Usually I’m not one to get caught up in hype, but every year when BYU and the University of Utah play each other in football, there is almost a palpable excitement in the air and it is difficult to ignore the propaganda. Granted, it used to be bigger when BYU and Utah played each other in the last game of the regular season and a conference championship was on the line, but it is still exciting. I have also experienced first-hand the Duke-North Carolina basketball and Miami-Florida football rivalry games, and I believe the BYU-Utah rivalry is every bit as big and electrifying.
I may be criticized for this, but I did graduate from both BYU and the University of Utah, so I feel at liberty to cheer for both teams until they play each other. In a way, I think it makes the big game that much bigger when both teams are undefeated. However, when they play each other, I always have to go with my undergraduate team: BYU. That was also the team I grew up routing for and I remember watching the games with my father who was a big BYU fan. With that in mind, I had to post this video, which was put together by BYUtv just in time for the big game this week: the Top 10 BYU plays from the BYU-Utah games over the years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrjzNikLm9s
I would have to agree with the rankings, and I just have to add that I had the opportunity to be in Rice-Eccles Stadium for the #1 play. It was incredible to be there. We were sitting in one corner section of the stadium, a small sliver of blue surrounded by a vast sea of red. The game was close and went back and forth until the very last play of the game, which unfolded right below where we were seated. When that last pass was caught, the whole stadium deflated and went silent, except for our section. We stayed after the game, took pictures standing in front of the scoreboard, and relished every minute of the win. At any rate, enjoy the video, happy rivalry week, and go cougars!
© Copyright 2012 Jeff, All rights Reserved. Written For: Jeffrey Olsen