get him to sign our posters. We were the last people in line so after he signed our stuff, again we walked across the field together conversing! I don’t think I could have been happier! Walking across LaVell Edwards stadium talking with the coach!!! Seriously!!

So this blog is really long and unless you like BYU you probably got bored after the first few sentences. But it was seriously the happiest, most exciting and fulfilling day of my life thus far. So many of my dreams and wishes have come true! Well at least the dreams and wishes relating to BYU football. Hopefully my dream of a perfect season will come true and one day, another National Championship. One things for sure, I will be back next year for the next clinic!