U. owes Y. a thank you

Ute fans need to realize that had it not been for the 1996 14-0 BYU team, its 12-1 2001 team and the resulting congressional hearings that forced the pre-BCS and current BCS to relax their rules, Utah never would have had its two BCS games.

Also, letter writer Alex White (Readers' Forum, Jan. 5) talks about the character of the Utah team. Not once have their players or coaches ever expressed thanks to the other team for playing a good game or helping Utah to become better. Yet BYU, its coaches and fans offered that very gesture in 2006 and 2007 when the Cougars defeated the Utes. Look at how many BYU fans wrote letters to the editor cheering on the Utes this bowl season, yet not one Utah fan wrote a letter to express well-wishes for BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl. Others like White and Jon Tracy Booth have sent in letters of "Let's kick them while they're down." Now which team and fans have the better character?

This die-hard BYU fan says "Good job, Utes!" You deserve to be national champions just like BYU was undefeated and became national champions in 1984.

Lauren Payne

Riverton