There is so much negativity and turmoil going on in the fan base I think it’s important in times like this to reflect on why we put ourselves through this agony. Why we get so emotionally invested in a team when we know all they are going to do is hurt us.

Now keep in mind that I am a young child and while I had been to games at LES and watched dozens of games with my dad before this my real first BYU football memory was when I was 9 years old. I didn’t really understand the game of football at all but I remember the feeling I had when Harline appeared out of nowhere and made the catch. I remember my heart being as happy as my little 9 year old heart could be and I hardly understood the game or knew the team! I got in out car with my dad and my brother and drove around town hanging our heads out the window screaming and honking the horn as John Beck sang the fight song on Greg Wrubel’s post game interview. And thus began my dizzying relationship with the cougars.

I’ve dealt with a lot of mediocrity in my years of fandom but among those there have been incredible glimpses of greatness that give me hope for the future of the program.  One of my fondest memories in Lavell Edwards Stadium was the 2013 Texas game. Yes, you read that right. I am talking about the soggy, freezing, 2 hour rain delay game. We all huddled into the confines of the stadium and while at the time I was impatient as ever, looking back I loved the time I got to spend chatting with fans about the game. It was a room full of people that love BYU as much as me and there’s no group of people I’d rather be forced to spend two freezing hours with.

It’s not bad to feel strong overwhelming emotions towards your team its what fandom is all about. We’ve all felt it. All of us fanatics (whether we admit it or not) have shed tears, yelled, screamed, and probably punched furniture, walls, etc. But despite what is being said there is a right and a wrong way to be a fan. Yes it’s frustrating. But regardless of what happens we should always be supporting and cheering for our boys. When times are hard and we feel we are performing below our potential just reflect and remember why you put yourself through this in the first place and why all your heroes are cougars.

Also while reminiscing on old BYU games I found some fantastic BYU photos of me in my awkward phases so I posted them for your enjoyment 🙂