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To everyone within the sound of my voice (which is actually nonexistent after yelling my head off this weekend!), it is with great pleasure that I announce that Our boys, Our team, Our BYU Men's Rugby team has defied all odds and won their first-ever, National Championship!!! Final score, BYU 25, Cal Berkeley 22!!! MIRACULOUS!!! (Photo by Laura Vincent)
Words cannot adequately express the emotion, the tension, and the anxiety felt during the game, nor the exhilaration, ecstasy, and sheer joy experienced by all BYU fans, present and abroad, when the referee blew the final whistle...
And to be perfectly honest, folks, the fact of the marvelous win still has not fully sunken into my spinning head! Yes, I was there... but I'm still in shock. Since last July, I have been writing on this blog with the faith that BYU would win a National Championship... but who knew for sure that it would come this year!!!
I know, I know... You're wondering how it is that the unofficial #1 BYU Rugby Fan had any doubts. Well, let me assure you that I share what I know. I say it how I see it... and if something doesn't look good, then who am I to falsely say otherwise? The fact is that Cal, the dynasty (or dinosaur, whichever you prefer), has ALWAYS been so dominant that no one, including myself, has ever been able to say with 100% confidence, "Today we will beat Cal!" So, no false hope here, just faith based on the facts as I see them...
Ironically though, I think many of us fans had more faith than in previous years... I mean, seeing BYU down at halftime isn't usually a time for high fives all around; rather, the fact that BYU had advanced in the face of similarly tough competition earlier in the tournament actually gave many of us BYU faithfuls a healthy dose of confidence... after all, it isn't every day you see Cal try-less at the end of the first half!!! To the unknowing spectator, a halftime deficit doesn't look too promising... but when that deficit is only 5 points against Cal (12-7 at the break)... well, let's just say that you have plenty of reasons to be fired up!!!
And also don't forget (the stats don't lie) that BYU has tended to be a "second-half team" this season, more often breaking their opponents' spirits in the final 20 to 30 minutes, notching points, and turning up the defense to seal the victory. Against more solid competition in this year's championship matches, BYU wasn't any different... it's just that they didn't score as many points, and they had to dig deeper than usual to bury the opposition!
Either way you cut it, my attempts to justify BYU's win are still only feeble at best... and though I could continue to rant and rave (as you know I will later!), I'll pause for now, let the emotions cool a bit, and give all of you BYU fans a chance to read up on the game, to hear all the other views and perspectives on Our boys' miraculous comeback win. The BYU Rugby team has done more than their part, and their work is done for now... but for some of us, it's only just begun! BYU Rugby Forever!!!
Read away, my fellow BYU Rugby fans:
"BYU DETHRONES CAL TO WIN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP"
"Bears Defeated by BYU in Final, 25-22"
"BYU Knocks off Cal, Wins First National Title"
"BYU scales the mountaintop"
"BYU BEATS CAL"
"AN AMAZING NIGHT FOR BYU, COLLEGE RUGBY"
"BYU rugby wins first national championship"
"National champions"
"Y. rugby club claims national title"
"Cal men fall to BYU in championship game"
"BYU stuns Cal to end five-year reign in rugby"
"Quest for Sixth Straight Title Falls at Foot of Davies, BYU"
(Photo courtesy of David Herschorn - The Daily Californian)
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Hey BYU Rugby fans, did you think the craziness of picking brackets ended with college basketball's "March Madness"? Think again! Rugby America is hosting the first ever, Men’s Division 1 Collegiate Championship bracket challenge! Check out the Sweet 16 match-ups set to take place on April 17th, and then make your picks according to the rules as outlined.
BYU again faces Dartmouth in the first round of this year's playoffs. Last year's hard-fought match represented a true test for BYU... Yes, BYU walked away victorious, 48-22, but not without several mishaps along the way. Bottom line, BYU has a tough road on their way to the Big Dance, with potential match-ups against Arkansas State, Navy, Army, or #3-ranked St. Mary's, just to name a few...
So let's all hang on for the ride as BYU pushes for a 4th-consecutive Final Match appearance! Submit your picks, and support Our Boys as they again pursue the National Championship dream! B - Y - U, Cougars!
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Without further delay, BYU Rugby Forever is proud to present the Official Trailer for the upcoming BYU Rugby Highlight Video 2009! Enjoy, and feel free to share this video with your fellow fans, friends, and family!
Remember, all donations to this project will go toward subsidizing the production costs. My new goal is to raise $1,000 by April 15, two days before the BYU Rugby team plays in the Sweet 16! My sincerest thanks goes out to those who have already donated a grand total of $210! We're already a fifth of the way there! Thank you so much for your support!!! Not only will this money help subsidize my initial investment in the project, but it will also allow my camera crew to make the trip to Atlanta to film the team in National Tournament play! And a special thanks to Ben Thompson and Micah Brown for all their great filming thus far...
Please donate now to support in this great effort, to give Our team a much-deserved memento and quality bit of recognition for their hard work to become BYU's greatest sports team! Please offer a small token of support with a donation of $50 or $20 or whatever you can... just click the "Donate" button located on the sidebar to submit your contribution securely and easily online. In return for your generosity, you will receive a DVD or Blu-ray copy of the final product with my compliments.
Thank you. I have sacrificed much for this honor to become a reality... and it has all been worth it. I invite you to join with me in this rewarding effort as we witness Our team again approach the pinnacle of collegiate rugby! BYU Rugby Forever!
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My beloved BYU Rugby fans... if you have never taken a moment to check out the BYU Rugby photo archives this season, I encourage you to do so now. Paul Meyers has captured Our boys' finest moments as they snatched the National Title throne right out from under Cal, a moment that many of us will never forget! Please take a few minutes to enjoy the plethora of photos by clicking the following link:
