Here we go again!
With all sincere respect to all of the other similar posters I've read over the last several years:
1. Yes, I realize this is my first post in a long time, and one of my few posts overall and I know I have no credibility. I am the proverbial lurker who reads this site daily yet rarely posts. This is the one topic that I just can't remain silent on. I apologize in advance for the following rant, which I have posted before, and which has been building for 15 years since I almost rushed the field to defend our own goal post from being torn down by the yewts in 1993.
2. For what it's worth, I grew up with my father singing Rise and Shout to wake me up in the morning. I grew up out of state and was an all-state high school football player with scholarship offers to Div. 1AA and JC schools. BYU invited me to walk on. I turned down the schollies, went on a mission, and chose not to pursue football when I returned. My freshman year at BYU was 1984. I was on the 6 year bachelors degree program we all know and love, which meant the bookends of my on-campus experience were a National Championship and a Heisman Trophy. I consider myself an above-average fan, both in terms of passion and knowledge of the game. I have been a season ticket holder for many years. I hope that buys me a little cred, but if not, that's OK too.
3. I have lived in Utah since 1984 and have seen the rivalry from in-state and out-of-state perspectives. Throughout most of Lavell's career, there practically was no rivalry. Inside the state, BYU was so dominant the Utes had nothing to say. It was AWESOME! Outside the state, little attention was paid to the rivalry at all. Since 1993, it has been UNBEARABLE! Ute fans are such band-waggoners. Give them an inch and they'll take a mile. Give them an ounce of hope and the come out of the woodwork. Smack them down repeatedly and they disappear overnight. Although I don't often agree with Gordon Monson, I thought his description of most Ute fans in a recent column was pretty accurate:
A. Non-Mormon Utes who loathe BYU as a backlash to the cultural and governmental dominance of the LDS religion in Utah.
B. Mormon Utes who can't stand BYU because of its Super Mormon persona, the whole we-do-and-live-it-better-than-you deal. (many of whom are Jack-Mormons), and those whose tithing dollars help fund the school, but whose children can't get into the university because of its high academic standards.
C. Mormon Utes who view themselves, and their attachment to Utah, as more sophisticated than the lemmings in Provo who support the Cougars because they suspicion they should, who brown-bag popcorn to the games and who have relief-society decorations, such as giant plastic grapes on the vine, on the coffee tables in their living rooms.
There have been those on this board who say: To an outsider, they represent the state of Utah and I'd like to see them do it well...until it comes to the Holy War.
Please! are you kidding me??? The University of Utah does not represent the aspects of Utah life that I love. In fact, just the opposite.
I also don't believe the strength of schedule argument, or the help us get out of the MWC argument. If BYU is dominant enough, on our own, we cannot be ignored. We do not need Utah's help for any reason. I also know plenty of people, myself included, who would enjoy NOTHING, more than DESTROYING a winless Utah team yet again, and again, and again.
As much as it goes against my nature and would utterly amaze my friends and family to hear me say this, I am asking all true blue cougar fans to please forget the strategic arguments and the big picture on this one. BYU football, like the truth, can stand alone and will prevail. The Holy War is personal and those of us in Utah need the support of all our bretheren outside the state! Root against the Utes in every game!
Some of you ask, What good is a rival that you always beat? I ask, What good is a rival that you root for sometimes? What kind of a rival is that?
Disclaimer: I personally know many good and decent Ute fans and have no problem serving with them in the church or associating with them in any capacity. My loathing of Ute fans in general does not extend that far. They are, however, misguided and will some day be shown the error of their ways and come to their senses. In the mean time I just don't think of them as Ute fans, but rather Bro. or Mr. So-and-so, the great home teacher, or neighbor, or whatever.
