Happy Memorial Day to all you readers! At the expense of sounding a touch too corny, we at Lawless Republic sincerely hope you enjoy time with friends, family, and anyone you choose to spend your holiday with. Though we're fully aware of the solemn meaning of Memorial Day, we're choosing to recall some of our favorite memories of BYU fandom. The reasons we became fans, our favorite moments of cheering on the Cougars, and maybe even some sour memories thrown in as well.
Fandom is not for the weak, as we've all learned throughout our journeys with the Cougs, but as we're learning with the revitilization of the BYU athletics program in recent years -- there's always a brighter tomorrow somewhere along the line. Probably.
So, thanks for sharing this brief moment with us on your holiday. We hope you enjoy our favorite memories of being BYU fans.
Our Favorite BYU Sports Memories
"My favorite BYU memory was when I watched the ending of the 2024 Holy War Football game. My dad, my brother, and I, with some friends, were gathered together, standing with our arms around each other. When Will Ferris kicked the field goal, we were standing together, tense. When the kick went through, we got in a circle and celebrated."
- Jake Olsen
"I couldn’t have picked a better first game to attend at LaVell Edwards Stadium when BYU welcomed the number 9 Baylor Bears to Provo in 2022. That game had it all. A sold-out, late-night crowd, a top ten opponent, and a dramatic double-overtime victory complete with a field storming. The atmosphere absolutely hooked me, and it was incredible to finally attend a game after watching every single one growing up.
"But beyond those memories, that game reaffirmed to me what BYU is all about. The viral hug Jaren Hall gave to the distraught Jake Oldroyd as the game ended became a beautiful symbol of the love and camaraderie that Kalani Sitake and the rest of BYU stand for."
- Andrew Haddock
"I could pick from a million memories. When Mangum's hail mary reached Mitch Jeurgens -- the shortest man in the end zone -- in a game-sealing score over a ranked Boise State team, the home crowd roared so loud that my ears popped. I didn't know that was possible. Watching Jimmer Fredette lead BYU basketball to two regular-season wins over Kawhi Leonard and the top-10 San Diego State Aztecs established my love for basketball.
"But the greatest memory I cherish of being a BYU football fan was in 2013, when the Texas Longhorns took a trip to LaVell Edwards Stadium. During a torrential downpour so severe that kickoff was delayed by two hours, my grandpa's basement flooded from his window wells, filling and shattering as our anticipation followed suit.
"In that game, Taysom Hill led the BYU offense by running all over what was supposed to be an exceptional Texas defensive unit. Hill ran for 253 of the Cougars' 550 total rushing yards. It was an unforgettable night for me as I sat and watched in disbelief with my dad and grandpa from his season ticket spot.
Now, my grandpa is gone, and we don't go to games nearly as often as we used to, but I remember this moment so fondly because of the encircling connections and circumstances. BYU fandom is core to my identity, and I'm very proud of that."
- Calvin Barrett
"My favorite memory is from the BYU Utah football game in 2009. I was just a young boy, and seeing Max Hall throw a game-winning touchdown pass to Andrew George in overtime cemented my BYU fandom. There was a couple sitting next to us, and when the husband threw his arms up in celebration, he accidentally elbowed his wife in the face and broke her nose! Nobody even noticed for a minute or two because of the chaos!"
- Aiden Baller
Happy Memorial Day!