Oral Histories

Voices of the Fight Song

Every person who has ever sung Rise & Shout carries a piece of its history. These are their stories — in their own words.

200+Oral histories collected

Since 2019, we've recorded more than 200 oral histories with BYU fans, players, band members, coaches, and alumni. Each interview captures a unique perspective on what the fight song means — and why it endures. Browse the collection below, or use the filters to find stories by category.

alumni

18 minRecorded 2021

Harold Jensen

BYU Alumni, Class of 1972

“The first time I heard Rise & Shout in LaVell Edwards Stadium, I felt something shift. It wasn't just a song — it was a declaration.”

Harold Jensen attended BYU from 1968 to 1972, during a transformative era for the football program. In this interview, he recalls the first time he heard the fight song performed at full volume in a packed stadium — and how it changed his relationship with the university.

1970sLaVell Edwards StadiumGame Day

band

32 minRecorded 2022

Margaret Olsen

Former Marching Band Director, 1985–2003

“I conducted that song hundreds of times. Every single time, the crowd came alive. You can't manufacture that kind of energy.”

Margaret Olsen directed the BYU Cougar Marching Band for nearly two decades. She discusses the musical history of Rise & Shout, the challenges of arranging it for different ensembles, and the moment she knew the song had taken on a life of its own.

Marching BandMusic History1990s

players

24 minRecorded 2020

David Kimball

BYU Football, Running Back, 1988–1991

“Running out of that tunnel and hearing 65,000 people sing Rise & Shout — that's something you carry with you forever.”

David Kimball played running back for the Cougars during one of the program's most celebrated eras. He talks about the pregame ritual, the emotional weight of the fight song, and what it meant to represent BYU on the field.

Football1990sGame DayTunnel Walk

alumni

41 minRecorded 2023

Ruth Christensen

BYU Alumni, Class of 1958

“We didn't have a big stadium back then. But when we sang that song, it felt like the whole world was listening.”

Ruth Christensen is one of our oldest interviewees, with memories stretching back to the late 1950s. Her account of early game-day culture at BYU offers a rare window into the fight song's origins as a community tradition.

1950sEarly HistoryCommunity

players

27 minRecorded 2022

James Taylor

BYU Football, Linebacker, 2001–2005

“That song was fuel. You heard it and you knew — this is what we're fighting for.”

James Taylor came to BYU from outside Utah and describes how the fight song became his entry point into Cougar culture. He reflects on the role of music in team identity and what it meant to earn the right to hear it after a win.

Football2000sTeam Culture

fans

22 minRecorded 2023

Carol Anderson

Season Ticket Holder since 1979

“My kids grew up singing that song. Now my grandkids know every word. That's what a fight song is supposed to do.”

Carol Anderson has attended BYU games for over four decades. Her interview traces the fight song through three generations of her family — from her first game as a young mother to teaching her grandchildren the words in the stands.

FansFamilyTraditionMulti-generational

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