Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
The rivalry between BYU and the University of Utah is as intense as it has ever been, and those witnessing the trash talk say it is getting downright ugly in the stadium.
The coaches, players, cheerleaders and fans all feel the friction. So, why are tensions so high?
It can make seemingly nice young men seethe with hatred. One BYU student told me how much he hated the University of Utah, and he used the word "hate." He said, "I can't see a Ute logo without honestly getting angry." A die-hard Ute fan says, "How embarrassed will BYU be when they once again fail miserably?"
There's plenty of hostility to go around on game day, and anyone can be a target. Former BYU wide receiver Nate Meikle says the players aren't safe.
"One of my friends was walking back with his family after the game and a bunch of fans came up, got in his face after the game, and I think he pushed them down to the ground," Meikle remembered.
The mascots and cheerleaders aren't safe. One woman said, "The guy next to me gets mad because Cosmo, the [BYU] mascot is making fun of the Utah cheerleaders. So he grabs a whole bunch of snow and decides to chuck it at the mascot and accidentally hits a BYU cheerleader, who is up in a stunt, and she falls off."
Even the coaches' wives have been fair game.
Former Utah play-by-play announcer Bill Marcroft said, "[Former Utah Coach] Wayne Howard's wife was spit on at Cougar Stadium in the stands. She was standing up and cheering for Utah, and they spit on her. They also spit on the Utah players as they had to go through the BYU student section to get to their locker room."
Marcroft says bad behavior from fans on both sides pushed Howard to quit his job, even with a winning record. Utah Jazz Sports Psychology Consultant Keith Henschen says college football coaches are under tremendous pressure on rivalry games, and not just from the fans.
"Ohio State and Michigan, coaches lose their jobs over it," Henschen said. "No matter how many wins they have, they lose their jobs."
But Marcroft says if the coaches keep cool, many fans will too.
"The friendship of Ron McBride and LaVell Edwards really calmed everything down," Marcroft said.
Still, some fans hold on to the hatred of the other team as if it was a warm blanket, sometimes because they're too emotionally involved in what happens.
Henschen says, "Their ego becomes involved and it's ‘We against them.'"
He also says it's fine to be loyal to your team, just take it easy. "I think it's great you support them with your loyalty and your emotions, but that should end when the game ends, and say, ‘OK. Now that's over, I can get on with my real life.'"
Of course, that's easier to do if your team wins.
Tune in to KSL Newsradio 102.7FM/1160AM tomorrow morning at 5:40 a.m. and 7:40 a.m. for part two of "Personal foul fans."
Also, catch the special edition SportsBeat on "The Game" this Friday, Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m. on KSL TV.
Kick-off of the game is at 4 p.m. from Rice-Eccles Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 22. Pregame coverage of the game can be heard on KSL Newsradio 102.7FM/1160AM beginning at 2 p.m.
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com
