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Dick Harmon: Cougar fan has a case of the 'blues'

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byudog | 1:07 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

It's good to see someone have a dream and then work towards it.

I think it will look a lot better on the 1st.

UTEinVegas | 1:18 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

I don't like blue, and I like BYU even less, but that is cool to have a fan that dedicated. I can relate to guys like that. Of course, we don't need to be prodded into wearing red at the "U", but hopefully Provo can get their act together.

INtheMUSS | 5:19 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

is it just this one Ute or are there many others who have quickly forgotten the efforts and dare i say, 'prodding' that urban meyer gave them to wear red when he rode in to (and soon thereafter rode out of) town?
Is their memory so short that they think the MUSS was always there?
Now, people wore red for MAFU and others before him (like some people have always worn blue in provo), but there was a 'wear red' push by ute fans back in the day when they were excited for something other than a 7-5 season.

Comments continue below

Max | 5:29 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

BYU students (and fans) are too well grounded to think football is the purpose of life (unlike the South where I used to live). Not going overly nuts (e.g. everybody dressing in blue) is a good thing. P.S. Changing from Royal Blue didn't help!

cjohnson | 7:00 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Can you imagine Georgia, Texas, Tennesee, Clemson,or A&M ever changing their colors? Clemson loves organge BECAUSE it's not stylish. It stands out. BYU changed from royal blue to navy (just like USU) because they thought it would SELL more (MAKE MORE MONEY). If the school isn't loyal to a color why should I be. BIG MISTAKE!!!

oldtimer | 7:25 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Love it-- finally someone willing to bleed blue for a cause! Now BYU needs to do its part by sticking with a single blue. No more gold, no more complicated logos-- just give us a block Y and Cougar Blue.

How come BYU Bookstore sells mostly white, then blue with gold? How come Cougar fans think that wearing a green coat over the top of a blue and red plaid shirt is ever acceptable.

Thanks Tony and thanks Dick Harmon!

funny idea | 7:32 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

PInk michigan or chartruese Georgia! ha ha ha...

bignic43 | 7:42 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Amen to the changing of colors!!! Right on cjohnson. BYU went back to TRADITION and the traditional "Y", why not ROYAL BLUE. It will brighten the stadium much better than navy blue.

johnny | 7:51 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Baby Blue was for ... babies. They switched colors for a couple reasons, (the bookstore selling more items is probably the last reason), just as the Denver Broncos swithced to a darker blue, it looks better and is more intimidating. Keep the Dark Blue and don't go back.

Thibious | 8:06 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Props to Cougarboard's "Downtown" and "El Jefe." How come the article doesn't mention all of the hard work "Bernard" contributed?

Go Cougars and wear blue!

joey_ut | 8:19 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

UTEinVegas, you say fans in Utah don't have to be prodded into wearing Red! How about prodding to just show up for the game. BYU fans have always had better attendance - even if they don't know what to wear.

Justafan | 8:19 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Great idea. Seems like a no brainer to me. To Max I have to say that wearing a blue shirt to a football game doesn't mean I'm not well grounded, it just shows that I support my team. I agree with INtheMUSS that Ute fans don't have to be prodded to wear red, they just need to be prodded to show up at the games. 65,000 seats in Lavell Edwards Stadium are frequently sold out versus 45,000 in Rice Eccles rarely sold out, (unless BYU is playing there of course). Maybe with Bronco's "Legacy of BYU" emphasis he can go back to the true BYU color, Royal Blue. That would be nice.

good job | 8:20 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Finally unity

True Blue (and white) | 8:29 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

What happened to WHITE?
I thought the cougar colors where blue and white.

Blue and white, dynamite!

Did we forget how great white looks with blue? We are all going to die in a hot stadium with only Navy Blue. We need the white to highlight the blue.

Big fan | 8:29 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

I personally like the new color -- and I've been a season ticket holder for over 25 years. I always wear blue on game days even when the team is away. I get really tired of the stogy BYU fans -- though the east stands have been better lately. And I'm old enough to collect Social Security myself. I applaud this effort and hope to see a sea of blue (jow appropriate) on the First. Go Cougs.

Bublnet | 8:34 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Way to go Cougs! A sea of blue will be intimadating. Thanks to all the organizers who made it easy and cheap to get the shirts.

why would they? | 8:42 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Why would byu want to be like their big brother up north in logan? nice colors guys.

