Utah cancelling series vs BYU thread

[wally]

If nothing else, this issue has become an excellent barometer for judging Utah fans. I have several neighbors and friends that cheer for the Utes. Most have been absolutely silent on the cancelling of the series, even the ones that were vocal about their displeasure of having to play in the Vegas Bowl. The most ardent Ute fan neighbor I know who typically trades some sort of BYU or Utah small talk with me each time I see him actually just gave me a very sheepish look on Sunday and didn't say a word. The few who have said anything have parroted Larry Krystkowiak's lines but without any real heart in it when talking in person. There seems to be a very clear line between the Utah fans and the BYU haters. Convenient, if you aren't sure what kind of a fan you are dealing with, just ask them about Utah's decision to cancel the rivalry and you'll find out pretty quick.

Wait, so which is which?

This is part of the fallout from this debacle that I hate most. Putting aside my usual schtick for a second, I really like the rivalry. I love the banter. I love razzing my BYU friends. I love when they razz me back. I have great relationships with the BYU fans I know in real life, and even the majority of online BYU people I know are cool to banter with. But this whole fiasco really just forces us Utes (who have real life relationships that are affected by the rivalry) into a crappy position. This decision sucks. It is indefensible. I wish we could resurrect the congeniality that existed with Edwards and McBride for all sports. Maybe at least in football, Sitake and Whit will find a way to keep it civil.

Durrant, imo, got a little too personal and vindictive in his letter, but the part that he nailed was that the rivalry is a tradition that is bigger than Dave Rose, Chris Hill, Emery or Krystkowiak. I really wish they had taken it to a focus group first.

[Shaka]

I might have because I first thought it last week seeing the difference in posts between places like Utefans.net and Utahby5 (in some instances). It was brought home for certain after Sunday when I interacted with my Ute fan neighbors at church.

Another realization I had last night after reading Mark Durrant's open letter to Larry Krystkowiak. I finally understand all the Utah fans say that the rivalry doesn't matter - they've moved past it. Mark Durrant talked about his connection to the rivalry going back 40 years or more. The rivalry means something to him, win or lose. But that really is different for Utah fans. When the bulk of your fan base bought their first Utah sweatshirt in 2008 or their first Pac12 window sticker in 2011 the rivalry really doesn't mean that much.

I agree and disagree. The youth might not get the rivalry as much as those over thirty. However, the people with the money get it. Most the Utes I know, including some boosters, are pissed and somewhat ashamed. They love the rivalry as much as we do and do not want to see it go down the tubes.

[SeattleUte]

You guys are making yourselves look silly and insular. This just isn't that important to most people and it shouldn't matter that much to you all. Is it that big a deal to most BYU fans? I assume this board is not a good cross-section of either school's fans. I think this rivalry is emblematic of a past the U of Utah should be trying to separate itself from and is finally getting some traction doing now that it's in the Pac 12. Maybe if your Neanderthal, mullah legislature cuts of Utah's funding they can move the campus to Northern California. But I may be an outlier. I don't know.

[SeattleUte]

By the way, who the hell is Mark Durrant? Is he related to Devin somehow?

[kccougar]

Wait, so which is which?

This is part of the fallout from this debacle that I hate most. Putting aside my usual schtick for a second, I really like the rivalry. I love the banter. I love razzing my BYU friends. I love when they razz me back. I have great relationships with the BYU fans I know in real life, and even the majority of online BYU people I know are cool to banter with. But this whole fiasco really just forces us Utes (who have real life relationships that are affected by the rivalry) into a crappy position. This decision sucks. It is indefensible. I wish we could resurrect the congeniality that existed with Edwards and McBride for all sports. Maybe at least in football, Sitake and Whit will find a way to keep it civil.

Durrant, imo, got a little too personal and vindictive in his letter, but the part that he nailed was that the rivalry is a tradition that is bigger than Dave Rose, Chris Hill, Emery or Krystkowiak. I really wish they had taken it to a focus group first.

