College Gameday Look: BYU

This week College Gameday takes us to Provo, UT where the #16 BYU Cougars take on the #8 TCU Horned Frogs.  This is the going to be the most highly touted "non-BCS conference" game as both these teams have a chance to burst the BCS bubble once again.  This weeks guide takes you to Salt Lake as well as its neighbor Provo.   

The City
Set against the snowy backdrop of the Wasatch and Oquirrh mountains, Salt Lake City raised its visibility as a top destination for winter sports addicts after hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics. Area resorts boast of "the greatest snow on earth," and skiers flock to world-class getaways like Snowbird, Alta and Brighton. During summer months, resorts open their lifts and runs to mountain bikers in what is becoming a booming business.

The city also is renowned as the original settlement, and now headquarters, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with Temple Square and the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir among the many attractions evocative of LDS history and culture. The arts scene is packed with theater, symphony and opera events, as well as a variety of downtown galleries. And annual events, like Pioneer Day, bring residents and visitors alike out for a week's worth of celebrations and festivities.

The Stadium
The big game takes place in Provo, about 45 miles away from Salt Lake at LaVelle Edwards Stadium.  LaVell Edwards Stadium, with its 64,045-seat capacity, huge video scoreboards and immaculate press boxes, is home to legendary BYU football.  This emmaculate stadium is one of the most beautiful and loudest in the country.  Surrounded by vast mountains and wild crowds, an old Air Force coach called it the loudest and prettiest stadium he had ever been to, noting the loud noise the seats make when the fans are banging on them

Originally known as Cougar Stadium, the stadium was renamed with the retirement of legendary head football coach LaVell Edwards at the conclusion of the 2000 season.  Edwards Stadium was built in 1964 with a seating capacity of 45,000 (including temporary bleachers placed at each of the end zones). As a result of increased seating demands, BYU made another renovation in 1982, adding stands to the north and south end zones, lowering the field eight feet and removing the track surrounding the field (home to the 1967 and 1975 NCAA Track and Field Championships).

The stadium expansion increased the seating capacity to over 65,000. The crowd of 64,253 that gathered for BYU's first game in the expanded stadium on September 25, 1982 was reported at the time as "the largest gathering ever in Utah history." Since its expansion in 1982, the stadium has consistently ranked among the nation's top 25 in attendance.

Some of the stadium's well-known features include a box-bowl seating configuration, a grass playing surface and a four-level press box

Not going to find much drinking near a Mormin college, but there are good restaurants near by.  Try China Lily, considered by many to be the best Chinese in Utah Valley.  When there, try the Salt and Pepper Chicken or the Ginger Beef.  This place is a little pricy but the locals make it sound like it is worth it.  If you are not in the mood for Chinese, try Tucanos Brazilian Grill.  With their fantastic selection of meats, poultry and seafood you are sure to find something that fits your fancy.


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