SHREVEPORT, La. – BYU put in some of its final preparations for the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, along with meeting with some special guests Friday afternoon.
The team had morning meetings to square away game plans before a walk-through at Loyola College Prep later in the day. Head coach Kalani Sitake, running back Tyler Allgeier and wide receiver Gunner Romney represented the team at the official Independence Bowl pregame press conference at Independence Stadium prior to the walk-through. More on the pregame press conference.
While at the walk-through, the team hosted members of the Nathan and Emily Peterson family.
For years, Nathan and Emily's company, Saranoni, have provided the traditional senior blankets to BYU’s seniors across the athletic department, including BYU football. On Nov. 5, the day before the football team played its final home game this year and had each departing senior honored with a blanket, Nathan received a terminal diagnosis due to an aggressive type of cancer, a glioblastoma multiforme tumor on his brain. It came on very suddenly and he was given about four weeks to live.
Nathan and Emily live in Logan but have attending BYU games faithfully for 18 years, After learning of this situation, Coach Sitake and the team dedicated the bowl game to Nathan Peterson and his wife Emily and their six children. Nathan sent his four oldest children to Shreveport to be at the game to have the experience at the Independence Bowl, while he and Emily and their two younger children watch from home. The four oldest, along with Nathan's brother, visited the practice field on Friday and got to meet with Coach Sitake and the team.
They will be accompanying the team for dinner Friday night and the team's activity. The family will also run out BYU's team flags prior to the Independence Bowl Saturday. The Cougars are wearing the same uniforms worn on senior day to honor the Peterson family, featuring the navy helmets and navy jerseys with white pants.
Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CST on Saturday at Independence Stadium against UAB. The game will be televised on ABC.