PROVO, Utah – Louisiana Tech and Utah Jazz legend Karl Malone is an iconic figure in both Louisiana and Utah. For the first-time ever Malone’s Bulldogs will be facing the BYU Cougars tonight in Provo.

Last week, BYU Marketing put up cardboard cutouts of popular celebrities in the stands from both BYU and the state of Utah. Malone was one of those celebrities in the stands.

That cardboard cutout of Malone is still on location at LaVell Edwards Stadium, where no fans will be in attendance tonight due to COVID-19 restrictions in the city of Provo passed down by Governor Gary Herbert.

LA Tech’s equipment staff made sure Malone was supporting his alma mater for tonight’s game. The Bulldog equipment staff tweeted out a photo of the cardboard Malone from LES.

@TheDeliverer_32 is here for the BYU game and repping the right colors now!!🔴🔵🐶 pic.twitter.com/eUYgY29lag

— Louisiana Tech Equipment (@LATechEquipment) October 2, 2020

Malone played at LA Tech from 1982-1985 and in those three years in Ruston, Malone averaged 18.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, and shot 56 percent from the field. The Utah Jazz selected “The Mailman” with the 13th pick in the 1985 Draft.

Karl Malone connections to BYU

Malone has strong ties to the LA Tech program, but members of his family also have connections to BYU. Karl’s son, KJ, played at LSU for BYU offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes who was the Tigers offensive line coach. BYU offensive line coach Eric Mateos was a grad assistant who worked with Malone as well.

No. 22 BYU and Louisiana Tech kick off tonight at 7 p.m. (MDT) and you can watch the game on ESPN2 and listen on KSL NewsRadio, your legacy home of the BYU Cougars.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.