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Yet another rivalry thread....

7StraightIsGreat

Well-Known Member
With Whittingham coming out and saying that Utah's program is "bigger" than the rivalry, the talk has started up again that the rivalry game may be coming to an end. For the record, I bristled when I heard Whit say that. Even as a Ute fan, I have to admit that it sounded smug and arrogant. I did like hearing a radio interview yesterday in which he backtracked a bit and apologized for his choice of words. While I would rather see the rivalry continue, I can at least see why it makes sense for Utah (and in some cases, BYU as well) to stop playing the game. I'm gonna lay out the logical reasons that would lead to Utah ending the series, and I'm hoping some BYU fans will chime in and give honest feedback as to whether or not some of these following reasons make sense to them:

-While Utah is now in the PAC 12, their athletic budget is still far behind that of all the other schools in the conference. One way Utah can get some extra $$$ out of their athletics is an extra home game. It sounds as if Utah would ideally like to play 7 home games per season. That makes out of conference scheduling tricky considering that they are already locked into 9 conference games per year. It makes it even more tricky with BYU when you consider the Cougs won't be accepting any 2-for-1's (nor should they).

-Considering that Utah does have the 9 conference games, it makes it almost impossible to maintain a 7 game home schedule and play both BYU and Utah St. each and every year. Granted, BYU is a much bigger game for Utah, but should the up and coming Aggies automatically be the odd man out? Should Utah play each one every other year in an effort to appease everybody?

-The recruiting implications of Utah expanding their schedule (IMO, probably the biggest factor in all of this). With BYU being BYU, and Utah now sporting Pac 12 name value, in-state recruiting for either school is not going to be a problem whether this game is played or not. However, if Utah is thinking of dropping BYU in favor of adding some Texas, Flordia, and/or some midwest schools in an effort to increase and improve their recruiting footprint, can you really blame them? As an independent, BYU has touted their ability to have the flexibility to play teams from all over the country and how that will help them in the long run. While Utah gets many benefits from Pac 12 membership, scheduling flexibility is not one of them. I would argue that BYU playing the likes of Oklahoma or TCU at Texas Stadium helps them recruiting wise more than a game against Utah does. Isn't it only fair to say that Utah would benefit more from those type of games as well?

-Is it good for the rivalry to go away because fans have simply gotten too nasty? Mark my words, this thread will be full of BYU fans who will be able to answer these questions respectfully, even if we disagree, but it's only a matter of time before a Ute or Cougar fan comes in here and turns this thread to ****. Sure, it's just an internet message board, but IMO it serves as a small microcosm of what's going on out there on a bigger scale. Could the rivalry benefit from a cooling off period, or would that only make it worse?

In the end, I think the Pac 12 is going to end up dropping the 9 game conference schedule and hopefully allow for an exemption so this game can be played later in the year. But those changes are a few years down the road. Until then, I can at least see logical reasons as to why Utah might not be interested in playing the rivalry game every year. I'm wondering if BYU fans can see that as well, or if they all just simply see it as arrogance or fear on Utah's part.
 
When the Pac 12 made that agreement to play at least 1 Big 10 school every year, that was the final nail in the coffin.

9 conference games plus another guaranteed Big 10 game. There just isn't room for BYU every single year on Utah's schedule.
 
While I can truly understand why the game might go away, I think it sucks big time. I like the idea of playing every year, opening weekend. It's absolutely possible. Difficult, yes. But still possible. That would require some sacrifice on Utah's part. There is no arguing BYU needs the game more than Utah does. As a fan who grew up watching the games and cheering for BYU and hating Utah, the simple fact that there is doubt whether the games continue pisses me off to end. I don't blame Utah for it. They did what they had to do. Any other school would have done the same thing (don't kid yourselves BYU fans. If the Cougs would have had an invitation, they would have taken it, too.) But that doesn't make it suck any less. I think the likely scenario is that the game isn't a yearly thing anymore, but is still played every couple of years.
 
Actually, KW is just being human. Many heads of organizations like to talk big as reality sets in and they start to fall. Welcome to your continued existence as the Pac 12's resident middle to lower class citizen and your reality as USC's yearly bitch. Just embrace it, you'll look better as you fall.
 
