BYU Sidelines

Monty and I have been roaming the sidelines of the BYU football games for over 16 years now. Monty a few seasons longer than I. It is hard to believe that so much time has passed by and that so many games have been played. Miami, Florida State, Texas, Washington, UCLA, Michigan, Notre Dame, Boston College...and on and on. Although when you look at the pile of sideline passes that I have kept from all of the games, it is easy to remember all of the good times we have had. We have met some very cool people as we have been down there. Great players, coaches from all over the country, crazy fans that wear some of the wildest get-ups, sports commentators, general authorities, great Americans who have been honored during the pre-game activities and others who have been invited to the field. We have also met dozens of very normal, yet interesting, people that we have stood shoulder to shoulder with on the busy sidelines. There is one photographer that has been there for years. We love to joke that we have known him for years...but don't even know his name! Not that we don't want to ask, we just do it to keep our streak going! Mont and I play our own little game within the game and it doesn't always have anything to do with football. We gave stood through rain storms, snow storms, fog, sun as well as perfectly pleasant fall afternoons that were just made for football. We have seen winning seasons and a few loosing seasons. We have helped opposing teams and officiating crews when things were good, and we have witnessed some sad scenes when emotions take the better part of good judgement. We try to be the smiling face and warm handshake to those who travel long distances to play our team and enjoy the beauty of the unique stadium that sits at the base of our majestic mountains. I don't know how many times we have heard the gasps of players and coaches who walk out onto the perfectly manicured field, see the 65,000 empty seats awaiting a sell out crowd, look up and admire the championship banners that hang above the west stands, and then turn around to see the towering Y mountain that leans over the east side stands "peering" into the stadium below. One player from Florida asked if the mountains could possibly fall over on us! Serious. To them they feel ominous...to us they offer protection and beauty. We try to be pleasant when we really don't feel like it...especially when Utah wins and then celebrates on our field. They probably feel the same way when we beat them in Salt Lake. We listen to complaints of stressed out equipment managers and staff. But most of all we hear how awesome this beautiful setting is and how welcome they feel as they come to Provo to play football in Lavell Edwards Stadium. When Notre Dame came a few years ago, 20 managers paid their own way, just to have the experience of seeing Cougar Stadium. Seldom do we see a team leave Provo without an expression of thanks and a compliment to the way they were treated...win or loose. It has been a good ride for us...and I guess it will continue for a few more seasons. Thanks Mick for signing us up many years ago...you probably didn't plan on us staying around so long! I thought I would post a few pictures from this season. I have others but they are buried somewhere in the digital archives. Mont and I have to share the sidelines with others. Its a pleasure, and part of our job!Some girls that are typical of the emotion and excitement in the stands on Saturdays

This is a hero. He is a colonel in the Air Force that flew daring missions during the Korean and Vietnam wars. If you look closely around his neck, you will see the Metal of Honor. Only about 100 of these guys left. Very cool.

Here are some happy UNLV fans (pre-game of course!) that were wearing some CTR shirts. If you read the back, they say "choose the Rebels"! I thought it was pretty unique. Very nice people who came to watch their sons play in Lavell Edwards Stadium.

Different but fun

Thought I'd post something I designed lately. Turned out ok.