Brenden | 8:43 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

cjohnson--As one who lives in SC, and is somewhat familiar with Clemson, I can tell you their colors used to be yellow and purple. They changed to orange because it doesn't fade as readily as yellow, but that was probably back in the late 40s-early 50s, and they've stuck to orange ever since. Point taken. I agree, the school color is as much a part of the tradition as the uniform. I just can't see Nebraska, Alabama, Penn St, USC, Michigan or Notre Dame significantly changing either. Going back to the old style unis was a great move by Bronco, lets get the old blue back as well! When a school starts changing all that, you know they are searching for an identity and are out of touch with their 'tradition'.

When I was a student at BYU, I wanted to get a nice shirt to wear to games, something like a rugby or polo. I found stuff in purple, silver, black, white, pink, green, light blue, plaid, and even red. But not a thing in royal blue except a cheap t-shirt. I laughed long and hard when they complained about people not wearing the colors to events, and changed to an 'easier' color to wear. What is hard about selling the fans the right color? So last year I was out west from SC, and stopped to get my kids a BYshirt. Selection was better, but I still found many of the syles I wanted were white, tan, light blue, light green and pink. Yes, there was more navy blue on more than just t-shirts, but if wearing blue is such a big deal to the school, why are they even selling the other stuff? Someone in marketing hasn't been let in on the secret? I wish Tony luck!

Dave - Go Cougar Blue | 8:52 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Big mistake on the color blue changed. Look at the Jazz playoff at ES Arena. That was a classic light blue - Dark blue won't stand out well. But imagine with little mix up blue color - light blue -) blue -) dark blue -)then darker blue --- blend them in like you see at the beach at carabean islands.
Oh, by the way, why do we see those Utah Utes showing up on this page. Whoever at Deseret News letting this outsider getting to this message board should be block out. This artical was about getting BYU fans to wear their blue to the game, not other subject. Sure why not once comes to rivarly game, then go ahead join in and get on with this holy war!

Lee | 8:57 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

I hate Navy Blue. Royal Blue was a bright unique color that stood alone for BYU. Our standards dictate that we do not follow what others do, but do what is right. Wearing Navy Blue is not unique or right. Navy blue seems to represent a dark, evil spirit. Royal Blue had us stand head and shoulders above all others. It seems that BYU changed colors to get the evil lucre. I would like BYU to change back to the traditional Royal Blue and quit wearing what all other schools wear. I have missed very few games in 54 years, and what I really miss is the Royal Blue of BYU.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Let us not be like others, but rise above other and shout that we are the true BLUE BYU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BYU Fan from WA | 9:23 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Let's wear either navy or royal blue. They are close enough. It's still a big improvement over how it is now, which IMHO is disgusting. I know we have had some "white outs," but I think we need to pick a color and stick with it--every game! I agree with Big Fan in that the biggest problem is the "stogy" guys who look like they have been coming to games for years, but I'll bet they don't own a single item of clothing with a BYU logo. And I don't think that asking some one to wear a certain color to a game is asking them to make football the purpose of life. In general I believe BYU fans are great--they pack the stadium, they are loud and they are knowledgeable. Just choose to wear blue to the game. Is that asking too much? Go Tony Brown! I support you 100%

Bubba | 9:30 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Look forward to seeing all BLUE in LaVell Edwards Stadium this year! Glad to see we are doing our part as fans to be fully invested in the program! GO COUGARS!!! Beat UofA!!!

CougFan | 9:30 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

I really like the navy blue. Even old traditions need a little updating. For example, the BYU of old had the white Y with Royal Blue. BYU's team of old had a great offense and terrible defense. The BYU of today has the white Y and Navy Blue. BYU's team of today has a great offense and an incredible defense. It's nice to have a defense backfield that will play smash mouth football, they don't watch the receiver catch the ball, then hit them. They attack. Good luck getting everyone to wear blue, I will. GO COUGARS!

Brian | 9:31 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

I prefer White to be worn to the games. It stands out and is much easier to match with the rest of the stadium.

manaen | 9:34 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

...and how about a blue field for LES, like Boise State's trademark turf. That alone gets a lot of press and we need to do anything we can to make up for a TV deal that keeps our games off TV -- here in SoCal, I call the.mtn a faith-based network because BYU's games are things hoped for but not seen. Maybe it's so named because only Moses can see the games and the rest of us have to wait for him to come down to tell us what happened.

Trout-P | 9:40 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

To all of you BYU fans who want to go back to the Royal Blue you once had, good on ya! I say it should be. After all, since you have stolen the navy blue from the Utah State Aggies, its time you get back to tradition. Navy blue is ours along with Penn State, we were the first to have this color long before most cougar fans were even born. After all, didn't most of you become cougar fans about in 1973 when Lavell Edwards was in his second year and had a winning record? By the way, Edwards brought with him his old Aggie play book, and several old aggie assistant coaches. Really, BYU ran the old John Ralston defense and the Ralston offense, with Lavell new twist of the full passing game. So get back to your royal blue, and quit stealing idea's from Utah State University in Logan, God's country, the Great Cache Valley, long may this Valley stand amist the Californication of it!

Kenny | 9:51 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Seriously, does Dick Harmon get paid to sit on the Cougar Board all day and then write a summary of the exciting developments of 1984CougarDad and RiseShoutCougar14?

Fred | 10:06 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Sure, showing unity can be taken to extremes, but wearing a blue shirt? Come on...

As for the idea of BYU sticking with their traditional colors, find a picture of BYU's uniforms a few years before the Edwards era - that's right, they are navy blue.

Royal Blue was a color that faded into the background when contrasted with any other dominant color. Navy Blue shows well when worn in large quantities.

Maybe it's just my military/marching band/wear-a-white-shirt to church mentality, but this seems a no-brainer. Dare to show you're a fan!

Delta Cougar | 10:14 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Who cares what flavor of blue it is or was or will be? All I need to know is what flavor of blue is now the correct one and all other flavors are no long relevant.

Stop crying about the sky blue, baby blue, powder blues of yesteryear and get the BYU BLUE of TODAY. And wear it on game day even if you don't go to the game. It's time to start being part of the team. BYU Navy Blue Team.

Climb on board the Blue Train NOW!

Keith Jay | 10:31 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

I doesn't matter what BYU fans wear. Putting on a color does not create a hostile atmosphere. I have been to many college football games at various stadiums, including several @ BYU. BYU fans are easily the most boring, subdued group I have ever encountered. You are still going to have a bunch of people listening to the game on the radio, families spending the entire game between the restroom and the concession stands, and countless returned missionaries sharing battle stories instead of watching the game. Wear what you want, BYU! You will still have a lousy football atmosphere.

Bandaid | 10:33 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Quit complaining about what color we wear. Wear blue and support the team. Good job Downtown and Jefe.

WHITE | 10:37 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

WHITE WHITE WHITE
and a little blue

Dr. Buddy | 10:50 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Stop complaining about the color change and just go to the games with the school color now, i.e. navy blue.

Patrick | 10:57 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

People, people, people. Stop with this "Navy" business. Here is the real deal on the color. Originaly, BYU's colors were a darker blue. Then they switched to Royal Blue (the lighter color people here have been asking for), then they switched BACK to the darker blue which IS NOT NAVY! It is technically a dark royal blue which we now affectionately call COUGAR BLUE. Not navy. I will admit that many of the fan paraphernalia made by various sources is navy, but it shouldn't be. I would rather someone wear navy blue than another color and it doesn't really matter what color we wear as long as it is unified and it is the school colors. Go Cougs! Wear BLUE!

GBUCoug | 11:00 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Navy Blue vs Royal Blue, who cares!!! You people are all missing the point! JUST WEAR BLUE and stop your bickering about what shade of blue it is. I'm fully invested in BYU Football enough to not care what shade of blue I wear. Tony Brown and the football team leadership understand how powerful the home field advantage can be. Home field advantage begins and ends with the fans. If the fans all wear the same color, no matter what shade it is, that has a powerful effect on the opposing team.

Nate | 11:13 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Nike forced BYU to keep the 'Navy' blue when they switched from the terrible Crowton jerseys back to the good old Y block uniforms - part of their contract.

Russ in SoCal | 11:20 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Thank you TONY BROWN! You are truly FULLY INVESTED!I got my tickets for the UCLA and SDSU games and will be wearing BLUE.

Johnboy | 11:28 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

As an early 80's alum I must admit I am partial to Royal Blue. Images of Golden Richards with his white shoes is still the ultimate BYU expression in my mind. The Navy Blue reminds of Gary Crowtons forgettable years, he is gone and so should the Navy Blue uni's.

Al Newman | 11:39 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

joey_ut...You're pretty funny...You made me laugh!

I Wear Blue- Except On Saturdays | 11:54 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Issue orders in church that blue must be worn at BYU games. Problem solved. 100% Blue.

Cameron | 12:03 p.m. Aug. 23, 2007

But blue is so HOT. Gosh! But seriously, no-one on this board has a legitimate argument to not be clad in blue and demonstrating that they are Fully Invested come September 1. I just picked up four shirts at the BYU Bookstore yesterday (2 XXL, 1 XL, 1 MED) for a total investment of $20.03. AND they're not bad-looking, to boot! I'M BLUE! BE BLUE! GO COUGS!

Brentar | 12:31 p.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Stand a BYU player next to a Utah State player, both in their home uniforms, and all the talk of navy and BYU stealing colors will fade away forever as anyone with who can see can tell the difference in blue between the two.

