What a game!

I surely got my money’s worth of basketball last week. I sat on the bench during the USA game (more about that another week) and flew to Salt Lake City to see the game against the University of Utah. I have never seen a double overtime game before (and I'd rather not see another if Stanford is involved--too nerve-racking). The proverbial nail-biter went on and on. So close all the way. I thought we had lost more than once, but—incredibly—we won!

I was just sorry that only Wally Mersereau and I were there to represent the booster club. Player families were there in force, however:

• The “News” (Kristin Newlin’s parents drove from Wyoming),
• Jeanette’s mom and her friend from SLC, and
• Many relatives and friends of Michelle (who unfortunately could only hop around on her crutches). The Harrison clan had made posters for each of our players, and each was a unique design.

Overall we did a pretty good job of cheering our team on.

The weather in Utah was beautiful (too beautiful as the ski slopes weren’t open yet for lack of snow), and I had time to drive up Emigration Canyon and stop at Pioneer Monument State Park.
In late winter 1846 Brigham Young began a trek leading 15,000 Mormons from Nauvoo, IL. A year and a half later the party reached Big Mountain Pass and their first view of Salt Lake Valley. From near the site of the state park, Brigham Young is said to have looked down on the valley and said, “This is the place.” And thus the first company of Pioneers ended their historic trek across the plains of America.

The monument and the view:

Fun Quiz: What year did Pat Summitt coach the Olympic team?
Last week's question: What is the mascot for the University of Utah?
Answer: The University of Utah athletic teams are called the Utes, in honor of the Indian tribe in that area. The mascot is a red-tailed hawk: