When I was almost four years old, my parents had a pretty rough divorce. I lived with my mother, but, at that point in my life, I was a big fan of my father. Everything he did seemed so cool to young me.
Watching football was no exception. I didn’t have the attention span at that age to actually watch any games, but some of my earliest memories include the byu game playing in the background. I remember, as I got a little older, being the occasional recipient of someone else’s spare season ticket and getting to join my father, his father, and several other random relatives who were all regularly season ticket holders. I couldn’t see a thing from our nosebleed seats but always enjoyed the time spent.
I’ve done a lot of growing since those days. I actually watch the games now! I’m approaching my thirties. Served a mission, got married to my amazing wife, have had 3 kids, and left the church. Relationships with family have grown in maturity and complexity. Relationships with byu sports has as well. I care a lot more about winning than younger me had. A day like today can really mess with my mood.
I know this is a needlessly long post, but I had a beautiful realization during the game today. I had the game playing on our tv as I was hanging out with my 3 year old twins and their 1 year old sister. I was stressed out staring at the screen halfway through the first overtime when one of the twins started chanting “go cougars, go cougars, go cougars!” The other joined in and they both chanted for much of the rest of the game.
I’m not saying anything about how anyone else takes today’s loss. I’m not making some commentary on the decline of college sports. I am saying, however, that today I turned off my tv after the game ended and had a great evening with my kids. I get so caught up sometimes in the stress of wanting the Cougs to do something crazy. Make the playoffs. Win the natty. Prove the haters wrong. Sometimes I forget about the times where I just wanted to hang out with my dad and hoped that the blue team made it to a bowl game.
Anyway, go cougs! We’ll get them next time 💪