There are plenty of reasons to cheer at college football games, but perhaps none as unexpected as this: Bella Lund, 13, thought she was being honored as Sept. 21's "Military Family of the Game" at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. What she didn't realize was that as the announcer described her as "an avid Badger fan who enjoys volleyball and cross country," her mom—Army Captain Jane Renee "JR" Lund—was standing less than 40 yards behind her.
The two hadn't seen each other since Lund deployed for Afghanistan in early April (Lund herself is a grad of UWM's veterinary school, and provided agricultural education to Afghans). The announcer explained that Lund was due back in October ... "but Bella, sometimes plans change," he said. Bella turned toward the end zone and saw her mom standing there. What happens next is, as Mashable appropriately describes it, "an emotional touchdown." Some 80,772 fans apparently agreed, and stood and clapped, reports the Wisconsin State Journal. Icing on the cake: The Badgers beat Purdue 41-10. (More uplifting news stories.)