Actually, KW is just being human. Many heads of organizations like to talk big as reality sets in and they start to fall. Welcome to your continued existence as the Pac 12's resident middle to lower class citizen and your reality as USC's yearly bitch. Just embrace it, you'll look better as you fall.

You must have missed last season?

Utah almost won the Pac 12 south, only losing it on the last game of the season. And Utah went to USC and lost on the last play of the game.

And this was with the worst Utah team in recent memory.
 
Well, obviously that was because SC was under penalty and playing for nothing. You guys finished somewhere between 5-8, we'll say 8 because I like Utah so much. That's what I'm expecting year in and year out.

You guys did smash BYU though, so I'm at your mercy for 3 more months until BYU returns the favor. At the very least, if BYU/Utah stop playing, I hope it looks like you guys were just running away. It seems like we've got at least 3 years of games left. If BYU just mauls Utah for those 3 and then Utah doesn't make the necessary adjustments to play the game continuing on, that's a perfect scenario.
 
Actually, KW is just being human. Many heads of organizations like to talk big as reality sets in and they start to fall. Welcome to your continued existence as the Pac 12's resident middle to lower class citizen and your reality as USC's yearly bitch. Just embrace it, you'll look better as you fall.

Remember in my initial post when I foretold that some douche bag from either side of the equation would come in and ruin this thread?

Called it.
 
Well, obviously that was because SC was under penalty and playing for nothing. You guys finished somewhere between 5-8, we'll say 8 because I like Utah so much. That's what I'm expecting year in and year out.

You guys did smash BYU though, so I'm at your mercy for 3 more months until BYU returns the favor. At the very least, if BYU/Utah stop playing, I hope it looks like you guys were just running away. It seems like we've got at least 3 years of games left. If BYU just mauls Utah for those 3 and then Utah doesn't make the necessary adjustments to play the game continuing on, that's a perfect scenario.

Can't wait til BYU rolls into RES this year with that cute little option QB of theirs. It's already looking like one of the better D's in Utah's recent history. Add in a QB that allows you to pack the line of scrimmage and it's the perfect recipe for another 44 point Ute win.
 
-Is it good for the rivalry to go away because fans have simply gotten too nasty? Mark my words, this thread will be full of BYU fans who will be able to answer these questions respectfully, even if we disagree, but it's only a matter of time before a Ute or Cougar fan comes in here and turns this thread to ****.

All I've ever said is diarrhea.

Actually, KW is just being human. Many heads of organizations like to talk big as reality sets in and they start to fall. Welcome to your continued existence as the Pac 12's resident middle to lower class citizen and your reality as USC's yearly bitch. Just embrace it, you'll look better as you fall. I know in my heart that this is the one true football program.

.
 
Remember in my initial post when I foretold that some douche bag from either side of the equation would come in and ruin this thread?

Called it.

You'll see Douchebag when I roll up in Rice Eccles wearing my BYU coaching polo with the special Kyle Whittingham "I used to be a ****ing linebacker man, can't you tell?" fit this fall. Ute fans the concourse over will be parting like a good missionary haircut when I walk to my seat out of fear.
 
Or anyone else that finds it funny that you'd brag about almost winning a division in a lame year.

I didn't "brag" about it. I pointed it out to the BYU fan who said Utah was going to always be a lower class citizen in the Pac 12.

I do understand that BYU has as much of a chance to win their division as they do to win the AFC West though, so I understand why you would say something like that.
 
With Whittingham coming out...

I got this far and said to myself, "I knew it!"

Or anyone else that finds it funny that you'd brag about almost winning a division in a lame year.

Clearly.

Keep chasing that ring kids you'll get there never.

I'm ashamed, but I laughed.

Anyhow, back to the OP: If this game goes away, I will cease to be a BYU fan. Sad, but true. I can honestly say that I hate Utah more than I like BYU, and if we're not beating you queers into bloody pulp year in and year out, then what's the point? I see none. I will blame it 10,000,000% on Utah and their jackhole program, and I will never forgive them. I look forward to the game with more gusto and passion than I do any other sporting event, and it's not even close. The mere fact that this is even a possibility raises my ire and rekindles my burning dislike for Utah, their jackass school, dick face football program, pooh flossing coaches, drunk douche bag loser players, and their slobbering cluster**** fans. Gods, I hate you.
 
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