See, you're a real Ute fan. The BYU haters feel no such dilemma.

[wally]

Here is what a Dan Jones poll says about the importance of the rivalry for fans in Utah (fooball):

http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/feat...lay-every-year

[falafel]

By the way, who the hell is Mark Durrant? Is he related to Devin somehow?

Doesn't matter, and you should be ashamed of yourself for asking this question at all. It just isn't important to most people.

[wally]

You guys are making yourselves look silly and insular. This just isn't that important to most people and it shouldn't matter that much to you all. Is it that big a deal to most BYU fans? I assume this board is not a good cross-section of either school's fans. I think this rivalry is emblematic of a past the U of Utah should be trying to separate itself from and is finally getting some traction doing now that it's in the Pac 12. Maybe if your Neanderthal, mullah legislature cuts of Utah's funding they can move the campus to Northern California. But I may be an outlier. I don't know.

You are a non-Utahn. You don't get it.

[kccougar]

I agree and disagree. The youth might not get the rivalry as much as those over thirty. However, the people with the money get it. Most the Utes I know, including some boosters, are pissed and somewhat ashamed. They love the rivalry as much as we do and do not want to see it go down the tubes.

Right. It's the loud minority (Utah Twitter fans) that became fans in the last 8 years that are thrilled to end the rivalry.

[SeattleUte]

Here is what a Dan Jones poll says about the importance of the rivalry for fans in Utah (fooball):

http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/feat...lay-every-year

Whatever. Is this truly making things awkward for most Utah fans when they interact with BYU fans? Is eye contact difficult for you when you encounter a BYU fan friend or acquaintance. Do you blush and turn away or stammer and hope to avoid the subject? Holy moly. What nut jobs.

[creekster]

By the way, who the hell is Mark Durrant? Is he related to Devin somehow?

Read the letter chum. He states the relationship. I guess you're waiting for a review?

[Topper]

You guys are making yourselves look silly and insular. This just isn't that important to most people and it shouldn't matter that much to you all. Is it that big a deal to most BYU fans? I assume this board is not a good cross-section of either school's fans. I think this rivalry is emblematic of a past the U of Utah should be trying to separate itself from and is finally getting some traction doing now that it's in the Pac 12. Maybe if your Neanderthal, mullah legislature cuts of Utah's funding they can move the campus to Northern California. But I may be an outlier. I don't know.

You truly believe you represent the median cross section of Ute fans? In one respect you do, if you believe Utah will ever be more than a midling team in the Pac 12 most years. Other than that, you don't represent Utes because most Utes reside in all probability in Utah. I base this upon Utah being a commuter school with very little national outreach, not any deep analysis of the alumnae base. Utah does not have the resources to compete with USC, UCLA, Oregon, Washington, and Stanford on a regular basis and is unlikely to develop those resources any time soon. And based upon demographics it is unlikely to compete with ASU regularly. Thus, separating itself from its past is possible by Utah hitting the P5 lottery, but it certainly is not bound for glory on a regular basis. This year was its high water mark for its football team since joining. And despite having a lottery pick in Poeltl, Utah is unlikely to finish in the top three of the Pac 12.

[Paperback Writer]

So Utah fans want to move past BYU onto better things in the PAC-12 - onto their new rival ... Colorado. LET THEM! I know from experience a few things about the territory Utah fans are clamoring after and it's rather unpleasant. Utah fans and Colorado fans deserve each other.

[The_Douger]

Whatever. Is this truly making things awkward for most Utah fans when they interact with BYU fans? Is eye contact difficult for you when you encounter a BYU fan friend or acquaintance. Do you blush and turn away or stammer and hope to avoid the subject? Holy moly. What nut jobs.

Hey now, Dan Jones is a professional and he's just stating the will of the people. You shouldn't question people's professional opinions.

[Donuthole]

Lay off the bait, fellas.