PROVO, Utah — BYU football paid tribute to Logan Gagnier as a True Blue Hero and honored his family following spring practice on Thursday. Nine-year-old Logan, who passed away unexpectedly in his sleep last Friday, was a loyal Cougar fan who loved BYU football.
Logan was very active in sports, including football and basketball, and loved the Utah Jazz as well. According to his father Garth, Logan had a big personality and loved sports. He was also known for his kindness, which he consistently showed to others.
Logan’s cousin, Tavita Gagnier, who is a sophomore linebacker/defensive back for the Cougars, spoke on behalf of the team and paid tribute to Logan and the Gagnier family.
“I just thought, what a great way to give the family a taste of Cougar Nation and love them up, just like Coach Sitake always talks about,” said Tavita of honoring the Gagnier family. “It was great to see them and to see all of the support from our team.”
The True Blue Hero program recognizes BYU fans with special needs, serious illness or those who are dealing with significant challenges, by making them an honorary member of the BYU football team.
A GoFundMe account has been set to assist the Gagnier family with funeral costs and other expenses.
Thursday Practice
BYU continued its third week of spring ball with the team's eighth practice session today on the fields outside the Student Athlete Building. In addition to Tavita Gagnier, BYU mid-year transfer running back Chris Brooks joined head coach Kalani Sitake in addressing the media following practice.
Tavita Gagnier
On how different this True Blue was for him:
“It’s different because I've known these guys my whole life. I know what an outstanding family they are and how much they've given to the community. They've always been about service, and they're just so great”
“Football is more than just a game. This is touching people's lives. BYU football is all about family. Kalani always says, ‘family first, football second,’ so whatever ways we can reach out and touch people and make a difference in the world is where we want to be.”
On recovering from his injury:
“I’m feeling good. I'm kind of easing my way into it. It’s definitely a breath of fresh air being out here with the boys and just grinding every day. I feel like the biggest thing was the mind games. It's just keeping your spirits up and taking it day by day. I had Matt Bushman reach out to me, and he said to take it day-by-day and control what you can control. Focusing on that has been a blessing as I've been able to come back.”
Chris Brooks
On how spring ball is going so far:
“Spring is treating me great. We are having fun out here; Utah is great and I’m adapting well. We have a family out here and that has been super fun.”
On the change from the Bay Area to Utah:
“The biggest change is having a huge mountain in my backyard. I’m so used to the Bay Area and the water, the salt in the air. So, it’s definitely a change, but I love it because I am surrounded by a family and brothers who genuinely care about me.”
On deciding to come to BYU:
“I would say the biggest deciding factor was the type of culture that is here. Each place and each program have a different culture, a different way of doing things. But the one here, with loving and learning, it doesn’t get better than that. When you compete with your brothers, it really brings out the best in you.”
On position as running back:
“I think each running back is different and one thing I will never do is compare myself to anybody else. I think any running back who sticks to the fundamentals and sticks to the small details has the chance to be great.”
On adjusting to the offense at BYU:
“I think I have adjusted pretty well. I have a great coach who explains things really well to me. I think him explaining things so clearly made it a lot easier on me. I have a great support system teaching me things. The transition has been smooth.”
Brooks, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound tailback from Oceanside, California, was Cal's leading rusher in two of the past three seasons.
Kalani Sitake
Opening Statement:
“Good practice this week. The defense is really catching up and challenging the offense. We have been rotating a lot on offensive line just trying to put the best out there and maybe even have a rotation when it comes to the position.”
On the team leaders:
“You can see the energy of the leaders. If we ask for leadership then we also have to give opportunities to lead and that usually means giving them the autonomy to make decisions. Those decisions don’t only include what jersey’s we wear but deciding how the culture is built and how we teach and practice.”
“It is important for the players to give their feedback. We encourage our players to come with ideas and if they see something they like to share it with the coaches.”
On Coach Roderick
“He is a really amazing coach and a wonderful friend. He does a great job motivating his players and position group through the quarterbacks. It’s one thing for a coach to want to make their starter really good, but I see him working with the fourth and fifth guys in the room, just as hard as he does with the starter. That’s a sign of a really good coach.”
On the Spring Alumni Game
“We want to have interaction with the fans, but with limited practices it seems like a waste to use that time on scrimmage game. The alumni game is a way for the fans to come out and have some fun watching our alumni."