GO TREY and GO BYU RUGBY

National Champion Cougars Honored at Football Halftime


October 2, 2009

Provo, UT—A sold out Lavell Edwards Stadium crowd honored the 2009 National Champion BYU Cougars at the halftime of the BYU football game tonight.

The half time ceremony was the first of it's kind for any non-NCAA sports team at BYU highlighting the support of the rugby program at the university.

A video piece was shown on the two stadium big screen TV’s highlighting last season’s campaign culminating with footage from the Cougars’ come-from-behind championship victory over Cal.

After the video the team was announced and honored near mid-field with the home crowd of over 65,000 giving the Cougars a loud standing ovation. Both players from last year's team and the current squad were on hand for the ceremony.

BYU head coach David Smyth, who was on hand with the team and staff for the mid-field ceremony, said he was glad that the school was able to recognize the program for its success.

“I was very happy for the boys,” he said, “It was a fantastic for our university to recognize their efforts and achievements from this past season. It was a nice touch that was greatly appreciated.”

All-American prop Mike Su’a, who was vital to last season’s national championship, felt the halftime ceremony was something that will help continue to build the visibility of the program in the BYU sports community.

“It was awesome to get that kind of recognition at the football game,” he said, “We already get so much support, but to have something like this happen will go a long ways towards next season.”

The Cougars are heavily entrenched in their pre-season preparations and will be building towards their 2010 season over the coming months. 2010 season schedules will be released in the coming weeks.