Date night and Brendan in the news

Friday Sam and I were able to go on our first real date since Brendan was born. We have left him a few times with one of the Grandmas, but it has never been so just the two of us can go out together. We went to Olive Garden and then to see James Bond Quantum of Solace. It was so nice to get out and relax and just be together. We definitely need to go out together more often. I think both Grandmas would agree with that since it means they get to watch him!

Two Fridays ago (Jan. 16th) Sam, Brendan and I went the Utes Parade downtown with Sam's family. We watched the parade and then followed the crowd down to Washington Square. Brendan was a little confused on how thing like this worked; every time the crowd would yell he was silent and when the crowd quieted down Brendan would yell. He'll get the hang of it someday. While watching the parade a reportor from the Salt Lake Tribune stopped by and spoke to our family. The next morning we got 3 phone calls telling us that Brendan was in the newspaper! Two and a half months and already a celebrity!

Ute salute! Parade honors team
Downtown » No crash yet from the big Sugar rush
By Anna Kartashova And María VillaseÑor
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 01/16/2009 07:16:23 PM MST

Brendan Brito began watching football games with his dad toward the end of the Utes' undefeated season.

But Brendan didn't jump on the bandwagon; he wasn't born until two days before Nov. 6's Utah-TCU game.

The 2-month-old joined the rest of the Brito clan and thousands of Ute fans Friday along State Street at a parade for the nation's No. 2 team.

"We knew it was going to be a good year, but we didn't know it was going to be that good," said Joey Brito, who graduated from the U. in 1980 and hopes his grandson Brendan attends his alma mater.

"What a great day to be a Ute," said University of Utah President Michael Young at the beginning of his speech at Washington Square.

"To see this turnout and the entire state rally for a team like this, you can't ask for a better way to go out," said Ute kicker Louie Sakoda after the rally.

About 500 Mighty Utah Student Section members, most in Utah T-shirts, walked in the parade behind the team, said Brynn Whitchurch, MUSS coordinator.

"The best part of that stadium each and every Saturday is the MUSS section," said Utes coach Kyle Whittingham.

"We wanted to bring this back home to you guys," said quarterback Brian Johnson. "The fans deserve it. The MUSS deserves it."

"The Utah football team is our pride and joy," said Terri Jackson, known as the "Crazy Lady" to many MUSS fans. "Come win or lose you cheer them on. No matter what."

Jackson is also a big Whittingham fan.

"He was under the shadow of [former head coach] Urban [Meyer]," Jackson said. "This is truly Kyle's team, and look what he's done."

Speaking at the rally, U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson quipped the BCS is so bad, it's surprising that it wasn't created by Congress. Many T-shirts seen along the parade route read "Bogus Corrupt System."

Gov. Jon Huntsman said he has mulled giving Florida Gov. Charlie Crist a call to arrange what he called an "Extreme Ultimate Playoff Game." Huntsman told the crowd he would let Crist choose the site.

"Utes, Gators, neutral site, winner takes all," Whittingham added.

Salt Lake City resident Chris Evans graduated from the U. in 1996, and became a Utes fan when he started school in 1991.

Since then, Evans has become a FUSS member, a version of the MUSS for former students, began utefans.net and takes his 7-year-old daughter to support the Utes.

"She'll pay attention to some of the game and get excited when we get excited," he said.