This is my prediction — there will be more BYU fans in the stands Saturday than there are fans from other universities that come to Ann Arbor. About half of our (LDS) ward will be here. – President Steven A. Hedquist
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — For Detroit Michigan LDS Temple President Steven A. Hedquist, Saturday’s BYU-Michigan game at the Big House is a matchup he’s been hoping would happen for a long, long time.
Back in 1987, President Hedquist and his family moved from their home in Utah to Ann Arbor so he could serve as LDS Institute of Religion Director at the University of Michigan.
“I’ve been here ever since,” he said.
President Hedquist served in that position until his retirement in 2002, though he still lives in Ann Arbor and maintains a close association with the school.
Over the years, President Hedquist attended many Michigan games and, as a BYU grad and fan, he wondered if the Cougars would ever play again.
“Especially since the Holiday Bowl in 1984, I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if these two teams could get together again? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if BYU and Michigan could get together sometime? I used to think that every year, when are they going to be on the same schedule?”
This fall, his wish has come true.
“When I heard it was going to happen, and happen here, I thought, ‘This can’t get any better,’” President Hedquist said. “As a Michigan/BYU fan, this is nirvana. It’s happening.”
If that weren't enough, his four sons — Chris, Paul, Shaun and Matt — and one grandson, are flying in this weekend to attend the game with him.
“We’re excited to have our children with us for a couple of days," President Hedquist said. "That’s probably more exciting than the game itself, to have our four sons here.”
So, after spending so many years on the Michigan campus, which team will President Hedquist be cheering for Saturday?
“I got an email message from our youngest son,” he said. “He wrote, ‘I went to BYU, graduated from BYU but I lived in Ann Arbor and learned to be a real Wolverine fan. But I think on Saturday, I’m going to be a BYU fan.’ You ask where my loyalties are, I feel the same way.
“On the other hand, we’ve really enjoyed being in Ann Arbor and being a part of the football culture here. It’s quite a thing. I can’t imagine there would be another college town that would be quite so electric and intense as Ann Arbor on a beautiful football Saturday. It’s the quintessential college town. The city of Ann Arbor pretty much revolves around the University of Michigan. It’s the ideal place for a college football game.”
President Hedquist said BYU will be well-represented among the crowd at the Big House.
“This is my prediction — there will be more BYU fans in the stands Saturday than there are fans from other universities that come to Ann Arbor,” he said. “About half of our (LDS) ward will be here.”
TUILOMA’S STATUS: BYU showed how much it missed nose tackle Travis Tuiloma, who suffered a knee injury at Nebraska and was scheduled to be out 4-6 weeks. He is questionable for the Michigan game. The Cougars would love to see him back in the lineup.
“That would be awesome. Travis is one of our better players on defense,” said defensive lineman Graham Rowley. “He contributes so much. I feel like we’re doing great without him, even though we do need him. We really want him back. If he’s not in class, he’s in the training room. He wants to get back. Hopefully, it’s sooner than what they think.”
ODD FRONTS: BYU has been showing some different looks defensively in recent weeks, including the use of six linebackers, to compensate for the absence of Tuiloma.
But Mendenhall said his team probably won’t do that at Michigan. “It’s not likely that we go that route. The gaps are too small, the bodies are too big and it might be an avalanche in there.”