Before the last 5 years or so, the Provo in-stadium experience was always great with the fan excitement and involvement and the game action. But the technical side of things, the technical show part of it was always really lacking. They seemed to have regular little fails on loudspeaker gaffes, poor visuals on the jumbotron (and not just because of the smaller jumbotron), etc., which was a little emberrasing and a little cringy.

But now, the past few years in particular, they have really upped their game. It is now the quality of an NFL game in many respects, in regards to the technical presentation and technical excitement management. There have been major consturuction and audio/video stadium improvement upgrades that have greatly helped for sure. Better audio, jumbo screens, lighting, huge roll-up banners that unfurl in the student section, etc. The student section is maybe the best in the country, and certainly the best I have ever seen, by far. Cosmo is the most cool/awesome mascot in all of college football, no doubt as well, and they always spotlight him and the cougarettes, etc. But did BYU hire a specialist or something to better coordinate and choreograph things going on outside of the actual game action, such as the 4th quarter hype lead-in?

I went from rolling my eyes about 7-8 times a game 8-10 years (and more) ago with presentation gaffes by the BYU in-stadium production people, to now (the past few years) viewing it as hands down the best I have ever experienced. I am saying that while trying to look at it objectively and remove my BYU bias as much as possible. I have been to BYU games at most of their big road opponent stadiums. None of them come close to the in-game technical/audio/visual/non-game action show experience that BYU provides in Provo with what BYU has done to improve it in the last few years. Sure, other stadiums have better jumbotrons, or better audio equipment in their stadium, and better luxury suite type things. But I am referring to just the full presentation using the tools that exist with the stadium and the choreography and coordination of all of the activities apart from the game action itself (if this makes sense to anyone at all). The only other thing I have seen at an away game, as far as in-game experience is concerned that made me a bit jealous, is the Wisconsin "jump around" leading in to the 4th quarter there, which was totally awesome. But I actually prefer our 4th quarter lead-in that we have going.

Anyway, WELL DONE BYU ... FREAKING WELL DONE!! Is there any person or group that was hired that helped lead this enormous non-game action change in things to give us what we now have? They need a raise. At the same time, hopefully they do not think they now need to up their game constantly and make too many big changes to what they are doing, just for the sake of change and staying cutting edge. People around the country are hearing how awesome the stadium experience is in Provo, even if it is mostly in the new conference. But I hope they do not start making major changes before these people that hear about it can come and experience it themselves.