Cougar fan has a case of the 'blues'

Ordinarily, it could drive BYU officials a little crazy. Bureaucracy likes control — red tape, if you will. And at BYU, there are kingdoms, fiefdoms and territorial fireplugs to read and pay attention to. It's been more than a decade since BYU's legal department started going after people using the school's image, logo and title without a license.

Brown apparently has maneuvered successful around all these pylons.

Obsession? Perhaps more like something that drives him, a deep-seated passion. Quiz him about this deal and the word "brainstorming" doesn't cover it. A software salesman, Brown's used to creative juices. On this issue, he must lie down at night and ideas hatch out of his head like snakes of Medusa.

The amazing thing is he's even approached former All-American QB Gifford Nielsen — when Nielsen and former Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer have their numbers retired, he's asked that they mention the importance of wearing colors.

It remains to be seen if his efforts, and those who have lined up behind him with money, will get it done. He doesn't want any credit, only tens of thousands clad in blue.

But he's an interesting case in never say no, or it can't be done. The Rudy factor.

And, finally, get this. He's predicting, and we'll see how it plays out, that when Mendenhall does his Sunday night coach show on KSL-TV, one of the first things out of his mouth will be to have a "blue out" in the stadium come Sept. 1.

If that happens, indeed Mr. Tony Brown is totally and fully invested.

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E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com