Cougar Kickoff sets the stage for upcoming football season

byu football,Bear Bachmeier

Nate Church

August 21, 12:07 PM August 21, 12:07 PM

All across the country, college football fans are craving on-field action.

Roster rumors are swirling, football practice is in full swing and position battles are raging. In Provo, the anticipation is palpable. On Wednesday night, BYUs 22nd annual Cougar Kickoff added more fuel to the fanatic fire.

Over 3,500 fans crowded the lawn at Helaman Field on BYUs campus. The sea of royal blue was treated to food carts, inflatable slides, a small mini golf course and a chance to interact with student-athletes.

Various teams had tents spread out among the attractions where fans could get their memorabilia signed by their favorite players.

Two of those players were Bear Bachmeier and his older brother Tiger, who stayed past 9 p.m. to make sure they signed every poster and jersey that they could.

Gage Peterson, a fan from Lehi, Utah, was dressed head-to-toe in BYU gear, including a game-worn jersey his grandfather gifted to him. On his head he wore a hat embroidered with a panoramic view inside LaVell Edwards Stadium. With a smile on his face, Peterson described what Cougar Kickoff and the last two weeks before the football season feel like.

The magic in the air, you can tell it just shifts. he said. Everyones just excited for the games.

All around, kids ran from inflatable to inflatable, some tripping over their oversized No. 47 football jerseys. Players and Cosmo the Cougar milled around, taking pictures with fans and trading high-fives.

In the throng, JR Thompson sported a classic royal blue hat, shirt, socks and shoes. Thompson came to BYU in 1978 as a freshman and has watched the Cougars ever since. He has seen BYU football at its peak in 1984 when it won a national championship, his favorite season of all time.

Thompson doesnt have a particular game circled on his calendar at home. He has all of them circled. Along with his circled Saturdays are big expectations for the upcoming season.

Its going to be an exciting time and I hope we run the gauntlet this year, like we did last year," he said. "And I hope this year we beat Texas Tech. That would be my heyday.

BYU doesnt take on Texas Tech in the regular season, so for Thompsons dream to come true, the Cougars will have to make another run to the conference championship a tall task.

That task rests on the shoulders of sophomore quarterback Bachmeier, who was by far the most talked-about player among the fans interviewed.

Conner Latowski, a BYU student from Canada, is especially excited to see Bachmeier back in action. So much so that he is already trying to buy a ticket to the Notre Dame game, a matchup he deemed as the new rivalry.

The Oct. 18 matchup against Notre Dame was far and away the most talked about game by fans at Cougar Kickoff. The Cougars and the Fighting Irish last played in Provo in 2004, a game that BYU won.

The lone exception was Darren Bedke and his two sons, who have a different game circled on their calendar.

Beating the Utes, they said in almost perfect unison.

Ive got a special place in my heart for the Holy War, Bedke said.

On July 13, Tiger and Bear Bachmeier, BYU football stars and brothers, along with their uncle Donald, otherwise known as the Music Bachs, performed a set of some of their favorite songs.

Tiger Bachmeier, BYU football wide receiver, started playing guitar when his uncle gifted him one.

I was about 13, 14 around that time. So, its been about nine years and I taught Bear I think my third or fourth year in, so weve been playing together for probably four or five years, Tiger Bachmeier said.

Bear Bachmeier, BYU football quarterback, said that the trio was invited to do a concert by the Harrington Center for the Arts and they jumped at the opportunity.

We love spreading joy through music so I got my family and a lot of other people with me its going to be a cool deal, Bear Bachmeier said.

Hundreds of fans showed up in support of the brothers to listen to them play and meet them in person.

We've got a good crowd here, we know the presence is there. We just need to give them the opportunities like this one to be able to get out there for these events, Tiger Bachmeier said.

Many of their teammates came to support the Music Bachs. Running back LJ Martin and center Bruce Mitchell even joined the trio on stage.

The brothers said that it is similar to a football game with fans showing up early, knowing the songs and chants, but there is one big difference.

Theres 19 other people that people are watching, so thats the biggest difference, Tiger Bachmeier said.

Im pretty nervous because I feel like my skill at playing football is way better than the guitar, but I got Tiger and my Uncle Don by my side and were a good trio, Bear Bachmeier said.

Through their music, the Bachmeiers showcased that it is attainable and fulfilling to have more than one passion.

I love the state of Utah, I love playing for Cougar Nation, I love playing for BYU, Im just so grateful for it all, Bear Bachmeier said.