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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
SALT LAKE CITY — Speaking for a countless amount, a number that is almost impossible to quantify, the hardcore BYU fanatic declared his complete and total lack of respect for one of college football's most prominent coaches.
Hmmm, wonder which coach. Any guesses?
None of the above applies in this case. There's only one correct answer, and it's abundantly obvious.
Yup, the indictment can only reference Kyle Whittingham, who is consistently ranked among the best in the business. All the winning aside, apparently a coach hath no honor in his own state from others on the opposite side of this heated rivalry between the two best programs in Utah.
Funny thing is, if you think about the point of the irritation, all the wailing and gnashing of teeth makes no sense. More on that in a bit.
No wonder the Cougar faithful loathe Utah's coach, considering all the success he's had against BYU over the last decade. Sporting a 9-1 record against BYU since 2010, Whittingham has owned the Cougars and elevated his program to new levels.
Interestingly, though, Utah's dominance since entering the Pac-12 does not top the list for the strong dislike. It's more about what Whittingham says — or in this case, what he avoids saying seemingly at all costs.
BYU fans bristle at the fact that Whittingham won't ever string together the letters B-Y-U consecutively. To take it a step further, he barely will acknowledge the existence of the rival school.
The college football world recognizes the BYU-Utah game as one of the sport's best and most heated rivalries. The proof is in all the great games and crazy endings, combined with insidious rhetoric from players on both sides, along with the shenanigans between the two fan bases.
But don't expect Whittingham to get caught up in it. In an interview two years ago with FOX Sports' RJ Young, he blew off the question on saying three nice things about your rival.
Said Whittingham: "Uh, who's our rival? We've got rivals in conference; we've got rivals out of conference."
Young retorted: "You know doggone well I'm talkin' about BYU."
Before deciding to move off the subject, Whittingham pointed out the two were no longer in the same conference and Utah was developing rivalries with Pac-12 opponents. The good news is both programs will be in the Big 12 starting next season.
The perceived disrespect crosses the line for many BYU loyalists. That Whittingham was a star linebacker for BYU from 1978-81 only makes it worse.
But isn't the disrespect actually a measure of respect? Yes, it is.
Whittingham has no problem reciting the names of every Pac-12 member but can't bring himself to mention his alma mater. His repeated refusal to say BYU only promotes the fact the rivalry between the two schools separated by 45 miles is alive and well.
No matter what is or isn't said, nothing will change the intensity between the two programs. The respect is there, given the intertwined history, even if it's buried deep below the surface.
The Whittingham family had an undeniable connection to BYU that started when patriarch Fred Whittingham joined the football team nearly 70 years ago. The now-deceased former player was later the defensive coordinator under LaVell Edwards, who also coached three of Fred's sons.
To be sure, the entire extended family rerouted allegiances to Utah after Whittingham and his father joined Ron McBride's coaching staffs at Utah in the 1990s. Ties were further cemented in 2005 when Whittingham replaced Urban Meyer, who substituted BYU for "the team down south" during his two-year reign of terror as head coach.
Several BYU coaches have ties to Utah, having served on Whittingham's staff. Former defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake, now the BYU head coach, often praises Whittingham as one of his mentors.
The two maintain a friendship off the field that the rivalry won't dampen. Just don't expect Whittingham to recite Sitake's place of employment.