I will people who sold BYU apparel were aware of it. Anyway, Navy, Dark Royal, whatever, just wear Blue!

What exactly is it about putting on a blue shirt that makes you think football is the purpose of life? Is it putting the left arm in the left armhole, or maybe putting the head throught the neck hole?

The fact remains, among the bickering and arguing, is that the coach and the players have asked you to wear blue. If there wasn't reason enough before, there is now. Everyone can do his or her part to help our home field advantage. If you don't wear blue to the stadium, there is no two ways about it, you're a half-baked fan at best, and more likely a fair-weather fan who will start cheering for the Utes if they start to do better.

Non Fan | 1:00 p.m. Aug. 23, 2007

I think a more fitting color for BYU is Puke! Uh, I mean Puce!

Blue Crew | 1:03 p.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Too bad we can't get the Blueman Group to perform at half-time of a game. And then the Navy Blue Angels. And then the Blues Brothers.

GP Burton | 1:11 p.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Good call, Patrick. The new blue is not navy. It's a deep blue that I have come to like as part of the pure, traditional, blue/white uniforms. At first I wanted the royal blue back because it was more "showy" as fan wear, but now I say YOU GOTTA LOVE IT ON THE UNIFORMS. They're CLASSIC, and have drawn sports-writer praise as being top ten in the country, along with Notre Dame, Michigan, Penn State, UCLA, USC, and I believe, Texas. I hated our '04 mixed blue/white jerseys with tan thrown in. We can't ever let that happen again. Also, I have had conversation with the bookstore manager, re: why all the lame pink, chartruse, baby blue and tan stuff? "If you're going to run the gamut on colors, why not throw in just a few Royal Blue T's and sweats? There are at least a few hundred loyal-to- royal, hungry fans who would pass the word and keep you on back order.

He shrugged and said, "It never would sell."
I said, "Surely you could stock enough of it to keep a few hundred die-hards happy, like a dozen sales per week during the season?" He said something like, (paraphrasing) thanks for your input. We always consider input.

I totally disagree with the non-fan comment about poor game atmosphere. Outsider commentators have always marvelled at how Cougar fans bring it to the stadium. Cougar Nation brings mucho attitude; they're just fussy about the colors they wear.

Cougar Nation would be just about right if it/they would JUST WEAR BLUE!

Enrique | 1:17 p.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Would you really wear the old BYU blue out in public? It is terrible. The new blue is great! Please wear blue to the games!! And what is the deal with the BYU bookstore? A big red sign is the first thing you see. And it really looks a lot more like a Deseret Industries in there than a college bookstore. WEAR BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeff Black | 1:41 p.m. Aug. 23, 2007

While blue has been my favoite color since I was a kid, let's face it, blue really is a passive color, and any kind of dark blue doesn't stand out very well. However, I wear blue to every game, unless we're asked to do a "white out" and a staduim of dark blue can be quite intimidating, just look at the Michigan crowd.

Personally, I prefer a color scheme like Boise State has, with a brighter blue and the contrasting orange. Boise State's stadium looked great last year when the fans in one section wore orange and the next section wore blue. Those are dedicated fans.

I also loved the colors of the uniforms of the band in the movie Drum Line. Bright blue and bright yellow. Gorgeous combination, and it really stands out.

I know that either of those ideas would buck tradition, but fans are more apt to wear bright colors. That's just a fact.

I prefer a brighter blue, but BYU's original color was actually "Prussian" blue, which is close to what the color is now.

But hey, dark blue or bright blue, let's wear blue. Drives me nuts to see our fans not wearing blue.

What???????????? | 1:42 p.m. Aug. 23, 2007

During the last week of practice before the anticipated football season opener and "Dick" writes an article about the evolution of blue, classic!

What is more amazing is how many fans seem to care more about how good different shades of blue will look in the stadium. Is this a relief society party committee meeting? I guess BYU fans need something to talk about before thet get pounded against an average 7-6 Arizona, classic BYU discussion board....

Steve | 1:46 p.m. Aug. 23, 2007

The clear point of Tony et al's movement is to wear Cougar Blue, not royal, light navy, or azure. Whatever Cougar Blue is, just wear it-- it does matter!

Good job Tony. Thanks to Dick Harmon who must be taking a bit of heat from BYU marketing. Sadly it is clearly evident by walking through the BYU Bookstore that they themselves don't get it. I just left Walgreens, where I saw a wall of BYU shirts hanging: 2 in grey, 3 in white, and 1 in pink. Let's see if this movement can change the tide!

Anonymous | 2:35 p.m. Aug. 23, 2007

My pet peeve is that Cougar fans will wear outer jackets and sweaters of a different color. Buy everything Cougar Blue!

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