After a 4-9 campaign in 2017 and a long offseason, fans finally got their first chance to see the new-look BYU Cougars on Saturday night against the Arizona Wildcats.
Here are some of the things Twitter users had to say about the action on the field.
VICTORY
There were certainly some strong reactions to the Cougars' win after last season's struggles.
MOOD#BYUFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/uM8k3GmACG
— Jessica (@YFanGirlJ) September 2, 2018
Me trying to hold it in right now. #BYUFootballBaby! pic.twitter.com/ZPawcdU3za
— Lauren McClain (@LaurenFMcClain) September 2, 2018
The ol' SI cover curse took out it's full wrath on Khalil Tate. Praise the SI cover curse gods. 🙏🏼
— Steve Bartle (@SBartle247) September 2, 2018
BYU BACK
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) September 2, 2018
BYU moves into sole possession of first place in the PAC 12 with that win over Arizona.
— Robby McCombs (@rtmccombs) September 2, 2018
Moral victory: ✔
— LJ (@LJoyce11) September 2, 2018
Real victory: ✔
This feels good. #GoCougs https://t.co/mPMcYDfOdF
Hats off to @Squally_Canada. I will be honest, I doubted him. I am so happy to have been wrong and I apologize.
— Doc 'I'm your huckleberry' Holliday (@ksav07) September 2, 2018
I haven’t seen Kalani smile like this since last time we beat Arizona. I love the swag. We are back. I love this team. STAY WOKE! #GoCougs
— Jonny Linehan (@jlinehan9) September 2, 2018
— Boney Fuller (@boneyfuller) September 2, 2018
TOUCHDOWN!
Following a season in which the Cougars had one of the worst offenses in all of college football, they struck first on Saturday thanks to a Squally Canada rushing touchdown, and fans were certainly pleased.
GUYS I AM EXCITED BY BYU FOOTBALL THIS IS FUN LETS GOOOOOO
— Robby McCombs (@rtmccombs) September 2, 2018
MY SOUL HAS AWAKENED FROM A YEAR LONG SLUMBER
— hobo (@hobocita) September 2, 2018
RISE AND SHOUT
— Ryan Reynolds (@ryfish65) September 2, 2018
This BYU team is looking strangely competent on both sides of the ball. 🤷♂️
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) September 2, 2018
NOT SO FAST...
The excitement over scoring first pretty quickly gave way to frustration as BYU surrendered 10 straight points and entered halftime trailing by a field goal.
Fans were particularly flustered when the Wildcats scored a touchdown with less than a minute before intermission and then the Cougars opted to run out the clock instead of move downfield.
BYU handed Arizona 30 penalty yards on that drive. Tate doesn't need that kind of help to pick a defense apart.
— Jeff Hansen (@rakoto10) September 2, 2018
Why no Hail Mary?
— Mark Durrant (@DurrantMark) September 2, 2018
Why not call a timeout and call Tanner’s favorite play? #hailmary
— Jackson Emery (@jacksonemery04) September 2, 2018
TANNER MANGUM
A number of fans were frustrated by quarterback Tanner Mangum's play.
I love Tanner Mangum, but he's just been so wildly inaccurate. Missed the deep ball for an easy TD. Underthrown receivers at least 5 times. Needs to be much better.
— Kevin Gordon (@cougarfan) September 2, 2018
Tanner Mangum is garbage lol.
— jam (@jamisinn) September 2, 2018
Same old Tanner Mangum from last year. Can't throw an accurate pass, especially if he has to move around. If he is the best QB BYU has its going to be a LONG season. Dont know how he won the starting job?
— Lyle Long (@Lord_Lyle) September 2, 2018