Utah AD Helps Ute Fan Who Lost Father Attend Upcoming UCLA Game
Nov 12, 2019, 4:15 PM | Updated: 4:55 pm
Branden Hockenbury tailgating at a Utah game.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Avid University of Utah football fan, Branden Hockenbury, recently lost his father to diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. His father’s death was unexpected despite having battled both illnesses for two decades.
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Hockenbury had a dilemma. Prior to his father’s passing, Hockenbury was planning on taking his wife and four kids to the upcoming Utah football game against UCLA this Saturday. However, he now has his father’s funeral on the same day.
He did not have tickets to the UCLA game prior to his father’s passing. Funerals take a lot of planning and can cost a lot of money, especially on short notice, that’s where Utah’s athletic director Mark Harlan comes in.
Hockenbury went to Twitter and explained his dilemma.
My Dad passed away this past Saturday…
I was planning on Going to UCLA game with the Fam this weekend…
I have my Dad's funeral now on Saturday along with the #Utes game…
And I Don't have Tix yet..
If you know of 4 to 6 tix available please DM me…
TY and as always #GoUtes— GangGreenUtesFan (@SoJoBmanUtefan) November 12, 2019
Much to the surprise of Hockenbury, his tweet caught the eye of Harlan who responded, “DM me, sorry for your loss…we got you-”
DM me, sorry for your lose…we got you- https://t.co/SsjY9SIf7p
— Mark Harlan (@MarkHarlan_AD) November 12, 2019
Hockenbury said Harlan granted his promise and gave Hockenbury six tickets. Enough that he could bring his entire family to the game.
“He ended up getting me 6 tickets so my wife and 4 kids will all be with me cheering our #Utes on!” Hockenbury said via direct message on Twitter. “Laying him to rest Saturday will be rough, but Mark Harlan’s gesture of getting myself and my family tickets to the game will make a huge difference and memories that can’t be replaced!” He added.
Game Details
Utah and UCLA are scheduled to kick-off at 6 p.m. on Fox.
Both teams control their own destiny in the Pac-12 South. If Utah beats the Bruins, they will hold a buffer over the rest of the conference, while if UCLA wins out they will head to Levi’s Stadium to take on the Oregon Ducks in the title game.
NEW: @UtesEquipment and THE University of Utah reveals their new throwback uniforms and hand-painted helmets. 1⃣9⃣6⃣6⃣ #GoUtes @Utah_Football
https://t.co/uZ829cvNcI— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 12, 2019
Utah is 5-0 at home this season and UCLA is 2-2 on the road. However, the Bruins are coming off three consecutive wins and carry plenty of momentum into Rice Eccles Stadium this weekend.
