Football Clinic Date Night 2012

A few weeks ago my sister Alicia got an email from BYU inviting her to take part in a football camp date night.  She read it, forwarded it to me and we went back and forth on whether or not to do it.  It was a tad pricey but when we realized what a GREAT night it would be and how happy our husbands would be we jumped on it and sent in our money.
So this last Tuesday my mom and dad and sister Alicia and husband Tyler came down from Twin Falls for a triple date to the Lavell Edwards stadium.  It was EPIC!  Tyler and Mark have always been good friends and have a lot of interests in common.  Get those two together and they talk non stop and basically it is a good thing Alicia and I also get along so well or we would feel bored and left out.  I was really looking forward to this night also because it would be the last time for a couple of years to hang out with the Larsens since they are moving in a few weeks to New Hampshire.  But I don't want to talk about that...
We walked into the Southeast entrance and got our nametags and tshirts.

Then under the south endzone bleachers we had dinner catered by Ruby River.

And who is making the rounds and visiting with each table?  Coach Bronco Mendenhall!  We took pictures with him and Mark made him laugh, Tyler joked with him and I even got a high five.  He is so great!

After a delicious steak and potatoes dinner (no really...it was amazing) we got another picture with Kyle Van Noy, a linebacker and, of course, his signature on Mark and Tyler's shirts.  Tyler told him to write "to my best friend" and Mark said sign it "to my very best friend".  Kyle was laughing and kindly obliged.

We headed over to the West stands, walking on a field that has not had lines painted yet, and watched a pretty funny comedian.  Then Bronco said a few words and the players did a drawing for a few different tickets to the games and a helmet signed by Bronco.  My parents won the helmet!  My dad was so excited!  Wish I would have gotten a picture...he held it like a trophy. :)

I love my husband...and he loves football so it was a good combination.  Hey there Tyler in the background. 

These two are so fun together.  Gonna miss the Larsens...no wait, still not talking about it.

After all that we watched Justin Sorensen, a kicker, ride his unicycle down the field catching footballs from his left and right.  Not a bad talent!  Then question and answer with the players.  It was a lot of fun seeing them joke around and just be regular college guys who are goofy and immature.

Left to right players: Austin Holt-TE, Ross Apo- WR, Joe Sampson- DB, Preston Hadley- DB, Kyle Van Noy- LB

We headed down to the Cougar Room for what was called X's and O's by Brandon Doman, the offensive coordinator and ex-quarterback, and then one of the defensive coaches.

Of course there was another Q&A and the best question of the night came from a gal who asked "Why do you have your quarterback sometimes run straight into that big glob of players in the middle of the field?"  All the guys laughed, all the girls were happy that was asked since we really don't know either,  and the coach just bowed and shook his head and said "We don't call that.  That is not what is supposed to happen."  It was great.

Due to a migraine and a babysitting issue, my mom and I headed out after that but we both were ok leaving at that point because the next and last thing was field rotation practicing plays...not exactly my thing while I am pregnant.  But Tyler and Mark and Alicia and Dad had a BLAST!  They spent time in the locker room hearing more info.  (Did you know each player gets a new set of cleats every game?)  Then they did plays, drills and got to mingle more with Coach and the players.

And of course a picture with Michael Alisa, the feature running back for the team.  (Mark was excited because he made him laugh). 

Team cheer

 Ok, my husband is hot!

Mark and Tyler got Bronco, Michael Alisa and Ross Apo's signatures on their shirts to finish off the autographs.  

They all came home about 45 minutes later with grins and stories and pictures.  I am so glad we did this.  BYU is doing it every two years so if we are still here in 2014, we are doing it again!!!  Perfect date night for BYU football fans.