Utah cancelling series vs BYU thread

[MartyFunkhouser]

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 preface what I'm about to say with that I love the rivalry. I want Utah to play BYU in football every year (in September we are not going to help you by playing it in November). I want Utah to play BYU every year in basketball. I would be happy with Utah playing a home/home every year in basketball.

I'm going to give an alternative explanation for why Ute fans are doing the moving past the rivalry schtick. It isn't necessarily rooted in not having a history with the rivalry or becoming fans in 2008 or 2011, especially for the fans that are my age or older. It is a lame attempt at smack talk. It is a lame attempt at smack talk rooted in BYU fans attitude towards the Utes from the 80s when BYU was dominating in football. I had multiple BYU fans when I was growing up pretend to me that the rivalry didn't matter. BYU fans acted above the rivalry as their football program was so far ahead of the Utes. I think that some fans that experienced this are lamely trying to turn the tables on BYU fans and in doing so trying to marginalize BYU.

For me and my house, the rivalry matters. It mattered in the 80s and it still matters. Sadly, I don't see it coming back anytime soon in basketball and I'm wondering if this is going to lead to its death in football as well.

[MartyFunkhouser]

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.

I agreed with most of what Durrant said, but I agree that he was a bit too personal and vindictive. The thinly veiled shot at Majerus in particularly distracted from his point.

[kccougar]

I agreed with most of what Durrant said, but I agree that he was a bit too personal and vindictive. The thinly veiled shot at Majerus in particularly distracted from his point.

I don't remember a shot at Majerus. Didn't Durrant say he had tremendous respect for Rick?

[creekster]

I preface what I'm about to say with that I love the rivalry. I want Utah to play BYU in football every year (in September we are not going to help you by playing it in November). I want Utah to play BYU every year in basketball. I would be happy with Utah playing a home/home every year in basketball.

I'm going to give an alternative explanation for why Ute fans are doing the moving past the rivalry schtick. It isn't necessarily rooted in not having a history with the rivalry or becoming fans in 2008 or 2011, especially for the fans that are my age or older. It is a lame attempt at smack talk. It is a lame attempt at smack talk rooted in BYU fans attitude towards the Utes from the 80s when BYU was dominating in football. I had multiple BYU fans when I was growing up pretend to me that the rivalry didn't matter. BYU fans acted above the rivalry as their football program was so far ahead of the Utes. I think that some fans that experienced this are lamely trying to turn the tables on BYU fans and in doing so trying to marginalize BYU.

For me and my house, the rivalry matters. It mattered in the 80s and it still matters. Sadly, I don't see it coming back anytime soon in basketball and I'm wondering if this is going to lead to its death in football as well.

I think you are correct about this.

[Applejack]

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.

My next door neighbor, a BYU fan (yes there are some on the east coast), spoke directly and with good eye contact with me this week. That tells me all I need to know about his true fandom.

[SCcoug]

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[MartyFunkhouser]

I don't remember a shot at Majerus. Didn't Durrant say he had tremendous respect for Rick?

My admiration for JL, MarkGrace, creekster, YOhio, and yes, even kccougar, knows no bounds.

[kccougar]

My admiration for JL, MarkGrace, creekster, YOhio, and yes, even kccougar, knows no bounds.

huh. I didn't take it that way. I assumed he wrote it that way because that was the Utah coach that he actually played against (and was beat by). But I understand that Utah fan/coach feelings are sensitive. I'm sure Mark would be willing to provide you with a personal apology.

[Commando]

My admiration for JL, MarkGrace, creekster, YOhio, and yes, even kccougar, knows no bounds.

Good lord. I know you read that in context as a letter from a staunch BYU fan...

[old_gregg]

it was a joke, something funk seems to struggle with.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Agree. BYU can find another rival fairly easy. Most schools we play tend to hate us fairly soon after the first encounter. Utah and Colorado will ultimately end up with the P12 watered down version of the Wyoming-CSU rivalry. It may have some significance to the parties involved, but irrelevant to the greater sports world.

RIP landpoke.

[YOhio]

RIP landpoke.

Yeah. I loved ripping that guy.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Yeah. I loved ripping that guy.

First lanpoke, then goatnapper. Who are you going to neuter next?

[Katy Lied]

I dont care what people think of Durrant; do you think they all believed his tale of Coack K's outrageous behavior toward a player during the game?

[Eddie]

I dont care what people think of Durrant; do you think they all believed his tale of Coack K's outrageous behavior toward a player during the game?

Anyone watching the game saw at least part of it. They don't need Durrant as a witness.