VIDEO: Utah And BYU Announce Formation Of A Rivalry Series

SALT LAKE CITY -- The University of Utah and Brigham Young University announced today the formation of a rivalry series between the two schools. The series--which formally begins this season--has been named the Deseret First Duel and is presented by Deseret First Credit Union.

The term Deseret refers to the original name of the territory of Utah (State of Deseret) and is an appropriate name for an athletic rivalry that dates back to the 1890s. The term Duel refers to a contest between two parties to decide a point of honor. Blending the two terms is the ideal name for a formalized series.

The rivalry series includes competition in the 12 sports the two universities compete head-to-head during regular-season play. The Deseret First Duel will use a system that awards points to the winner of each head-to-head competition. A team trophy will be awarded to the individual winner of each sport--football, basketball, softball, etc. Points won by the individual sports will count toward each school's overall total. At the conclusion of each school year, a granite traveling trophy will be awarded to the overall rivalry series champion.

The Utah vs. BYU rivalry is one of the oldest and strongest in the country. In November 2005, the Wall Street Journal rated the rivalry the fourth best in college athletics. Thanks to a partnership with Deseret First Credit Union, the rivalry now has an official name and a traveling trophy to signify yearly supremacy. The Deseret First Duel sponsorship between the two universities and Deseret First Credit Union is for five years.

"We have discussed the concept of a rivalry series for a long time," said BYU Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe. "The rivalry between the two schools has a long and storied tradition. Dr. Hill and I have been looking for ways to promote the positive things about this celebrated rivalry. Our hope is the Deseret First Duel will add excitement to our competitions."

The first event of the Deseret First Duel will take place Friday, Oct. 12 at Utah when the women's volleyball teams square off in a Mountain West Conference battle. The following night, the women's soccer teams will take the field in Provo.

"We've been talking about formalizing a rivalry series for several years now and it's really exciting to see it become a reality. The Utah-BYU rivalry is widely recognized as one of the nation's best in terms of competitiveness and fan interest," said University of Utah Director of Athletics Dr. Chris Hill. "The rivalry series will serve as another avenue for fans of both schools to show their involvement and enthusiasm. I see the competition as a great way to grow the intensity of the rivalry in a positive fashion."

Both universities will have a Deseret First Duel web link on their respective athletic websites (byucougars.com and utahutes.com). The website provides scores, point totals, upcoming rivalry games, and special online offers, including the ability to enter to win the Ultimate Fan Experience.

Deseret First Credit Union, founded in 1955, operates 11 branches from Logan to St. George, has more than 50,000 members and over $417 million in assets. Deseret First is a full-service credit union offering deposit and loan accounts, insurance, investments, SBA loans and more. Listed below is a graph with the point totals for the teams competing in the Deseret First Duel.

Deseret First Duel Scoring System Meetings Points Yearly Total Football 1 10 10 Men's Basketball 2 5 10 Women's Basketball 2 5 10 Baseball 4 1.5 6 Women's Soccer 1 6 6 Women's Volleyball 2 3 6 Gymnastics 2 3 6 Softball 4 1.5 6 Men's Swimming 1 1 1 Women's Swimming 1 1 1 Men's Tennis 1 1 1 Women's Tennis 1 1 1 Total Points 64

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