Band of Sisters

Chatter in the room died as the television panned the football field. Each of the women held her breath and as the ball was kicked off a huge sigh filled the room.

The dozen-or-so wives seemed even more nervous than their BYU husbands who they were watching play football against Tulane University on the television.

"Awwww. Cuuuttte..." a few women said as they looked back to Mataya Pitta as her husband's picture and profile flashed on the screen.

Mataya giggled and blushed. "My hubby," she said.

Michelle Kaufusi started the Wives Club two years ago after coach Bronco Mendenhall mentioned he wanted something for the 40 wives of his married players. Something for them to foster friendships and support each other. She immediately said yes. She had been doing something similar but with only the wives and players who her husband, Steve Kaufusi, coached on the defensive line.

"I love the idea of the young wives having someone to talk to and relate with, they are truly in a unique situation," said Kaufusi. "They're young and married. Their husbands' are always at school, then practice until late in the evening and then studying. It is a real challenge to be newly married and hardly see your husband."

Kori Brown, wife of wide receiver Rhen Brown, knows that feeling. She married her husband on the first day of fall camp -- the start of practices when the team meets twice a day for several weeks.

"I didn't feel like a wife," she said. "I didn't even get to cook for him because he ate breakfast, lunch and dinner with the team."

Kori dropped her husband off at practice early in the morning after they were married and came back for him in the afternoon. She felt awkward walking up to the field to watch the last part of practice but found that the other wives were very welcoming to the newlywed. They laughed and bonded instantly.

All the women have been through the same thing. For some, they've done it for several seasons. They know how lonely it gets when the men are on the road and how awkward it is to have a husband whisked away for an autograph or picture in the grocery store. They've all adapted to practice schedules and learned how to massage sore muscles.

"There are so many of us that it's a good way to have a support system," said McKinzi Hall, the president of the Wives Club who is married to star quarterback Max Hall. "It's nice to support our husbands all together."

While their husbands are away, the women get together to watch the games. Each of them bring a snack to share -- 'Y' frosted cookies, vegetables with dip and licorice -- and they gab about babies, husbands and family during the commercials. But during the game, everything is serious. They get upset when they can't see the whole team and they encourage the young men on successful plays.

"Yes!"

"Good job, boys."

"Go. Go. Go. Ruuunnn."

There's always gasps and silence when someone gets hit. When Braden Hanson got hurt in the first quarter of the game against Tulane, McKinzi did what any wife would do, she thought about her husband.

"Oh. No. That's Max's left side," said cringed.

They all agree that watching their men get hit is the hardest part of watching the game. They'll groan and cover their face with their hands. Sometimes they even get mad.

"Quit making cheap shots against my husband," growled one of the wives.

But as soon as the camera changes angle Breanna Clawson points to the screen and asks her toddler, Chesni, sitting in her lap, "Is that daddy? Where's daddy?"

Many of the women are either working full time to support their husbands, going to school or taking care of a child and some are doing all these things at the same time. But the Wives Club allows them to get out at least once a month for an activity; a fireside, community service project, picnic or sleepover.

Being a BYU football wife can be stressful and tough, admits McKinzi. "But the time goes by so fast. You have to enjoy it." For all of them it's a bit of an adjustment to get used to the celebrity status that most of their husbands' have in Utah County.

"I carry a Sharpie in my purse," laughed McKinzi, who has fans coming up to her and her husband all the time when they are out. "It really is such an amazing experience to be a part of the BYU football life."

For those simple moments when the games are over and the interviews are finished and they catch a subtle wave or nod from their husbands as they walk off the field, it's all worth it.

And to have a group of girlfriends who understand the stresses, the nervousness and the excitement makes it even better.

"It's more than a club, it's a group of sisters," said Kori Brown.