BYU, Utah football: Great coaches make great games

Published: Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008 12:16 a.m. MST
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We are living in the golden age of the BYU-Utah rivalry.

After 66 years of one-sided dominance either by Utes (1922-1971) or by the Cougars (1972-1987), the Utah-BYU game has become a rivalry in more than name only.

The strength of the programs — through the head coaches — determines how intense rivalry games are. In the last twenty years — for the first time — both programs are thriving at the same time, giving us the best matchups in the series' 87 years.

Utah dominated early on with with coaches like Ike Armstrong, Jack Curtice, Ray Nagel and Bill Meek. Armstrong outlasted five BYU coaches in his 25 years.

Decades later, LaVell Edwards turned the tables by amassing a 16-2 record against five Utes coaches. It wasn't until 1990 that he would fine a worthy foe (and friend) in Ron McBride.

In 2005, for the first time in 80 years, both programs hired new coaches — BYU's Bronco Mendenhall and Utah's Kyle Whittingham. All three games since have been down-to-wire thrillers with bowl implications on the line.

—Aaron Morton

Hudspeth 1, Nagel 1

Edwards 4, Fassell 1

Edwards 6, McBride 5

Story continues below
Crowton 1, McBride 1

Mendenhall 2, Whittingham 1

1922: Utah 49, BYU 0

1923: Utah 15, BYU 0

1924: Utah 35, BYU 6

1925: Utah 27, BYU 0

1926: Utah 40, BYU 7

1927: Utah 20, BYU 0

1928: Tie 0-0

1929: Utah 45, BYU 13

1930: Utah 34, BYU 7

1931: Utah 43, BYU 0

1932: Utah 29, BYU 0

1933: Utah 21, BYU 6

1934: Utah 43, BYU 0

1935: Utah 32, BYU 0

1936: Utah 18, BYU 0

1937: Utah 14, BYU 0

1938: Tie 7-7

1939: Utah 35, BYU 13

1940: Utah 12, BYU 6

1941: Tie 6-6

1942: No game

1943: No game

1942: No game

1942: No game

1942: No game

1946: Utah 35, BYU 6

1947: Utah 28, BYU 6

1948: Utah 30, BYU 0

1949: Utah 38, BYU 0

1950: Tie, 28-28

1951: Utah 7, BYU 6

1952: Utah 34, BYU 6

1953: Utah 33, BYU 32

1954: Utah 12, BYU 7

1955: Utah 41, BYU 9

1956: Utah 41, BYU 6

1957: Utah 27, BYU 0

1958: BYU 14, Utah 7

1959: Utah 20, BYU 8

1960: Utah 17, BYU 0

1961: Utah 21, BYU 20

1962: Utah 35, BYU 20

1963: Utah 15, BYU 6

1964: Utah 47, BYU 13

1965: BYU 25, Utah 20

1966: BYU 35, Utah 13

1967: BYU 17, Utah 13

1968: Utah 30, BYU 21

1969: Utah 16, BYU 6

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