Some amazing people have given me the opportunity to be a part of a BCS Sugar Bowl Challenge which is more than likely to be one of the most exciting events that will happen in my lifetime. I am filled with excitement and want to share with the world what events will take place in this challenge and how I will strive to make my way from Salt Lake City, home of the Utes, to the BCS buster in New Orleans.
My Qwest began when some caring friends saw the value of having me, one of University of Utah’s biggest football fans, in New Orleans to experience one of the biggest games in mountain west history. I will share with you what is in store for me over the next couple of weeks.
The BCS Sugar bowl challenge had its official kick off on Monday December 14th at 7:30 pm where I received my necessary uniform and all of my marketing tools. We began at the University of Utah Stadium with some sponsor interviews and some great video footage. As I prepare for the trip to New Orleans I will be completing four tasks to personally earn some money which will help fund my journey. The tasks and dates of these tasks will be as follows:
“Massage By Berto” //Friday December 19, 2008 9:00AM: In this event I will be performing massages at Xcel Fitness @ 9:00AM to 1:00PM. For all those who would like to contribute to my cause while enjoying the smooth magic of my hands can get a personal massage by me at the rate of a minimum of $1.00 per minute. Please be sure to be on time and I want to encourage both Male and Female participants to help in this cause.
“Gateway Musical” //Saturday December 20, 2008 11:00AM: In this event I will be walking through the gateway parkway wearing my assigned sandwich sign displaying the message “Send me to the Sugar Bowl, BCS or Bust, Go Utes!” I will also be playing the song “BY-Who?” through my sweet ghetto blaster to pump up the people of Utah for the upcoming game. I hope that everyone at gateway is as excited as I am for this BCS buster and will contribute to my cause. To all of you that would like to help support please send all of your friends and family to gateway to donate at 11:00 AM.
“Date with Berto” //Monday December 22, 2008 8:00PM: In this event some of my sponsors will be auctioning me off for a date which is to take place on either Friday or Saturday the 26th or 27th of December. The silent Auction will begin the morning of the 22nd and will be closed at 8:00 PM. The minimum Female bid for this date will be $20.00 and the minimum bid for males will be $1000.00. The date of a lifetime with me will go to the highest bidder and will be filmed by a sponsor of the cause.
“Highway Donation” //Friday December 26, 2008 4:30PM: In this event I will be looking to the residents of Salt Lake City to donate to my cause by simply driving eastbound on I-215 and exiting on the 2000 east exit. This location is where I will be located with my sandwich sign displaying the message “Send me to the Sugar Bowl, BCS or Bust, Go Utes!” I am hoping all who would like to contribute will roll down your car window and either hand me or throw at me your much-needed contribution.
After completing these four tasks I will be boarding a Greyhound bus at 8:00 PM on December 29, 2008 to travel to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl. On this 2 day journey I will be making 32 stops and 3 bus changes at which point I will arrive in New Orleans at 2:30 PM December 31, 2008. Along my journey I will be required to keep a detailed Journal of all of the experiences and obstacles that I encounter. I am also going to be getting feedback from people all across our great country on their thoughts about the BCS system. I will also be collecting photos and a brief life description of all of the people that I will be encountering and getting to know along the way. As I arrive in New Orleans for the first time in my life I will be filled with excitement to ring in the new 2009 on Bourbon Street with a Mardi Gras like celebration. It will probably take me a day to shake my cloudy head and prepare for the best football game of the year. As I enter the stadium on game day I will be shirtless and displaying proudly a Red U on my chest to prove my devotion to the team. Here I will cheer my Utes to victory and begin 2009 with a trip which will go down in history as “Berto’s BCS Challenge” for generations to come!!
In addition to these events my board of sponsors have established some sponsorship packages that can be purchased which will give back to sponsors in accordance with their contribution amount. All people nationwide who wish to participate in these sponsorship packages will be much appreciated and will also be the key to making this challenge work successfully. The sponsorship packages that are available for purchase are as follows:
Bronze ($5 - $19)
Hand written journal copy of my bus adventure
Silver ($20 - $29)
Bronze package
Photos of each passenger I sat next to on the bus and a short bio of this individual
5 select edited photos of my Bourbon St. journey
Gold ($30 - $74)
Bronze and Silver packages
The full unedited photo collection of my entire BCS journey
A commemorative t-shirt that documents my journey
Platinum ($75+)
Bronze, Silver, and Gold packages
I will earn you a set of beads at all costs from Bourbon St.
You receive a 4” x 4” square on my back or arms for marketing

In addition to these sponsorship packages, all who are interested may purchase space on my back or arms for advertising purposes. Please take the opportunity to donate and advertise yourself, company, or cause, in whatever way you feel fit, at this landmark national event.

For all those who wish to purchase a sponsorship package, purchase advertising space, or simply donate to the cause please email your level of contribution interest and contact info to bertochallenge@gmail.com where a sponsorship coordinator will respond to your request. All proceeds donated that are above and beyond costs of these events will be donated to the University of Utah Football Athletic Depatrtment.

Last but not least I would like to thank all of my current and future sponsors for their support in this “BERTO BCS CHALLENGE” and not to forget…GO UTES!!!!!!