BYU Fans Celebrate Return Of Annual Cougar Kickoff
Aug 18, 2022, 1:03 AM
BYU football players pose for a photo at the 2022 Cougar Kickoff on August 18, 2022. (Mitch Harper, KSL Sports)
(Mitch Harper, KSL Sports)
PROVO, Utah – After a two-year hiatus, BYU football fans celebrated the return of the Cougar Kickoff.
On Wednesday night, the 17th annual tradition that marks the beginning of a new athletic year was back for the first time since 2019.
Cougar Kickoff was a hit! 🤙#BYU #GoCougs #BYUFootball pic.twitter.com/5bywQZRay4
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 18, 2022
“The Cougar Kickoff has always been the first time each season where our fans get to come out and bump shoulders with many of our other student-athletes,” said BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe. “We weren’t able to do this the last two years due to COVID-19 and weather, so our fans are hungry for some Cougar Kickoff.”
BYU sports fans and Education Week attendees packed into the practice fields at the Student-Athlete Building. A first for the event.
Fans could meet their favorite BYU football players on the fields the team practices on daily. The attendees also experienced a tour of BYU football’s weight room and revamped locker room.
Football wasn’t the only team present at the Cougar Kickoff. Along with the No. 25 ranked gridiron squad, the women’s basketball, men’s and women’s tennis, golf, gymnastics, women’s volleyball, cross country, and track and field were also there to interact with BYU fans.
Along with the athletic teams, BYU’s cheer squad and mascot Cosmo were also in attendance.
The biggest attraction for BYU fans was landing autographs from star football players Jaren Hall and Puka Nacua. Lines for their signatures spanned a far distance on the practice fields, nearly as long as some of the passes Hall has made in fall camp practices this month.
For more photos from the fan-friendly event, follow the KSL Sports Facebook page below.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
