ST. GEORGE, Utah — Cougar fans in southern Utah flocked to Sandtown Park in St. George to visit with members of the BYU football, women's soccer, gymnastics and cheer teams along with Cosmo for the BYU Fan Fest on Saturday afternoon.
BYUtv produced a special Saturday edition of BYU Sports Nation live at the event for fans to watch. The hour-long show included interviews with BYU football linebacker Payton Wilgar, a St. George native, along with wide receiver Puka Nacua, cheerleader Alyssa Martineau and gymnast Anyssa Alvarado.
The event was the second of two Fan Fests this spring, following the first event in Farmington last week. Fans had a chance to participate in different practice drills with BYU athletes as well as enjoying other activities such as face painting, bounce houses, obstacle courses, caricature artists, yard games, balloons and of course photos and autographs with athletes and even Cosmo.
Director of football relations, Jack Damuni, served as emcee for the event, recognizing special guests, student-athletes and alumni. BYU prizes, Nike gear and football ticket giveaways were all part of the event. Cougar Club, BYU Alumni, football tickets, Vandy Creations and tailgating information were all part of the offerings as well as BYU Store merchandise and food concessions, including CougarTails and BYU Creamery ice cream.
Similar to the Cougar Kickoff held in Provo each year in August, BYU Fan Fest events are a tradition that began in 2013 to give Cougar fans in other communities the opportunity to meet and interact with BYU student-athletes.