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SALT LAKE CITY — If you were in the stands at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Sept. 11, you had the privilege of watching three members of the Navy's Leap Frogs parachute into the stadium before the Utes vs. Aggies game.
If you weren't there, don't fret. The Navy released a first-person video to give a full taste of what you missed, just from a different point of view.
While watching a team of precision aerialists from the ground is a treat, it's a different experience in the sky. The jump was filmed with a GoPro camera strapped to Special Warfare Operator First Class Brandon Peterson. The video shows what Peterson sees as he leaps from a plane and guides himself toward Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Peterson has a great view of the valley as he maneuvers toward the field, and he lands perfectly with the Navy Band Northwest and a cheering throng to welcome him. To add an extra touch of fun to the precise yet death defying feat, Peterson jumped with the game ball, which he hands to U. mascot Swoop seconds after landing.
Leap Frogs members Trevor Thompson and Jim Woods also parachuted into the stadium.
The Leap Frogs are a precision aerial maneuvers team that performs and demonstrates around the country to support Navy public outreach and "bring America's Navy closer to the people it protects," according to a news release.
Salt Lake was the 10th of 12 cities chosen to host a Navy Week in 2015. Navy groups attended the Utah State Fair and functions at the library, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, Utah State and more from Sept. 7-13.
And, in case you didn't know, the Utes beat the Aggies on Sept. 11, spurring the team's rise to No. 21 in national rankings.
