BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe Addresses Cougar Fans In Yearly Letter

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – In the world of sports where everything is completely different than it was last year at this time, BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe stuck to tradition and addressed Cougar fans in a letter posted online.

“As I sit down to write this message of gratitude to you, I am in home isolation as a result of COVID-19, the virus that has had such a tremendous effect on everyone’s life,” wrote Holmoe, “Athletically speaking, effects of the virus caused the shutdown of all sporting events throughout the WORLD! Unfortunately, that meant winter and spring seasons in the NCAA were halted and our BYU Cougars competing at that point (Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Men’s Volleyball, Baseball, Softball, Gymnastics, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, and Men’s and Women’s Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field) were over.”

The COVID-19 pandemic ended the WAC Men’s Basketball tournament and canceled March Madness, in what could have been  a magical season for the BYU Men’s Basketball team in the Mark Pope era.

The 2019-20 BYU Athletics Annual Report is now available. The report features a letter from @TomHolmoe, team season reviews, the year’s top moments on social media, athletes’ and coaches’ thoughts on the effects of COVID-19, and more: https://t.co/7Bcqqr5prv pic.twitter.com/Xp7Y4jOc6S

— BYU Cougars PR (@BYUCougarsPR) July 6, 2020

The pandemic not only ended the Men’s basketball season but every other winter and spring sport at BYU and every other sporting league in the United States.

In the letter, Holmoe warned against wondering what could have been.

“I prefer not to look at this year and what it could have been; rather, I prefer to remember this unusual year as one in which most of our teams were competing with the best of the best programs in the country,” the Cougar Athletic Director wrote.

You can read BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe’s full letter here.

Just waiting for BYU sports to come back pic.twitter.com/oX8uPBoHVh

— The ROC (@byuROC) June 23, 2020

In the letter, Holmoe highlighted the achievements of BYU Athletics over the past year and the list is long.

“The highlight of the year was the National Championship won by our Men’s Cross Country team, the 11th national title in BYU sports history. Coach Ed Eyestone was named National Coach of the Year and multiple runners received All-America honors. The BYU Women’s Cross Country team almost pulled off the daily-double with a second-place finish only six points behind the winners. Multiple All-Americans, conference players and coaches of the year, and all-conference performers led the way to championships and great seasons for the Cougs,” Holmoe listed.

Holmoe concluded the letter expressing gratitude for the fans and supporters of BYU Athletics.

“BYU Cougar fans have earned much respect from our competitors far and wide as they continue to show up in droves anywhere in the country and especially at home contests. BYU’s home-field advantage is known by all these days and is constantly touted by visiting media. What a tribute to the best fan base in America!”