Comments about ‘Brad Rock: Meyer, Smith contend BYU-Utah rivalry game is a must’

I am more than okay to let this thing die a natural death.

I detested going to those games. Too much hate on both sides.

Go Cougars!

@ Veritas Aequitas
Fruit Heights, UT

LOL.

Need a tissue?

Who really cares?? I can see a clear path wherein BYU's football program is diminished to nothing. At the end of the day... and in the big scheme of things ... football doesn't mean much. BYU will find that, in the end, it cannot please everybody nor can it be the 'Lord's university' and have a good football program; both.

Veritas,

That "in-state joke program" you referred to currently owns the Cougars :)

You must be having a bad day because your posts are usually thought out a little better. Utah's football program has been gaining momentum for the past 10 years, and up until a few years ago the Utes have been mainstays in the NCAA b-ball tournament. I hope the hoops tradition returns to the U soon. But lets not kid ourselves, Utah definitely has the upper hand on BYU in football right now.

Who really cares?? I can see a clear path wherein Utah's football program is diminished to nothing. At the end of the day... and in the big scheme of things ... football doesn't mean much. Utah will find that, in the end, it cannot please everybody nor can it be the competitive team its fans want it to be. You can't have mediocre recruits and end up with a good football program.

I doubt either one really cares.

@veritas aequitas

You write "Utah athletics continues to be an in-state joke". Really? Utah's football team destroyed BYU's by 44 points last year at BYU's stadium. Utah has beaten BYU's 3 out of the last 4 years, 7 out of the last 10 years, and holds an overall 55-34-4 advantage.

In basketball, Utah has won an NCAA Championship, has been to the Chanpionship game twice, has 4 Final Four appearances, and has been to the Sweet 16 ten times. Let's compare Utah's record to BYU's. The Y has no NCAA Championships, no appearances in the Championship game, no Final Four appearances, and has been to the Sweet 16 exactly once.

In light of these very telling facts, if Utah's teams are a "joke" as you say, what does this say about your BYU teams?

Whatever anybody thinks as to whether the rivalry should continue, we all recognize that the games ALWAYS mattered, were always meaningful and were always intense. In other words, they were always fun. Other than bowl games, how often did fans of either school congregate at somebody's home with a big screen and all the food to watch any other game. Sure, there are fans who have a group party for every game, but for BYU/Utah the get-togethers were ritual and nearly universal.

I think people should inundate Chris Hill with email and snail mail to let him know how the regular people think. Don't focus on the nastiness. You don't have to read the comments to articles in the Tribune, and I really doubt any Cougar fans get beer dumped on them at RES, and I know for a fact that I was able to take my Ute-fan buddy to LES with him decked out in full Utah regalia and nobody said anything negative to him.

We need this game at the end of the year. Even a 2 - 9 season is validated for the winner.

GoRed,

So while you are going back to Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble days on the hill for the football record, how about acknowledging the '70s, 80's and 90's when BYU dominated, and more to the point, while you admiring that 1944 NCAA basketball championship (btw, 1947 NIT with many of the same starters. Ute fans can't acknowledge that because then they would have to acknowledge BYU's 1951 and 1966 championships, but I digress), then why not go to Provo and admire BYU's NCAA Football CHAMPIONSHIP Trophy?

Oh, and at least get your facts straight. I don't even have to google to know BYU has been to the sweet 16 twice. Oh wait, I did Google it. Final 8 three times, final 16 seven times.

Your facts aren't telling, they are selective.

Look, 7 of 10 gets the job done. Utah has current edge, but still two top 25 football programs. Good for them. Not bad for a state with 1% of the US Population.

Also, Utah and BYU both have fine basketball traditions, and BYU has the recent edge there.

GoRed

It's hillarious how Utah fans constantly pretend that college football history began the same year college basketball history ended 2004/2005.

Comparing records during the current Bronco/Kyle and Dave Rose eras:

FOOTBALL
Top 25 Finishes
Bronco 5
Kyle 3

Top 15 Finishes
Bronco 3
Kyle 1

10+ Win Seasons
Bronco 5
Kyle 3

Conference Championships
Bronco 2
Kyle 1

Head-to-head
Bronco 3
Kyle 4

Overall
Bronco 66-24
Kyle 65-25

================

BASKETBALL
20+ Win Seasons
Rose 7
Utah 1

NCAA Tournaments
Rose 6
Utah 1

Conference Championships
Rose 4
Utah 1

Head-to-head
Rose 11
Utah 3

Overall
Rose 185-54(71%)
Utah 101-119(46%)

In light of these very telling facts, Utah's basketball program is indeed a "joke", and Utah's football program still trails BYU, even during a relatively quiet period for BYU football.

Let it die out. BYU doesn't have much to gain with these games.

