BYU is dealing with dwindling attendance, but Cougars still draw the third largest crowds in the West

Provo • An energizing season-opening win over Arizona had revitalized a fan base still sagging from last year’s disappointing season, so BYU football officials were anticipating a larger-than-normal crowd for their home opener against the Pac-12’s California on a beautiful late-summer evening in early September.It didn’t happen.Announced attendance was just 52,602 for a game the Bears won, 21-18. The attendance count was fewer than in all but two games last season. The lat