BYU vs Utah Game: The Holy War

Saturday was the final installment of the infamous "holy war" for the next two years. It was a crazy day of red shirts, ridiculously long student section lines, and warm weather. But it was also the 37th year of the combined BYU and Utah marching band performance. Every year at the BYU vs. Utah game, the BYU Colorguard joins Utah's Crimson Line in pulling out the American flag. It's an act of friendship in a game full of name-calling, anger, and even violence.

Here are pictures from the game. Thank you to Nikki Merrill for being the Colorguard's unofficial photographer.

Rain or Snow

The weather here in Utah Valley has been pretty temperamental this past week. There was the crazy storm that delayed the BYU vs UT game. And then on Friday, there was a fierce downpour at practice. But we didn't let that stop us from finishing our run-through.

"We will fight, day or night, rain or snow!!"

What can I say? We bleed blue.

Love in Unlikely Places

Let's just say that the BYU Colorguard has some awesome sneaky skills. Our goal for band camp was to catch band members flirting it up. Here is the compilation of these photos. Enjoy!!

PS I promise we're not creepers, just sneaky with a camera phone.

Hike to the Y

Every year, after practice on the first Saturday of Band Camp, the colorguard hikes up to the Y.

And since last year, we blindfold the new members of the guard so they don't know where we are going.

So we loaded them in cars, drove around doing donuts and sharp turns to keep the girls guessing. And then we finally got to the base of the Y trail. This year we didn't take the blindfolds off until we reached the first switchback. So yes, the new girls hiked part of the Y blindfolded--with help of course!

Courtesy of Nikki Merrill

One member of our team has a health condition so she can't do much extended physical activity. But the colorguard that spins together, hikes together. So we got an adult stroller for her and pushed her up the mountain.

Courtesy of Nikki Merrill

At every switchback, while we rested, we told stories about our first dates, our worst dates, and our worst colorguard uniforms. And the further we climbed up the mountain, the more beautiful the view became.

courtesy of Nikki Merrill

Then we finally reached the Y!!

And the craziest thing happened while we were there. We were about to say a prayer to start our devotional when we hear a "Watch out!!" We open our eyes and turn to see a boulder about the size of a basketball rolling down the mountain at 35 mph towards us. But luckily, the boulder misses our group by about 20 feet and continued flying down the mountain. Crazy, right? But the colorguard was a little paranoid about falling rocks after that incident.

So our first day of band camp was complete with a memorable hike to Provo's iconic Y.

Courtesy of Nikki Merrill

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BYU Color Guard Clinics

Hey Ladies, there are two upcoming Guard Clinics, the first one is tonight Thursday August 2nd and the second is next Thursday August 9th. The clinics will take place in the CMBH in the southwest corner of the Cougar Stadium at BYU from 6:30-9pm!

Anyone is welcome to attend and brush up on their skills or even learn some new ones! Hope to see you there! :D

Last Day!

Thanks to everyone that came to auditions in April and June and to those who submitted video auditions. We had a great turnout and are excited about the upcoming season!

The 2012 Color Guard team list will be posted sometime mid August.

REMINDER: For all those of you who want to audition but are putting it off...Today is the LAST DAY to send in a video audition for the 2012 season.

A Few Spots Left

We had a great audition last Saturday. Thanks to everyone who participated! If you are still interested in auditioning video auditions are still being accepted until July 14.

Email Ashlee Chatterton at achatterton@byu.edu for more information.

CONGRATULATIONS 2011 TEAM!

Congratulations to everyone who made the BYU ColorGuard team of 2011! We're going to have a fantastic season.

Janelle Jensen - Captain
Amy Hill - Squad Leader
Molly Perry - Squad Leader

Liz Anderson

Annalise Austin

Rachel Beckstrand

Erika Bishop

Megan Bruening

Angela Carrign

Amber Frandsen
Larisa Hayden
Kaytlen Jones

Tarryn Lillian

Nikki Merrill

Sarah Nasson
Rachel Nufer

Sarah Toller
Corina Williams

National Dance Day 2011

Hey Everyone, Dance Day is coming July 30th. Here's a fun, simple, and upbeat routine you can learn!!! Get some friends together and get up and move! All future guard members please learn this so we can bust it out sometime during the season for fun :D. Cant wait to see you all soon. Remember Camp starts Sat Aug 20.

BYU GUARD AUDITIONS

Hey girls auditions are THIS SATURDAY!

Saturday April 9th
10am-4pm


Auditions will be videotaped for further review.

Cant wait to see you there, don't be stressed out, this will be a fun experience :)

...If you haven't filled out an intent to audition form yet, it's not too late just go to http://bands.byu.edu/forms/intent_to_audition.php

There will also be a second Audition at the end of June for those of you not able to come in April.

Remember if you cant make it to any live audition you can submit a video audition.
Go to http://bands.byu.edu/information/auditions_guard.html for more information.
(Don't Stress about video auditions! All the requirements are on the web page. We will be sending out links for info on how to do everything for those of you who are intending to submit a video, it doesn't have to be fancy, just use your flip or camera to video yourself doing the requirements in your back yard, and send the file to achatterton@byu.edu)

One helpful hint: how to get to the Cougar marching band hall in the stadium--go in the west entrance across from the parking lot, turn right and go until you see some stairs to your left go up those and down the hall to through the door at the end and up some more stairs to reach the room.