BYU Obssession

I'm not an athlete.  But I love watching sports.  Especially BYU sports.  Sometimes people are surprised by that.  Or they don't believe me. 

...That is until they meet my family.  See, we're kind of weird around my house.  

I've been to more BYU football and basketball games than I can count.  My parents have had season tickets to BYU football since they got married.  (Grandma K. use to come with us to all of the games, too.  Her last game was also LaVell Edwards' last home game.  Man, we had some fun times with her.)  One of the upstairs bathrooms in our house is BYU themed.  My oldest brother and his friends are in a BYU children's book representing "the fans".  

The book that Spencer is in

We get presents from Cosmo every year at Christmas.  My mom was in the BYU Marching Band (she played the clarinet).  Both of my nieces know the words to the Cougar Fight Song and both nephews, who are too young to talk, recognize the song and immediately start dancing.  Heck, when we asked her who she liked better, Santa or Cosmo, Abby told us she liked Cosmo better.  (She also started crying when she found out Alicia was going to "Swoop's school."  She only stopped once we had explained that Alicia was just going to spy on Swoop.)  Abby also thought that Cosmo lived in the temple...(We didn't teach her that one!  She just happened to see a painting of a cougar when she went to one of the temple open houses.)

Abby, Max, Lyla, and Dax dressed in their BYU gear, 2011

So yeah, we're kind of weird.  Luckily for us, we've always had the Hillers to share our obsession with.  

Some of the cute Hillers at the BYU vs. Ole Miss game, 2011

They too have a room in their house decorated in BYU gear.  Only theirs is much bigger.  It was a lucky day when we moved two houses down from them.  I have so many memories of going to visit them at football games.  Both of our families even went to the Las Vegas bowl one year.  (One of my favorite memories...blocking UCLA's kick to win the game...oh yeah!)  Once our families started attending BYU, the tradition of sitting together in the student section started.  And continues still...even if it's just Lizzy and I now.  (Sidenote:  One of the Hiller brothers-in-law is one of Spencer's best friends and is also in the book.)  

Lizzy and Me at one of the football games, 2011

I have gone to quite a few basketball games this year.  And as much as I love it, it sort of makes me miss last year.  No, not just Jimmer.  Although I definitely miss that too.  I miss the atmosphere.  The constant excitement.  The packed Marriott Center.  And my friends who are on missions that I went to some of the games with.  (The 2011 SDSU game with Jordan and Kyle will forever be one of the best nights of my life.)

I met someone down here who was a Junior and had never been to a single BYU sporting event.  Not a single one.  I just think that's sad.  I have way too many good memories of games to ever believe they were worth every penny and sacrifice.  

Loving BYU sports is a tradition.  And one that I gladly and proudly carry on!