That Phenomenal BYU/OU Game!

Here we are at the A-MAZING brand new Cowboys stadium waiting for the game to start.



And now, inside the stadium! Note the BYU across the end zone! So cool to have the Cougars in Texas playing in the "8th Wonder of the World!"

We could not believe the size of that screen (from the 20 yard line to the other 20 yard line--maybe 180 feet?)! And the HD clarity was unbelievable!



But of course, the most unbelievable thing of all was the way the Cougars played the game. Yes, there were several mistakes on both sides, but the way the team held the Sooners back when it really counted and wouldn't allow any more points was beyond belief. Way to go, Cougars!





Chris was so excited that he lost his voice and he and Sarah were so glad that they came up to witness the historical win.



Note the final score and the shot of Bronco hugging the OU coach. Now that's a sight to behold!

We especially enjoyed attending the special fireside the night before. We had planned to go all along, but then Chris was crushed when he found out we had to have separate tickets for the event. Chris got the bright idea for Evan to use his position to get us in and in fact, Evan knows all those Stake Presidents (It was Pres. David Blake of Carrolton--a native Houstonian who Kathy and I know--and his sister is in our ward). So he just had to email him and we were told when to be at the stake office entrance.

Well, we were nearly the first ones there! It was a thrill to sit up so close to the players and their families and to hear their talks and testimonies. My favorite part was when they all sang "Army of Helaman" with such gusto. And then Coach Mendenhall's wife spoke and then the Coach spoke. So great! He told a great story about running out of gas in a desolate area on his motorcycle and waiting for 45 min. for the first car to come by--which went out of its way to pass him by because, as he said, "I didn't look like who I am." (He was dressed in leather pants with a Harley Davidson leather jacket on and probably looked formidable.) A great lesson to always represent a follower of Christ.

Afterward, Chris had several players sign a special photo (alongside all the other 12-year-olds with footballs to sign, as Sarah pointed out!) and then we watched them load into the bus and we went off to eat at The Cheesecake Factory.

Then the crowning event was winning that game in one of the most exciting nail-biters I've ever seen. That sea of crimson that so outnumbered us at first, disappeared in seconds and Cougar fans stayed late into the night to cheer and sing and revel in the glory of the moment. We were all glad we went!

RISE AND SHOUT THE COUGARS ARE OUT.....!