Utah turns tragedy into touching tradition
On Christmas Day 2020, tragedy struck the University of Utah football program. Only one day after being named Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, Utes running back Ty Jordan was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The Utah athletics department founded a memorial scholarship in Jordan’s honor, with the award going to a Utes football player “who exemplifies the inspiring qualities that Jordan displayed through his work ethic, positivity, and perseverance through adversity.” The first recipient was Aaron Lowe, Ty Jordan’s close friend and teammate, both in high school and at Utah. As further tribute to Jordan’s life and legacy, Lowe switched his jersey number to 22, the number Jordan had worn during his stellar freshman campaign.
Only 9 months later, the Utah football program was hit with another devastating loss, as Aaron Lowe — the one chosen to carry on the legacy of his longtime friend, Ty Jordan — was gunned down outside of a Salt Lake City house party while celebrating the team’s victory over Washington State earlier in the day.
The loss of both young men sent shockwaves through the University of Utah community. As the 2021 season progressed, the football program decided to retire the number 22 in their honor.
Then, during the Pac-12 Championship Game, the school decided to honor the fallen players with a special tribute between the third and fourth quarters. Instead of a traditional moment of silence, the Utes opted for the opposite — a 22-second Moment of Loudness, in which Utah fans were asked to fill Rice-Eccles Stadium with joyful noise to celebrate the lives of Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe.
The tribute was repeated during the 2022 football season and has since become a pre-4th quarter tradition for Utah home football games. Having experienced it firsthand during Utah’s 2023 season opener against Florida, I can attest that it is a goosebumps-inducing tribute to former players gone too soon, as well as a reminder of the power of community.
Check out the video below to experience Utah’s Moment of Loudness, one of college football’s greatest new traditions:
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