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SALT LAKE CITY — Add another example to list of heart-pumping football games between BYU and Utah, two intertwined rivals that can’t seem separate from each other no matter how much circumstances change.
“I thought it was awesome,” said Utah athletic director Mark Harlan who succeeded Chris Hill last summer and was a part of the game for the first time.
After falling behind 20-0 in the first two quarters, the Utes stormed back to win 35-27 Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium. As usual, it was full of dramatic plays and ended up being a one-possession game that went down to the final seconds.
Even though both programs ventured their separate ways eight years ago, when Utah joined the Pac-12 and BYU went independent, the intensity remains the same as ever. The passion and energy in the stadium met or exceeded any home game Utah had this season.
Harlan, who had no formal ties to Utah before getting the job, took notice. Long before the late-night kickoff, he roamed the campus soaking in the atmosphere surrounding the game.
Sometimes marred by boorish behavior between the two fan bases, there were no serious incidents of note before and during the game. Harlan, who created a joint letter with BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe requesting perspective, was pleased with the proper decorum.
“Everyone kind of behaved, which is something that Tom Holmoe and I really had talked about, trying to remind everybody to have some fun. Early signs of that was it went really well,” Harlan said.
“I thought it was terrific. I love the way it ended, I know that part was great. But I thought it was a great day all the way around.”
Harlan’s assessment of the game and activities related to it is a positive sign for the future of the rivalry. In his position, with Utah obligated to play nine conference games every season, he needs to be on board with playing BYU every year.
As an independent, BYU has a much more difficult task to schedule 12 games each season. Simply stated, under the circumstances, BYU wants and needs Utah to say yes.
The two sides have agreed for the series to be played through the 2022 season. Harlan’s statements this week bode well for future contracts.
“It’s pretty much out there for many, many years to come, but with that kind of energy I don’t know why you wouldn’t continue to play that game,” he said.
Harlan has a history of intense rivalries dating back to his time as a student and administrator. He graduated from the University of Arizona, which annually plays Arizona State in the country’s longest-running rivalry trophy game. He also worked at UCLA, fierce rivals with cross-town USC.
Reasons against continuing the series are weak, at best. The arguments, stemming mostly from a small group of fans on social media, are designed to minimize each side’s football program.
"Mark's right on the mark," said Harlan's predecessor, Chris Hill. "Rivalries are good to have."
The thought that Utah gains nothing from playing BYU is silly, especially compared to its recent non-conference schedules. It makes no sense to claim the Utes actually get more national respect from playing teams such as Northern Illinois and San Jose State in addition to a Big Sky team they schedule every season.
As Utah continues to develop as a football program, which it has done nicely the last several seasons, the schedule has to improve. This year’s non-conference slate, which began with Weber State and Northern Illinois, did nothing to prepare to the team for Pac 12 play.
The Utes like to believe they have a burgeoning rivalry with conference foe USC, a program that has won 11 national and 39 conference championships and has played in the Rose Bowl game 34 times. In addition to playing national power Notre Dame every season, the Trojans also usually have another big-name opponent such as Alabama or Texas.
To beef up the schedule, Utah should have no problem playing BYU and a high-level opponent each season and still compete favorably during the Pac 12 season. Fortunately, it appears Harlan sees it the same way.
