Meanwhile, BYU has sold about 38,500 season tickets, more than 3,300 beyond what it had sold at the same time last year. The school hasn't even started its marketing campaign, but is expecting to sell 55,000-57,000 season tickets before the first kick.

Why tickets are selling at a record pace in a time of $4 gas and a slow economy is simple: They win at home. BYU has 12 straight home victories over the past two years. Utah is 9-3, one of those losses being a last-moment defeat to — who else? — BYU.

Besides, what's the cost of gas compared to seeing Utah beat Wyoming 50-0 as it did last year, or BYU bookending 52-7 and 55-7 wins over UNLV and Wyoming in 2006?

"Five years ago, if you'd asked me if (ticket sales) would be where it is at this point, I'd have been surprised," said Clark Livsey, BYU's ticket manager. "But things change in a hurry."

Lassiter said studies show that in tough economic times, ticket sales often rise because discretionary income stays close to home.

With that sort of interest, it stands to reason that view seating in Provo and Salt Lake is an only-while-supplies-last arrangement. Some fans have been known to buy season tickets just to be assured of seats for the final game of the season: Utah vs. BYU.

So if you're planning on being up close and personal for the big game this year, the time to buy is now. The grand finale is Nov. 22 in Salt Lake. It will probably be for the conference championship.

If not, at least you'll have a lot of company with which to commiserate.

---

E-mail: rock@desnews.com