#39 - Utah vs BYU

by Todd on Jul 22, 2008 10:00 AM CDT in Football

Utah vs BYU
November 22, 2008
Rice-Eccles Stadium
Salt Lake City, UT

Why?: This year's Holy War will likely be the key to the MWC, and the last year's game was probably the most exciting game none of us saw. Utah led most of the game but let it slip away with something like 40 seconds left, and also gave up a late game rally the year before to lose 31-33. Plus, I have a total fascination with rivalries like these, the ones that aren't as hyped as the Iron Bowl or Michigan/tOSU, but are no less intense for the fans involved. I'd love to attend one of these some day.

Who do I think will win?: This one is hard to call before the season starts. The Utes started off soft last season before going on a seven game tear that had them at 8-3 going into the Holy War, and rebounded to outshoot Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl 35-32 (though there was a bit of controversy involved) and end the season with a win. BYU, meanwhile, wound up at 11-2 with back to back early season losses at UCLA (whom the Utes pounded 44-6 a week later) and Tulsa (a heartbreaking shootout at 47-55), and a revenge win over the Bruins in the Las Vegas Bowl. Both teams return the core of their offenses (Utah has 14 returning starters with 8 on offense, and BYU has 12, with 9 on offense), and Utah should actually be even better than that number suggests with injured players returning and a center who has starting experience at guard. The big difference here will the defense, and I have to go with the Utes. They bring back 6 starters, while everyone else has game experience, and BYU only returns 3 starters and is counting on a lot of kids who have moved over from offense. The game is in Salt Lake City, and the Utes should have a stellar season, so I'm going with them.

Who do I hope will win?: Block U is a favorite of mine, but I'm also a big fan of former Cougar QB Jim McMahon, so it's kind of a toss up. I'll go with the Utes, though, since I'm getting tired of seeing BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl and I firmly believe that whoever wins this one will be the MWC champ.

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I like Jim too, since he played for the Bears.

Plus, he’ll always be the least BYU of all BYU players.

As for this rivalry, it’s definitely the most underrated in the nation. The last three meetings have been decided on the last play.

2007: Utah took the lead with less than a minute left on a touchdown, forced a sack on first down of BYU’s next drive, had them STOPPED on 3rd and God knows how long and blew it. I still get angry with that game, however, it doesn’t top 2006, since Utah really didn’t play a good game at all.

2006: The Utes entered the game big underdogs, as BYU was ranked, had wrapped up the conference and looked poised for a blowout win. The Utes, though, played a helluva game, because on paper, they had no business being in that game. In the end, the Utes scored with 40-seconds left to take a 4 point lead and nearly had BYU stopped, until Beck found Harline wide-open as time expired. :(

2005: Another game Utah had no business being in. The Utes entered the game on the heels of losing Brian Johnson, their quarterback, and their top WR the week before against the Lobos. This was down in Provo, BYU was playing solid football and Utah opened up a 21-point lead. The Cougars eased back into it and looked poised to win the game…until Utah managed to stop them in OT on a 4th down.

I expect this game to be just as close and even though I want Utah to win, I’m not expecting a victory or a loss…because I think this game will go either way.

by JazzyUte on Jul 22, 2008 4:11 PM CDT reply actions

After a couple of..

...season using the Utes in a dynasty on NCAA, I’m a Ute fan!

by Nico2.0 on Jul 22, 2008 5:12 PM CDT reply actions

No, they aren't.

I lived in Utah for seven years; by my observation, the statement “rivalries like these, the ones that aren’t as hyped as the Iron Bowl or Michigan/tOSU, but are no less intense for the fans involved” is a complete miss.

These folks don’t have any idea whatsoever about their teams; they are “fans” in that every so often they watch a game, and then the Friday before the “Holy War” they dutifully put on their Crimson or Blue and act like it matters.

Good gracious – they even INTERMARRY (without friction – I come from a Mixed Marriage myself, but now that Dad’s gone the whole family is Crimson & White, and there’s much less tension at holidays).

Now I live in the Phoenix area, where you can just walk up to the stadium and buy a ticket to an ASU game. You don’t even have to inherit it.

No, these aren’t “fans” and they aren’t “rivalries”. They are pleasant diversions.

by thronedoggie on Jul 22, 2008 5:29 PM CDT reply actions