Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
LEARN MORE: utahvalley.com/first-down-provo
BYU Alumni Association executive director Michael Johansen returns to the Y's Guys for what the hosts joke is a near-record third or fourth appearance, joining a stream packed with fans tuning in from New Zealand, Chile, Singapore and Canada. He shares his excitement for Saturday's season opener at LaVell Edwards Stadium, talks up St. George's surprisingly deep BYU fan base, and previews another season of the alumni association's ice-cream giveaways for visiting fans.
Michael then announces a brand-new home-game tradition called "Bringing It Home," anchored by a September 11 season-kickoff celebration in downtown Provo called First Down Provo — built around a food drive benefiting Community Action Services and Food Bank, in partnership with Explore Utah Valley's Lee Adamson and Utah County Commissioner Skyler Beltran. He also tells the origin story of BYU's beloved visiting-fan ice cream tradition, which started around 2018 and has grown popular enough that outside donors now ask to help fund it, and plugs Portal G as a spot where fans can pitch in and volunteer themselves during games.
Looking ahead to BYU's road slate, Michael discusses the alumni association's expanding service projects in cities like Fort Collins, Fort Worth, Orlando, Salt Lake City and Lawrence, Kansas, noting that tailgate attendance nearly doubled last year to 26,500 people. He highlights a repeat service project at UCF benefiting the Knights Pantry, the school's student food pantry, before the segment wraps on a lighter note with his wife, Katrina, joining him in studio for the visit.
#YsGuys #BYUFootball #BYUCougars #CougarNation #MichaelJohanson #BYUAlumni #BringingItHome #FirstDownProvo #CougsCare #StGeorgeUtah #GoCougs #Big12Football #LaVellEdwardsStadium #NotreDame #UCF #KnightsPantry #ProvoUtah #CommunityService #TailgateSeason #BYUAthletics #lds
Timestamps (approximate):
0:00 – Welcoming Michael Back for a Near-Record Fourth Appearance
0:36 – A Global Audience: Fans Tuning In From New Zealand, Chile & Singapore
1:07 – What Michael's Most Excited About for Saturday's Opener
2:15 – What a New Season Means From an Alumni Director's Perspective
3:18 – Announcing "Bringing It Home": A New Home-Game Service Tradition
4:51 – Where to Find Info on First Down Provo
6:03 – The Origin Story of BYU's Ice Cream Tradition for Visiting Fans
7:34 – Portal G: How Fans Can Volunteer to Help
8:43 – How Galvanizing Are Road Games for Cougar Nation?
9:59 – A Repeat Service Project at UCF's Knights Pantry
11:15 – Sign-Off: See You Saturday
LEARN MORE: utahvalley.com/first-down-provo
BYU Alumni Association executive director Michael Johansen returns to the Y's Guys for what the hosts joke is a near-record third or fourth appearance, joining a stream packed with fans tuning in from New Zealand, Chile, Singapore and Canada. He shares his excitement for Saturday's season opener at LaVell Edwards Stadium, talks up St. George's surprisingly deep BYU fan base, and previews another season of the alumni association's ice-cream giveaways for visiting fans.
Michael then announces a brand-new home-game tradition called "Bringing It Home," anchored by a September 11 season-kickoff celebration in downtown Provo called First Down Provo — built around a food drive benefiting Community Action Services and Food Bank, in partnership with Explore Utah Valley's Lee Adamson and Utah County Commissioner Skyler Beltran. He also tells the origin story of BYU's beloved visiting-fan ice cream tradition, which started around 2018 and has grown popular enough that outside donors now ask to help fund it, and plugs Portal G as a spot where fans can pitch in and volunteer themselves during games.
Looking ahead to BYU's road slate, Michael discusses the alumni association's expanding service projects in cities like Fort Collins, Fort Worth, Orlando, Salt Lake City and Lawrence, Kansas, noting that tailgate attendance nearly doubled last year to 26,500 people. He highlights a repeat service project at UCF benefiting the Knights Pantry, the school's student food pantry, before the segment wraps on a lighter note with his wife, Katrina, joining him in studio for the visit.
#YsGuys #BYUFootball #BYUCougars #CougarNation #MichaelJohanson #BYUAlumni #BringingItHome #FirstDownProvo #CougsCare #StGeorgeUtah #GoCougs #Big12Football #LaVellEdwardsStadium #NotreDame #UCF #KnightsPantry #ProvoUtah #CommunityService #TailgateSeason #BYUAthletics #lds
Timestamps (approximate):
0:00 – Welcoming Michael Back for a Near-Record Fourth Appearance
0:36 – A Global Audience: Fans Tuning In From New Zealand, Chile & Singapore
1:07 – What Michael's Most Excited About for Saturday's Opener
2:15 – What a New Season Means From an Alumni Director's Perspective
3:18 – Announcing "Bringing It Home": A New Home-Game Service Tradition
4:51 – Where to Find Info on First Down Provo
6:03 – The Origin Story of BYU's Ice Cream Tradition for Visiting Fans
7:34 – Portal G: How Fans Can Volunteer to Help
8:43 – How Galvanizing Are Road Games for Cougar Nation?
9:59 – A Repeat Service Project at UCF's Knights Pantry
11:15 – Sign-Off: See You Saturday
