BYU double-header Oct. 4

PROVO — Brigham Young University fans who are members of the LDS Church have a lot to look forward to on Oct. 4 — six hours of general conference topped off by a football game.

BYU officials told the Mountain West Conference this year that they wouldn't agree to a game on the weekend of the church's annual October conference unless it was scheduled after the priesthood session, the final meeting of the day. San Diego State agreed to host the game at 7 p.m. Pacific Time, just as the two-hour meeting ends.

Athletic director Val Hale failed to persuade his counterpart at San Diego State to move the game to 7:30 to give BYU fans time to get to the stadium. Hale is delighted, however, that the decision presents a unique opportunity for Cougar fans elsewhere in the nation because the church's satellite system now will broadcast the priesthood session followed immediately by the game.

"So stick around," Hale said. "It's a double-header made in heaven — priesthood meeting followed by BYU football."

Hale had a triple-header of his own on Thursday as he rolled out the red carpet for BYU sports fans attending Education Week. He gave a morning lecture on the state of BYU sports followed in the afternoon by a personal tour of the nearly completed indoor practice facility. In the evening, he introduced the visitors to the football team at the annual watermelon bust at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

Hale said the state of BYU athletics is good — he believes Cougar teams have the potential to sweep every conference championship this year — but still faces financial hurdles.

"We're having a hard time funding what we have," he said when asked if the school might soon reinstate men's gymnastics or wrestling, which were cut two years ago. "We're challenged to break even."

Of course, that explains the addition of 1,500 premium "club" seats — which cost $1,000 each — on the east side of the stadium this year.

"If we sell every seat, it would add $1.5 million to the athletic department," he said. "We need that money to operate."

Hale expressed frustration that some fans think the athletic department will make money on the new food and concessions policy. For the first time, BYU won't allow fans to bring food and drinks into games. He said security concerns prompted the change, which was recommended by an independent university committee for all events at the stadium, including the Stadium of Fire on the 4th of July.