The end of innocence

[Jarid in Cedar]

trick please, you have heard of Jake Heaps right?
When BYU beats Utah in November to send them out of the MWC with a loss, Ute fans are going to be freaking the eff out. Not only will they have lost to a very young and inexperienced BYU team, but they will now have to face this team every year for the next 4 years as they get better and better. Your run for the roses is going to end in the out of conference season as long as you continue to schedule BYU.

His publicist assured that many people have heard of him

[Flattop]

That might have been part of it. I was constantly surrounded by Ute fans, with their 57-28 I was there! shirts (if ever there were evidence of little brother syndrome...).

Sort of like going to an airport in Oregon with a banner that says "Harline is still open", or flying over a bowl game in San Diego with a banner that says "We beat you" or repeating every chance you get "4th and 18" and "1984."

[tooblue]

The rivalry will never be quite the same, creek is right about that; but it will continue. BYU and Utah will beat each other regularly, at least for awhile. For BYU, beating Utah will be sweeter than ever. Utah will want to maintain its supposed superiority, just like BYU did back in the 80s.

I will readily concede that the rivalry won't be quite the same and I will miss that. I have consistently said here (to SU's chagrin) that in my perfect world BYU and Utah are always in the same conference. This is like USC and UCLA moving to different conferences. Weird and unthinkable and sad, but unavoidable under the circumstances, as a practical matter.

We both know I think the series should not continue. I may be wrong but I also think, right now, Utah administration believes like you and dan do, that it will continue. However, circumstances have a way of dispelling wishful thinking. Scheduling issues, plans and commitments already made will take precedence. At the end of the day there will be other priorities, as there should be. It's sad and unavoidable but the rivalry may not continue, as a practical matter.

[Hazzard]

... it saw Utah follow the trail that BYU blazed to a new conference and it is a bitter pill to swallow.

This is what makes it so frustrating. I don't care so much about the money, although Utah will get plenty of it. I don't care so much about the prestige because Utah won't get much more of it sitting in the middle of the Crap 10 every year. It pisses me off that from 1972-1992, when college football came of age and the cable TV era exploded, we were 19-2 against the Utes. The past 18 years have been basically even, but I still see the Utes as our little brother and, frankly, they still see themselves as our little brother. A smaller fan base, less loyal fans, and a generation of butt-whoopings did the trick.

Further, the church to which most Utes belong and swear loyalty above all else is the reason the Cougs are being kept out of the BCS. If it weren't for the church's pig-headed stances against blacks ... and women ... and gays ... and ... <insert oppressed group here> ... BYU would be welcomed into the Crap 10 with open arms. Research institutions my ass. If the Crap 10 cared so much about research, it wouldn't have Wash St., ASU, Arizona, etc. They care way more about the social issues than the research. And it's hard to blame them.

[Babs]

this is just wrong. how can this guy just walk off the board without so much as a parting glance, skulk in the shadows for six or eight weeks, then walk back in and post a thread that gets a hundred responses? SO NOT RIGHT.

[LA Ute]

We both know I think the series should not continue. I may be wrong but I also think, right now, Utah administration believes like you and dan do, that it will continue. However, circumstances have a way of dispelling wishful thinking. Scheduling issues, plans and commitments already made will take precedence. At the end of the day there will be other priorities, as there should be. It's sad and unavoidable but the rivalry may not continue, as a practical matter.

Haven't Texas and Oklahoma been in different conferences for most of their history? I don't recall.

[Babs]

Haven't Texas and Oklahoma been in different conferences for most of their history? I don't recall.

yes. They've only been in the same conference for 12 of 105 games. I was going to point this out yesterday, but it's been suggested that it's not my place to comment.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Haven't Texas and Oklahoma been in different conferences for most of their history? I don't recall.

Yes.

[tooblue]

Haven't Texas and Oklahoma been in different conferences for most of their history? I don't recall.

Are you equating Texas and Oklahoma to BYU and Utah? That's a stretch even if you were SU!

[tooblue]

this is just wrong. how can this guy just walk off the board without so much as a parting glance, skulk in the shadows for six or eight weeks, then walk back in and post a thread that gets a hundred responses? SO NOT RIGHT.

Are you saying creekster is like gollum ... always skulking about waiting to bite off someones finger?

[LA Ute]

Are you equating Texas and Oklahoma to BYU and Utah? That's a stretch even if you were SU!

No stretch. The point is, an intense rivalry can transcend conference affiliation. Don't you agree?

[tooblue]

No stretch. The point is, an intense rivalry can transcend conference affiliation. Don't you agree?

Texas and OU are both in major conferences either together or separate. Under those circumstances the intensity can hold up. This is different.

[LA Ute]

Texas and OU are both in major conferences either together or separate. Under those circumstances the intensity can hold up. This is different.

Looks like the Big 12 has a couple of slots open. Go for them!

[Flattop]

and, frankly, they still see themselves as our little brother.

Uh, no, frankly, we don't.

[LA Ute]

Uh, no, frankly, we don't.