This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Nate Harris thought his van was going to the shop to get the air conditioner fixed.

It was fixed. And then there were a few other changes.

Like the television in the front of the van. New rims and tires in the wheel wells. And the red stripe around the length of the 15-seater van decorated with Utah logos and covered in memorabilia in the interior.

Harris, a 27-year-old Iraq War veteran, was taken by surprise on Saturday when he learned that five boys he met where he lives at American Fork Heritage Care Center had championed an effort to get the lifelong Utah football fan some extra perks for his post-combat life.

Among the surprises Harris received the morning of Utah's spring game: his modified van, a halftime recognition from the Utes, football and basketball season tickets, a Utah watch by Rockwell and a tailgate party catered by MacCool's Public House.

"I'm so happy," he said. "I've been a Utah fan all my life."

Harris' life was profoundly changed when he suffered a seizure while driving in 2008. He uses a wheelchair and has extensive scarring from his accident.

Two local boys, 9-year-old Tate Fisher and 8-year-old Benjamin Hansen, met Harris when they were caroling with their Cub Scout troop last Christmas. They brought in some friends and relatives, including 11-year-old Noah Fisher, 14-year-old Canyon Mills and 11-year-old Isaac Mills, to raise money to offer him some gratitude for his military service.

They raised $9,000 for Harris, and got him more than they bargained for after a local TV station picked up their story.

"The whole time we rode up in the morning, he kept saying, 'I love this van, I love this van,'" Mills said. "We wanted to do something because he's a veteran and such a huge Utah fan."

The boys got some adult assistance as well, and Utah helped pitch in with tickets to give Harris a huge thrill. His stepfather, Myles Judd, said the family has been overwhelmed by the support.

"We didn't expect this at all," he said. "We kind of can't believe all of this happened; it really came out of nowhere. It's amazing to see what the community has done."

Slimmed-down Mitchell stars

After last year's spring game, Scott Mitchell worked up the nerve to go down to KSL-TV to audition for "The Biggest Loser," then he lost it.

Part of his fear back then, he explained, was coming back to see his fellow alumni the next year and biting his lip for their reactions after he went on national television to deal with his ballooning weight, which was then over 350 pounds.

"It's amazing how much things have changed in just a year," Mitchell said, smile creases forming around his now much-thinner face. "I was really worried about going on the show and admitting I had a problem. I thought people would judge me since I had let myself go, but everyone has been so supportive."

The former Utes quarterback did eventually end up on the show, lost 126 pounds and wrote a book, "Alive Again," about his transformative experience. It's been a whirlwind of a year, Mitchell said, and it's turned out for the best. To keep a reminder of how far he's come, he printed a picture of him playing in last year's alumni game in his book.

One thing that hasn't changed as much: his game. He helped lead the White team to a 20-6 victory in Utah's annual touch football game with past greats. He threw the final touchdown pass.

"It was fun today," he said. "You always like to win. I enjoy this every year. It's good to be able to do this and move around a little bit."

Finally, mobility was one of Mitchell's strong suits.

Briefly

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said Reggie Porter has secured the starting cornerback spot opposite Dominique Hatfield. He wasn't the only cornerback standout, however, as Brian Allen had an interception and another near-pick. … Among his spring standouts, co-offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick named Bubba Poole as a player who made an impression and solidified an offensive role. … Walk-on running back James Gray was injured on his third carry of the game. He was helped off the field by the training staff and did not return.