BYUtv leaves the competition behind with “Big Stories”

Football is great at turning people against each other.

In a sport where one of the main goals is to hit the opposing team harder than they can hit you, there’s often no love lost.

On social media, fans argue in an endless loop about who has the most trophies, the best jersey or the brighter future.

But a week before the BYU football game, BYUtv does what most schools don’t: Give their opponents a shout-out.

“Big Stories,” a segment BYUtv debuts when the university joins the Big 12 conference in 2023, is a weekly feature (one on TV and another on radio) that highlights figures with ties to the opposing university.

These stories are heartfelt, inspiring, and shine a positive light on their enemies.

“It’s just a way to help other people see the good in the other schools we play against,” said Brandon Crow, executive producer of BYUtv’s “Big Stories.”

“We wanted to help break down the mentality that these people are our enemies because we’re trying to defeat them,” Crow said. “We forget the fact that they are humans too. After all, we are just playing a game.”

Before BYU’s season opener against Southern Illinois, BYUtv highlighted Saluki running back Kayleb Wagner, who was born without a left forearm and hand. Wagner is active with NubAbility, an organization that hosts youth sports camps for children with limb differences.

“It’s really cool because you don’t see many people like you in your hometown,” said one camp participant. “That’s why it’s so fun to come here to meet people like you.”

Wagner is an inspiration to a community of children who believe they can be like him when they grow up.

While it’s a simple concept, opposing schools were confused when BYUtv reached out and explained what their goal was.

“You want to make a story about us?” schools told Crow and BYUtv. “Once they realized we were just trying to be genuine and tell great stories, they were pretty excited about it.”

Where “Big Stories” really started to gain national attention was last season when BYU traveled to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to face the Arkansas Razorbacks in week three.

Razorback fans, disappointed with the amount of coverage from their conference on the SEC Network, saw that the content was being produced by a school 1,268 miles away and welcomed it with open arms.

“The content produced by BYU on the Razorbacks may surpass the content the SEC Network puts together throughout the entire football season,” wrote ALL HOGS reporter Kent Smith in Sports Illustrated.

BYUtv’s actions to show love to its competitors are “a powerful example of what true hospitality looks like,” according to Smith.

The “Great Stories” major goes hand in hand with the University’s mission to be “in service to humanity,” and that’s what Crow loves about being a storyteller.

“It’s a very humbling thing, especially when you sit down in front of someone and say, ‘Tell me what you’re going through,’ especially when you’ve just met them,” Crow said. “It’s such a sacred thing for them to open up to you and be vulnerable and show emotion… because it’s so sacred to them that it becomes sacred to you, too.”

Subjects appreciated having their stories told.

For BYU’s game against Wyoming, BYUtv told the story of Jacey Hupp, a rodeo coach at the University of Wyoming who lost family members in a home explosion.

The story was inspiring but heavy and dealt with many sensitive issues facing the Hupp family.

“They were hesitant at first,” said Crow, recalling discussions with Hupp and his family.

Crow didn’t know what the reception would be like, but after the episode aired and was available on all BYUtv platforms, Crow received a message from Hupp stating that he was “very pleased (BYUtv) was able to do this.”

Next week, BYUtv will even produce segments for the “Holy War” rivalry matchup with the University of Utah.

“You can find good everywhere, even in an opponent like Utah,” Crow said. “Hopefully with these stories — even if it’s just for a 10-minute story — we can take away the pitchforks that both sides have against each other.”

“Big Stories” can be streamed for free on BYUtv.org, BYUradio.org or @BYUSportsNation on X.