Do you know the mascot of the Cougars' opponent this Friday?

Having traveled to each BYU (yes Provo, Rexburg, and Laie, except Jerusalem)campus within the same calendar year this year, I figured I was the primary candidate for delivering an in-depth analysis of the Cougars highly anticipated match-up this week pitting the

#24 ranked-Brigham Young University Cougars


vs.

#24 ranked-Brigham Young Universtiy-Hawaii Seasiders

How is this humanly possible to have both teams ranked 24th you say. Nevermind the fact that there are two major polls (Coaches and AP), the Seasiders play in the NCAA Division II level and are currently ranked in the preseason poll for the first time ever. Meanwhile, BYU is ranked in the AP poll, but not the Coaches Poll (baloney you say, surely they must be joking ... well they are not and their name isn't Shirley. Ah yes, classic line from a classic movie:

Rumack: Can you fly this plane, and land it?
Ted Striker: Surely you can't be serious.
Rumack: I am serious... and don't call me Shirley.)

Anywho, back at the ranch:

Here is the skinny on the Seasiders:

Name of school: Brigham Young University-Hawaii
City/Zip: Laie, HI 96762
Founded: 1955
Enrollment: 2,400
Nickname: Seasiders
School colors: Crimson, Gold and Gray
Arena/Gym Name: Cannon Activities Center
Capacity: 4,500
Affiliation: NCAA II
Conference: Pacific West
President: Dr. Steven C. Wheelwright
Alma Mater: Stanford
Athletics Director: Ken Wagner
Head Coach: Ken Wagner
Alma Mater,Year: Brigham Young/1979
Best Final Ranking: 12th

The Low Down on BYU:


Name of school: Brigham Young University
City/Zip: Provo, UT 84602
Founded: 1875
Enrollment:

Official BYU Enrollments*
Daytime full-time and 3/4 time students
Year	Fall Enrollment	Winter Enrollment
2010	30,558	29,794
2009	30,533	29,358
2008	30,500	29,137
2007	30,426	29,004
2006	30,090	29,271
2005	30,492	29,581
2004	30,633	29,231
2003	30,372	29,361
2002	29,796	29,227
2001	30,234	29,157
2000	30,069	29,217
1999	30,301	29,246
1998	29,930	28,274
1997	29,011	27,176

*Does not include 1/2 time students.

Nickname: Cougars
School colors: Navy and White
Arena/Gym Name: Marriott Center
Capacity: 22,700
Affiliation: NCAA I
Conference: The Mountain West Conference
President: Dr. Cecil O. Samuelson
Alma Mater: University of Utah
Athletics Director: Tom Holmoe
Head Coach: Dave Rose, Survivor
Alma Mater,Year: University of Houston (can anyone say "Phi Slama Jama"?)


Can you name the only player from BYU-Hawaii that was drafted in the NBA? Believe it or not, it is Yuta Tabuse from Japan.




Of course, we've had a couple as well.

One, Shawn Bradley.

You may have heard of this guy, Danny Ainge


He was also drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Anyway, I could go on and on, but my ADD tells me that it is time to end this post.

Just my last question. As a fan of BYU do you really want them to beat BYU-Hawaii badly. Of course you don't want BYU to lose, but cheering against the Seasiders almost seems like eating your young doesn't it? Is there going to be any jeering or popping off from the student section? Any "sit-down!" from the stands if a BYU-H player fouls out. Or do you think there will be cheers all around.

Either way, you have to feel like a winner all around if either team wins, because "Hey, go team Mormon, right?"