BYU-A-Palooza!

Cosmo!

Yesterday dawned cold, wet, and rainy.  Flakes of snow drifted intermittently from the skies.  At times, it was difficult to know whether it was snowing or raining--it was just wet.  I ended up spending the majority of the day at BYU--almost as much time as I spent there since I volunteered at a seemingly unending law school competition one time.

I went down pretty much first thing in the morning to see my two brothers play in their BYU intramural flag football playoffs.  They lost and it was cold!  The highlight of the game was seeing SLD chase down another player to make a touchdown-saving tackle at the 1 yard line.  I don't know if I've ever been so proud of him!  Great job SLD!  (I was even more proud than when I watched him drain that sweet-looking, three-point swish shot in his basketball game last week!)

Then it was time to get some errands done.  I was still unsure about whether or not I wanted to freeze my fanny in the snow at Lavell Edwards Stadium.  One thing I did know was that I needed even more cold weather gear if I was going to survive!

The view outside the stadium...told you it was cold!

Ultimately, I decided to go--and not just because I had a free ticket to the game.  I went because it was the last home game of the season and I thought that it would be an experience to say that I had been to a game in the snow.

The view inside the stadium from our seats...look closely for the snow flurries...

At the game, my sister told me that she had won a chance to fire the cannon after a BYU score.  She was #8 in line to do so.  The cannon fires after every score (touchdown or field goal) and at the end of each quarter.  Normally, as #8 in line I would not have been so hopeful about my chances to fire the cannon, but this was Senior Day and we were playing Idaho State.  I felt like the odds were pretty much in my favor...

They were.  We scored 49 points in the first half and right before the end of the third quarter, I had my moment:

I also got to hang out on the sideline while waiting for my big moment.  Cosmo came by and I snagged him for the picture above.  I didn't realize that he was so short.  But I guess it helps for all the flips and acrobatic maneuvers he has to do every game.  I'm sure that the pic above will impress no one except for my kids...

I also realized that I made the (international) tv broadcast (on BYUtv).  I'm sure that no one recognized me, but me.  (And since the field goal that gave me the shot at firing the cannon put us up 59-10 was anyone even still watching?  Plus it's not like we were talking ESPN here!)  So in case you missed it, here it is:

I'm at the top left, wearing the white hat standing behind one of the cadets "guarding" the cannon.

On my way out of the stadium, I stopped by to check on my nephews.  The cold was too much for them, so they were hanging out in the Cougar Room underneath the West Stands of the stadium.

Hard at work!

Ever wonder where the stadium orange coated security force hangs out?  Now you know.  They were there too.  I guess the cold was a little too much for them as well.  Plus, no need to worry that the BYU fans--rowdy though they may be--were going to storm the field to tear down the goal posts following this win.  I think that BYU's crack security force/ushers were a little embarrassed when they saw me pull out my phone to get this picture.  :-/

Because you can never get enough of BYU (or Provo for that matter), I headed over to the Marriott Center where there was a basketball doubleheader going on.

Kyle Collinsworth, Matt Carlino, and me

First, the women's team beat Boston College in overtime.  The great thing about the women's games is that you can literally sit courtside.  I met some interesting people including a couple of BYU's star players (above).

Based on the above photo, I think I may have actually grown an inch or two.  If Matt Carlino is 6'2", I'm more like 6'4" or 6'5".  Also, there is no truth to the rumor that Kyle Collinsworth is sporting a mullet...

A true mullet requires a tail in the back

...He just has a bad haircut.   :-/

But did I mention what a nice guy he is?  And how gracious he and Matt were to let me get a picture with them?  Both guys are having great seasons so far and the BYU basketball team is off to a great start this season!  Go Cougs!