Why Utah needs the rivalry more than BYU.

Utah is not going to dominate the Pac 12. They will likely have more rough years, than impressive years. The possibility of a win over BYU gives their fans a chance to feel good about their team. Look no further than 2011. Last year was less than impressive for the Utes. The only game that kept their fans feeling good was their victory over BYU. BYU on the other hand rebounded to a top 25 ranking.



Having said that, it is not an impossibility that they loose to BYU at home this year, and get handled by the PAC 12. :)

However, if Utah goes 4-5 in PAC 12 play, and loses to Michigan, that's 6 losses. If Utah has BYU on the schedule too, the likelihood of having 7 losses is real. To avoid that possibility and bolster the possibility to remain bowl-eligible, Utah simply takes BYU off the schedule. Now, 6-6 Utah (who beats USU and Montana State OOC) will be able to play in a bowl game.



In 2014, Utah is almost guarantee to have 5 losses and they only have 10 games on the schedule so far. Oregon, Stanford, and USC at home. Michigan and 5 other PAC 12 games on the road.



The sad thing is, Utah could have a suweet 2014 home schedule of Oregon, Stanford, USC, and BYU - that's a great schedule. They just don't see enough W's, so, bring on the Big Sky and the MAC.

This!!



And for the record, the only thing BYU has to play for now, as an independent, to quote Bronco, is the "State championship.". Based on that , who needs it more? Not sure your theory pans out except on that one variable. Not that I'm arguing for the rivalry to continue. I'm a good riddance to the rivalry kind of guy.

Utah has as much chance at winning a PAC 12 championship as BYU has of winning a National Championship. BYU emphasizing the "state championship" makes sense as motivation given that they can't compete for a conference championship. Utah might be smart to look at it the same way.



The way I see it, aint no way Utah is going to be a PAC 12 champion in the foreseable future, so they might do well to embrace a rivalry. It gives their disgusting fans something they can actually win now and then.



Most PAC 12 teams consider the year a success if they win their rivalry game. Even in the worst years for Washington and WSU, the Apple cup meant a whole lot for the fans.



I will bet that the two years they don't play, BYU will have a higher ranking than Utah, and their fans will regret not having the opportunity to prove their teams "superiority" on the field. They will be left leaving dirty little comments on SLT articles. ;)

Methinks that some of you who have been so hungry to get into a BCS Conference will watch Utah wither on the vine and say, would BYU have been any different?

If Utah could find a way to match their O with their D they would have a much better chance of winning The PAC. But they have been floundering last few years. If Utah has another average Offense this year. Kyle will have to make changes or he will be next to go.

Mars wrote:


Bronco has won more Conference Championships thus far than Kyle Whittingham, and I expect that to continue until the end of both of their careers.

:lol: :evil: :D :utard:

http://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/the-skinny/article_477c3cef-1efa-5cd5-af77-014ab03f1baa.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



I think he gets it.

Here's my prediction, Utah won't come close to winning a PAC12 championship. Well, they might get close...but they won't win. BYU will win the game this season, and in the next 3 seasons the best bowl Utah will appear in will be the Las Vegas Bowl. After 3 seasons of mediocrity the Ute fanbase will be screaming for the rivalry. Finally, they will have something to play for.



Three seasons from now Whitingham won't be coaching at Utah. BYU will have finished ranked higher than Utah in each season.



The rivalry will one again become a top priority for Utah. I hope though when Utah comes crawling back we've moved on to bigger and better. We don't need them.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1244032-power-ranking-the-longest-running-rivalries-in-cfb-history?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=byu-football#/articles/1244032-power-ranking-the-longest-running-rivalries-in-cfb-history/page/17" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



Longest running rivalries.

I was listening to Cougar Sports Saturday today and they were talking to Ron McBride, and it made me think about the Rivalry from Utah's perspective.



I believe now, more than ever, that the loss of the rivalry will hurt the Utah program worse than it will BYU. Utah from the very top down to the lowest fan is an emotional based institution. Their program is run on emotion, their team relies on emotion, the coaching staff game plans based on emotion, the fans get riled up by emotion. BYU on the other hand is extremely methodical, Bronco has shaped the team to treat Utah as just another game and to focus on execution.



Without the BYU game, Ute fans and players are going to lose the major source of emotional charge that they've been feeding off for the last 15 years. No power team in the Pac will reciprocate that with them and Colorado is so pathetic and apathetic it cannot provide that.



I think Utah may find itself with a big empty spot where they used to fill it with the emotion of taking on BYU.