I had never attended a BYU sporting event of any kind. I was from out of state, so didn't really have any experience with BYU sports. In fact, I had grown up in a Big 12 college town, home to a school with a terrible football program and a pretty decent basketball program.

So when I got to BYU, I assumed I would continue to root for the hometown team.

My freshman roomate convinced me to get an all-sports pass. I wasn't terribly excited to spend the $80 or whatever it was back then, but I did it.

It turned out I picked pretty much the best time to do that. 1996 was the magical 14-1 football season. For the first time, I realized what it was like to root for a football team that could be good. With each game I attended, my conversion increased. By the end of the year, I was so into the football season, I spent pretty much my last of my money to go to Las Vegas to the WAC championship.

By then my ambivalence had turned to full-fledged fandom, at a level I had never experienced. I still remember the day Dec 7, 1996 ... it was something not to be forgotten -- the back and forth game was so intense, but ended in the Cougs favor. I came back on such a high.

Then just 3 days later, I attended BYU vs Utah State for my first BYU basketball game. They won, meaning I had yet to see BYU lose a sporting event in person. The karma from football must have carried over, because that was the only win the basketball team had that year. They went 1-25. But I got to see the only win.

So now 20+ years later, the magical football season converted me, but I haven't dropped off the bandwagon even during the tough times for football or basketball. I still watch the games. And that Big 12 team ... I still check up on them from time to time, but they are no longer "my team."