@Veritas Aequitas

You are wrong about Utah being running to hide.

Although there are people on both sides who are tired of the rivalry (myself included), the game is wanted by the red and blue for the most part.

Utah has a dilemma. With 9 conference games, Utah has 3 games left to play with. There will always be one patsie, then Utah will have a BIG 10 opponent, and one more recruiting game. That one game might be BYU sometimes.

The Cougars won't except a 2 for 1. Why would they? I wouldn't. However, to keep the game going without a hiccup year, BYU will need to play at Rice Eccles in 2012 and 2013. After that, maybe we go back to alternating years.

The reason for the next two years needing to be in SLC is because the game is scheduled in SLC next year, and in 2013 Utah has 5 conference road games. Thus Utah needs two of their three non conference games to be at home.

Schedules and their ramifications are more complicated than many realize.

BYU has a strong September schedule. They need help in November, but Utah can't oblige there.

Another article about the rivalry? Can we please move on to something else?

As a season ticket holder I personally can't wait until #1 USC visits @RES!

Go UTES!

It's a stupid GAME...not life or death.

Too much emphasis is placed on the rivalry that has, over time, turned to hatred.

Campuses have to be practically locked down; opposing fans are cursed at, spit on,
called disgusting names; players are harassed and their families intimidated; the media inflame the rivalry through biased journalism; students and alumni on both sides celebrate a win as if they are prideful victors that have slaughtered a terrible enemy, and glumly take a loss as an intensely personal affront that diminishes their very being...

All of that for what? A stupid GAME.

It's not about money. Both schools make out well selling shirts, flags, stickers etc... during that week. It's a very cheap road trip. It's not about scheduling down, as we see Utah scheduling Michigan. It is about exposure, see Michigan again. But mostly, I believe, it is Utah sticking it to BYU.

Utah understands, even if most cougar fans don't want to admit it, that BYU needs the rivalry game more than Utah does right now. It's in Utah's best interest for in state recruiting to let BYU struggle to fill LES every week with good opponents. Cougar fans claim they can schedule anyone they want, especially in September. But look how many of those are 2 for 1s. When BYU is playing some WAC team and Utah is playing a PAC12 team most of the eyes in the state are on Utah.

I am all about keeping this rivalry going. Could you imagine stopping Michigan/Ohio State, Florida/Florida State, Virginia/Virginia Tech? Unthinkable! Why stop this rivalry? It's so FUN to have a rival. It brings an added demension to sports. In Nebraska, their rival has been Colorado, but they are 7 hours away from each other. When it stopped when they moved conferences, no one in Nebraska really seemed to care. They weren't true rivals. I see teams like Nebraska, Boise, and Tulsa who don't have a true rival and those fans miss out on an added dimension to being a fan. Having a rival makes one game (sometimes 2-3)a year for each sport more emotional and more enjoyable. It can bring you down or bring you high. This rivalry has been around before any of us were even alive. Why stop it because you move conferences? Personally, I'll have a bitter taste in my mouth towards Utah if they decide they are higher than the rivalry and form that SEC mentality that out of conference games can't be too tough. GIVE ME A BREAK! Keep the rivalry and keep the emotions high!

Talk about beating a dead horse........ Utah cannot afford the possible injuries by BYu cheap shots. Utah's talent level is well above the Y currently and Utah is in the 12 PAC. Utah's goals are different now and they don't include BYu any longer. It is what it is........over!

This year BYu has the worst November schedule in college football history, without question. Even if the Idaho game is on a ESPN channel, who is going to watch it? BYu's ESPN ratings were terrible last year. How is that going to change........it won't! No prestigious conference will give the Y the time of day, let alone an invite. So, when will ESPN tire of BYu and dump them? That is the million $ question????????????? I believe it will occur sooner than later, then BYu football will have a major dilemma for sure.

U-H

"Utah cannot afford the possible injuries..."

In other words, the poor whittle whimpy Utes are runnin' scared of playing the mighty Cougars.

Utah's "goal" is to schedule a couple of cupcakes every year, so when they finish with their usually losing record in the PAC 12, they can still qualify for a bowl.

The Utes, with all of their "exceptional" talent, still aren't capable of beating pathetically bad PAC 12 opponents like 10-loss Colorado.

Most of the posters here make good comments but a few fans on both sides need to lighten up. First, Utah is not dropping BYU because they are afraid to play them. Fact - U has won 7 of the last 10 and scheduled Michigan which is a much stronger program. Second, the rivalry isn't going to fade away. Might not play every year right now but doesn't mean the games are gone for good. Third - this is a football article and really a reach for posting about BB results.

If there is another 54-10 type of game this year, I think the Y fans will be glad to have a break. Focus on Boise State and ND for a while instead ...