Is the 'Holy War' becoming too uncivil?

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SALT LAKE CITY -- The football matchup between BYU and the University of Utah evokes powerful and sometimes uncivil emotions from a lot of people living in Utah.

"I love it. The passion in this market is unlike any other I've been in," said KSL sports anchor Tom Kirkland.

The passion in this market is unlike any other I've been in.

–KSL sports anchor Tom Kirkland

The voice of the Cougars, Greg Wrubell agrees. "It always has that intensity every time they get together regardless of records."

But that intensity can get a little out of control. During one contentious game, a brawl erupted among spectators and police had to break it up. That particular incident was written about in 1896.

Almost a century later, the "Holy War" pits neighbor against neighbor, brother against brother. The heated rivalry even divides the KSL sports department.

"Mike and I are the best of friends, but during that week we don't talk," said KSL sports producer Dave Noriega. Fellow sports producer Mike Grant admits he bleeds red. "Any bias? I always wear red," he said.

No doubt fans and players take this rivalry seriously, sometimes maybe too seriously. Take last year for example and a certain remark made at a press conference after the game.

"I don't like Utah. In fact, I hate them. I hate everything about them. I hate their program, their fans. I hate everything," said former BYU quarterback Max Hall. He later apologized for that heated remark but fans on both sides used Facebook to make sure the quote lived on.

Hall is hardly the only player to express some hostility towards the rival team.

In 2004 Utah quarterback Alex Smith explained to an ESPN reporter why he hated BYU. "I really hate them. They are the most arrogant people," he said. "It's the whole church and state thing. They're the 'good kids'. We're the 'bad kids.'"

Kirkland believes the rivalry can get heated because there are so many people whose lives are interconnected to the universities and the games. "In some cases it brings out the worst in us," he said.

Both schools make an effort to bring out the best in their students and alumni through various charity drives. The contests, the colors, the crazy decorations, and yes even some friendly trash talk -- it all makes for a great game.

"Come on, you don't want a rivalry where nobody cares," said Kirkland.

Wrubell said he likes his rivalries bordering on the uncivil. "As long as they don't get too carried away that's the way I want it to be," he said.

E-mail: cmadsen@ksl.com