What Readers Say
This book is a must read for BYU fans, who typically observe the history of Cougar athletics from the outside looking in. Val takes fans on an enjoyable journey that gives them a rare glimpse of history from the inside looking out.
Gary Herbert
Utah's 17th Governor
Reading this book was like going behind the scenes of my favorite show, BYU sports. Val Hale brings already familiar characters to life and tells tremendous stories that I can't believe weren't already in Cougar lore.
Peter Glahn
High School Principal
Val's memoir is a delightful journey through the length and breadth of BYU athletics. Over the course of three decades, he went from athlete to intern to administrator to director of athletics based on tenacity and vision and plain hard work. I trusted him completely.
Rondo Fehlberg
BYU's 8th Athletic Director
​If you are a new or casual sports fan, or a lifetime Cougar fan like me, this book is for you. As a father who whose daughter ran x-country and track and whose son-in-law played football for the Cougs, I enjoyed small glimpses of the game behind the game, the student-athletes and their stories. In Out of the Blue: An insider’s look at the rise of BYU athletics, Val gives you a front-row seat into the BYU athletic program and what it’s like to make decisions about the program and the reasons behind how they were made. It’s like eating a Cougar Tail and will bring a smile to your face as you savor its awesomeness.
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Kib Jensen
BYU Alum, Athlete Dad and Lifetime Cougar Fan
It's better than I thought it would be.
Nancy Hale
Author's Wife
Hale is a gifted writer, and his book is entertaining, informative and enlightening. I enjoyed his storytelling and descriptions of relationships, key personalities, both superstars and behind-the-scenes personnel who rarely got credit but were valuable cogs in making BYU what it is today.