Non-Conference Scheduling rumors

[Omaha 680]

But I still haven't read your thoughts on Utah's motivation for not playing the rivalry game? Did I miss it? It just seems you keep saying it isn't to dumb down the schedule, but I haven't read what you think "IS" the reason for not playing the rivalry game.

LAU says it's because the rivalry is too nasty.

[Rickomatic]

This is a predictable statement, but lets check the facts.


2013:
Utah State Home
Weber State Home
BYU Away

2014:
Idaho State Home
Fresno State Home
Michigan Away

2015:
Michigan Home
Utah State Home
Fresno State away

Probably not too big of a stretch too say that both 2014 and 2015 are tougher ooc schedules than 2013.

Maybe 15 > 13
but 14 > 13??????

BYU < Michigan (but not by much)
Weber State > Idaho State (by a lot)
Utah State > Fresno State (by even more)

[Scorcho]

when the PAC-12/Big 10 crossover game was in play, it seemed like there was a definite need to dumb down the schedule. I think that facilitated the cancelling of the series in 2014 and 2015.

I expect both teams to play every year again starting in 2016.

[The_Douger]

So, I guess we're getting Idaho State again next year.

Was kind of hoping for seven home games, selfishly.

[lambdacoug]

So, I guess we're getting Idaho State again next year.

Was kind of hoping for seven home games, selfishly.

[Maximus]

Its not really relevant whether utahs 2014 and 2015 ooc schedule is better than 2013. It is relevant that they replace byu with fsu.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

I simply don't buy it that the U wants to tone down the rivalry because they think it's getting too nasty and therefore they're not scheduling games with BYU. I do think they wouldn't mind toning down the rivalry to make BYU more irrelevant while they get home games with USC, UCLA and some of the Pac 10 north teams every other year while BYU's stuck playing NMSU. That makes perfect sense to me.

I don't care what high placed sources are telling whomever that they want to get rid of the nastiness -- they're bullshitting you. I can't think of a single college rivalry across the country where they've taken a similar course and I can think of at least ten rivalries just as nasty or more nasty than BYU v. Utah:

Alabama v. Auburn
Florida v. Florida State
Ohio State v. Michigan
Duke v. UNC
UCLA v. USC
Oregon v. Oregon State
Texas v. aTm (also cancelled and not because they thought it was getting too nasty)
Kansas v. Missouri (also cancelled and, again, it wasn't because it was getting too nasty)
Georgia v. Florida
Utah v. Colorado

[jay santos]

I simply don't buy it that the U wants to tone down the rivalry because they think it's getting too nasty and therefore they're not scheduling games with BYU. I do think they wouldn't mind toning down the rivalry to make BYU more irrelevant while they get home games with USC, UCLA and some of the Pac 10 north teams every other year while BYU's stuck playing NMSU. That makes perfect sense to me.

I don't care what high placed sources are telling whomever that they want to get rid of the nastiness -- they're bullshitting you. I can't think of a single college rivalry across the country where they've taken a similar course and I can think of at least ten rivalries just as nasty or more nasty than BYU v. Utah:

Alabama v. Auburn
Florida v. Florida State
Ohio State v. Michigan
Duke v. UNC
UCLA v. USC
Oregon v. Oregon State
Texas v. aTm (also cancelled and not because they thought it was getting too nasty)
Kansas v. Missouri (also cancelled and, again, it wasn't because it was getting too nasty)
Georgia v. Florida
Utah v. Colorado

Yes, but your explanation doesn't correlate with the ALUF fantasy that Utah athletics is good for the church and BYU athletics is bad for the church.

[LA Ute]

I simply don't buy it that the U wants to tone down the rivalry because they think it's getting too nasty and therefore they're not scheduling games with BYU.

That's what you and read into my post. The basic idea is that net-net, an annual rivalry festival and game with BYU has more negatives than positives for the U. BYU fans want to read that as meaning nasty fan behavior, but that's a small slice of the spectrum of concerns. It's ludicrous to think it's the only or dominant one, IMO.

[Maximus]

That's what you and read into my post. The basic idea is that net-net, an annual rivalry festival and game with BYU has more negatives than positives for the U. BYU fans want to read that as meaning nasty fan behavior, but that's a small slice of the spectrum of concerns. It's ludicrous to think it's the only or dominant one, IMO.

what exactly are these negatives that all other non conference rivalries dont have to deal with?

[LA Ute]

what exactly are these negatives that all other non conference rivalries dont have to deal with?

I'd be speculating but it isn't hard to come up with some. Remember, I want the annual game and I disagree with the decision. But my reasons are all emotional. Maybe you guys should sit down, pretend you are the U's president and A.D., and make a list of rational reasons why Utah should continue the rivalry just as it has been for all these years. Then see if you can come up with any "cons" to go with the "pros," and decide whether there might be a glimmer of rationality in the decision.

[jay santos]

I'd be speculating but it isn't hard to come up with some. Remember, I want the annual game and I disagree with the decision. But my reasons are all emotional. Maybe you guys should sit down, pretend you are the U's president and A.D., and make a list of rational reasons why Utah should continue the rivalry just as it has been for all these years. Then see if you can come up with any "cons" to go with the "pros," and decide whether there might be a glimmer of rationality in the decision.

The cons are all related to the competitive advantage aspect of BYU vs Utah, the difficulty BYU has with scheduling, the appearance issues of Utah as a BCS conference school and BYU as a non-BCS, etc. I understand it's difficult for an ALUF to acknowledge his favorite team is involved with tactics trying to kill off his church's program, so the ALUF needs to create other imaginary reasons. But the burden's on you to clearly explain these if you want us to believe.

[Cougarmandias]

I'd be speculating but it isn't hard to come up with some. Remember, I want the annual game and I disagree with the decision. But my reasons are all emotional. Maybe you guys should sit down, pretend you are the U's president and A.D., and make a list of rational reasons why Utah should continue the rivalry just as it has been for all these years. Then see if you can come up with any "cons" to go with the "pros," and decide whether there might be a glimmer of rationality in the decision.

When I do that I get more than a glimmer of rationality, I get a whole shining pile of reasons why its Utah's best interest to downplay the rivalry. But most of them have to do with marginalizing BYU for Utah's benefit and y'all are saying you're shocked, shocked that we'd even think such a thing.

So why don't you tell us some of the glimmering rational reasons why Utah doesn't want to keep up its traditional rivalry game that don't have to do with marginalizing Utah's competition and don't have to do with the rivalry being 'nasty.'

[Omaha 680]

When I do that I get more than a glimmer of rationality, I get a whole shining pile of reasons why its Utah's best interest to downplay the rivalry. But most of them have to do with marginalizing BYU for Utah's benefit and y'all are saying you're shocked, shocked that we'd even think such a thing.

So why don't you tell us some of the glimmering rational reasons why Utah doesn't want to keep up its traditional rivalry game that don't have to do with marginalizing Utah's competition and don't have to do with the rivalry being 'nasty.'

Me too. BYU fans are being the rational ones here IMO. We are analyzing the situation and thinking what would be in the best interest of Utah, who holds all the cards when it comes to continuing the rivalry or not. Everything JIC and LAU have offered doesn't really make sense.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Me too. BYU fans are being the rational ones here IMO. We are analyzing the situation and thinking what would be in the best interest of Utah, who holds all the cards when it comes to continuing the rivalry or not. Everything JIC and LAU have offered doesn't really make sense.

I haven't offered up anything other than to refute the reasons that you guys have offered. Even LAU is not articulating the reason very well.