In this Thanksgiving season, BYU fans have an overflowing cornucopia of things for which to be thankful. It's not all that controversial to state that there has never been a better, more exciting time to be a BYU fan than right now. Here are 24 reasons why BYU fans should be thankful during their 2024 Thanksgiving celebrations:
1. The Big 12 Conference. For decades BYU yearned for Power conference status. The 12-year exodus through the wastelands of football independence and the West Coast Conference was brutal, but it ultimately led to the promised land. The Cougars now have a seat at the table in a conference whose culture is perfect for a religious institution like BYU. Nothing - I repeat, NOTHING - will change BYU’s fortunes more than the school’s 2023 entry into the Big 12.
2. Being competitive in a Power conference. But not only did BYU get into a Power conference, they have immediately shown they can compete. The 2023-24 basketball team proved in Year 1 it could compete on the hardwood, finishing fifth in conference play, one spot ahead of powerhouse Kansas. The football team struggled in Year 1, but in Year 2 began the season 9-0 before its recent two-game skid. In just two seasons in the Big 12, BYU has proven it belongs.
3. Kalani Sitake. BYU should just give Kalani Sitake a lifetime contract and ensure he becomes the next LaVell Edwards. Kalani is the perfect face of the football program and has built a winner in Provo. He truly loves this school and what it stands for. The way he represents BYU and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is nearly flawless.
4. Kevin Young. When Mark Pope bolted for Kentucky, most BYU fans feared it would take years for the basketball program to rebuild. But with the hiring of Kevin Young and his NBA connections, “PROvo” was born. While he’s only five games into his coaching tenure with the Cougars, he has already elevated recruiting of top talent to a place BYU fans never dreamed possible.
5. SMU firing hoops coach Rob Lanier. The only reason BYU has Kevin Young today is because SMU fired Rob Lanier. Andy Enfield then left USC for the SMU job. This prompted Eric Musselman to leave Arkansas for USC. Arkansas then hired John Calipari away from Kentucky, allowing Mark Pope to return to his alma mater. This crazy sequence of basketball coaching dominoes led BYU to land Kevin Young.
6. Tom Holmoe. I know I’m biased, but BYU has the best athletic director in all of college sports. By getting the Cougars into the Big 12 and the countless other ways he has impacted BYU sports, Holmoe deserves a spot on BYU’s Mount Rushmore.
7. Football winning streak over Utah. During BYU’s football independence, Utah enjoyed a systematic advantage in recruiting and resources, and the results showed on the field. But those days are over. With BYU and Utah once again on a level playing field in the Big 12, the Cougars have won the last two head-to-head matchups between the bitter rivals. BYU now owns the state of Utah in football.
8. Big-time funding. BYU’s unofficial mantra for years was “do more with less.” Now in a Power conference and with big-time boosters like Ryan Smith, BYU is able to fill out coaching staffs with top talent, increase recruiting budgets, and improve facilities. BYU is now “doing more with more” and doing it quite well.
9. Egor Demin and Kanon Catchings. Denim and Catchings will likely be the first two BYU players drafted by NBA teams since Jimmer Fredette in 2011. Demin, in particular, may be one of the top picks in next year’s draft and can be “Exhibit A” to other 5-star recruits that Kevin Young knows how to prepare players for the next level.
10. AJ Dybantsa. It’s still TBD if BYU will sign the No. 1 prospect in this year’s high school class, but the fact that the Cougars are considered the favorites to land a generational talent is just stunning.
11. Jay Hill. The bane of my existence before Jay Hill was hired as defensive coordinator was BYU’s impotent “bend but don’t break” defensive philosophy. I still have PTSD of the previous defensive staff rushing three and dropping eight while getting picked apart on third-and-12. Jay Hill has transformed BYU’s defense and has been a stellar hire.
12. The ROC. Every time BYU is on national television or visiting fans come to Provo for the first time, they’re amazed at the passion and the noise of the ROC.
13. The hubristic death of the Pac-12. Good riddance to the conference whose treatment of BYU was once described as “religious bigotry masquerading as academic snobbery.” The Pac-12 prided itself as a progressive conference espousing liberal principles of diversity and inclusion, yet somehow their member institutions had to routinely apologize to BYU for bigoted chants and halftime performances that belittled the sincerely held religious beliefs of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The fact that Utah’s president, Taylor Randall, played a key role in the death of the Pac-12 by significantly overvaluing the conference’s media rights just makes the conference’s implosion all the more satisfying.
14. Being “nice” to opposing fans The fact that opposing fans feel like they’re treated with kindness and respect when playing against BYU is important. From giving visiting fans ice cream to doing food drives at road games, BYU and its fans have been the recipients of countless compliments from fans of other teams.
15. The 1984 national championship. Only a relatively few schools have won a consensus football national championship. BYU is one of them. Nobody can take that away from us.
16. Former Cougars in the NFL. I’m a big NFL fan and write a weekly recap of how former Cougars fared in the pros each week. From Fred Warner to Puka Nacua to Taysom Hill, watching former BYU players dominate in the NFL is a joy.
17. Cross Country dominance. While cross country doesn’t get the headlines of football and basketball, both the men’s and women’s cross country teams won the national championship this year.
18. Olympics success. The 2024 Paris Olympics were a source of pride for BYU fans. Kenneth Rooks’ breathtaking silver medal in the steeplechase was legendary. Stephanie Rovetti won bronze in rugby. Conner Mantz and Clayton Young finished eighth and ninth in the marathon. Jimmer Fredette was a blast in 3x3 before his injury. These and other BYU athletes represented their school and their countries with pride.
19. Cosmo. The best mascot in college sports. Period.
20. Respecting other faiths. There are a lot of misunderstandings about BYU and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from those who only have a surface level understanding of the school and its sponsoring faith. Between the support Jewish quarterback Jake Retzlaff has been shown in living his faith in Provo along with the positive experiences of three Muslim basketball players last year, many misconceptions about inclusivity at BYU are being cleared up.
21. Cougar Tails. Mmmmmm…….
22. The Kansas State football win. If you’re ever feeling down, just watch The Cut and bask in the glory of the incredible plays that led to BYU’s 38-9 win over the No. 13 Wildcats.
23. Beating Kansas in basketball. The Cougars 76-68 win over blueblood Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse was a defining moment of validation for BYU hoops.
24. The potential of the College Football Playoff. Yes, it’s disappointing BYU lost to both Kansas and Arizona State and now might not make the Big 12 championship game, but there’s still hope! Nothing would make BYU fans more thankful than beating Houston this weekend and getting some help from Kansas State or Arizona to make the Big 12 championship, then win the Big 12, then get into the playoffs where anything’s possible.
The list of reasons for BYU fans to be thankful could go well beyond this list of 24, but we've got to stop somewhere.
Once again, there has never been a more exciting time to be a BYU fan than right now. We are a truly fortunate fan base. What a time to be a BYU fan!