As you may know, we are big BYUFootball fan(atics)! So we obviously jumped at the chance to accompany our nephew Will and his family on their visit to a BYU practice.
Our 3 year old nephew Will has struggled with a lung disease since birth. He's been connected to an oxygen tank for most of his life (but with such a happy disposition, even that doesn't slow him down much). Upon learning of Will's struggles, coach Bronco Mendenhall (BYU's head coach) invited Will and his family and friends to attend a BYU practice before BYU's first game of the season as their special guest. All part of a program Coach Mendenhall implemented called "Thursday's Heros".
We arrived at the practice facility and were given a tour of their offices and meeting rooms. After the tour we were taken on to the practice field, where the team was just finishing practice.
As the team was finishing, they gathered around Coach Mendenhall for him to conclude practice. 
Will was brought to the middle of the huddle where the team captains gave Will a gift basket and told him what an inspiration he was to them. He was asked to sign the flag that the team carries on to the field before each game. After doing so they told him that he was now part of the team and would now be with them as they entered the field at each home game.
Will was brought to the middle of the huddle where the team captains gave Will a gift basket and told him what an inspiration he was to them. He was asked to sign the flag that the team carries on to the field before each game. After doing so they told him that he was now part of the team and would now be with them as they entered the field at each home game.
Finally Will was asked to lead the final team yell to end practice. After the cheer each team member and coach shook our hands and thanked us for coming. We were very impressed with each member of both the coaching staff and football team. They were very nice and very gracious. Coach Mendenhall then took Will, his sister Kate, and his parents Tyler and Trisha off to the side while they sat and talked. He spent over twenty minutes talking with them.
While we are all very impressed with Coach Mendenhall and the work he has done with the football team lately (currently ranked 15th nationally), his work off the field (and I know many people have said this) is much more impressive than anything he has, or will do, on the field. Football loyalties aside, he represents the values of BYU and the LDS church very well. Based on our experience he is a much better person than he is a coach, and in our opinion, that’s really saying something.
Thanks to Coach Mendenhall and his staff and players for an unforgettable afternoon. GO COUGARS!
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