Man, 5 more days. It's almost as bad as waiting 2 weeks for the Super Bowl! Go Blue!

But it's still Monday here in Washington!

Harmon you have once again showed what a poor reporter you truly are. BYU shows just as much animosity and hatred as Utah shows BYU. You show us all how blind Cougar nation is, thinking how they are better than the rest of us. I'm amazed...

Antoher good article Mr. Harmon. The personal interest stories from the players are great in rivalry week. I am hopeful the Jan Jorgenson and the rest of the Cougars have a great game, no one on either side get hurt and they all play very well. Cougars by 3, 24 - 21.

no doubt... Harmon I will never read another "piece" article from you...you are a terrible (Walton) journalist....BYU hates Utah every bit as much

Way to cherry-pick those quotes Mr. Harmon. Zoobs have been drinking this Kool-aid for a while. I honestly don't know why they still think, let alone say anything about "caring less." When their actions say SO much more.

Just last year when I held my nose and went to the U/Y hoop game in Provo, I'm sitting behind some guy with a Y ball cap on that has "4th and 18" embroidered into the back. Are you kidding me?! And, they don't care about the rivalry, right?

I still see "Harline's still open" coming out of zoob pie holes. I recall some zoobies taking that sign to where the Utes plane landed in Oregon last season before the OSU game.

Trust me, they care. It won't help them much this year, but they care very much. When they say they don't care, it's in years they know they'll likely lose, like some 5-year-old on the playground.

Attention Dick Harmon: The University of Utah was founded in 1850 under the direction of Brigham Young, territorial governor. To suggest that the coaches at Utah (three of which are former BYU players) spend all year hyping this game due to some pychosis, that it has anything to do with religion, or to be so ignorant to think that any college football fan - let alone a Cougar fan - doesn't get into their rivalry contest for any reason, is absurd. Please stick to politics. Sports is obviously not your thing.

Ahhhhhh, Dick..... Welcome to 2008. The series is tied 10-10 over the last 20 years. The current players wouldn't remember the series being one-sided. The programs have been equal for two decades.

"Utah's philosophy on defense and offense is designed to take advantage of BYU weaknesses." Ummmm, Utah's philosophy on defense is to stop their opponents. They have 13 of them throughout the year. Utah's philosophy on offense is designed to keep their opponents off balance and to attack their weaknesses. Again, Utah has 13 teams they prepare for.

Your statement is true for this week. The statement is also true if you switch the school names around. BYU will also attempt to take advantage of Utah's weaknesses.

If you don't think the Y gets up for the games at the same level as the U then I'm guessing you never played a game of football in your life. Both teams have the same level of passion and are equally motivated for this game.

Read the blogs and you will find the fans are the same on both sides. It's called a rivalry. This rivalry was once controlled by the U, then by the Y, now it's equal.

52-33-4 UTAH!!!!

U and Y students mostly come from Utah and are mostly Mormon. The main difference is most Utes live at home with Mom. From outside Utah, you guys all look alot alike. I love the play at religious differences. Big deal from where I stand...

For once again showing us YOUR true feelings toward the U. of Utah!

You are absolutely a byu homer and a very poor writer. I for one are soooooo glad you are pro byu and anti Utah.

The level of passion is equal from the coaching staffs to the players on each team.

This is byu's BCS game. It's a huge game for them.

This is Utah's opportunity to go to their 2nd BCS game in four years. It's a huge game for them.

Wake up and join us in the year 2008. 1984 is nearly a quarter of a century past. Ronald Reagan was in his 1st term as president and none of the current players were born. Utah's domination ended 40 years ago and BYU's ended 20 years ago.

This game means exactly the same to both teams, period. If you pulled out a GPS and actually found your way to the U, you would find their current players would downplay the rivalry to the media as well.

Once again, your article reflects YOUR true feeling.

Your article would have been fine if published in the late 70s or during the 80s but doesn't make sense in 2008.

Dick is calling it how he sees it. I'm a die-hard Cougar fan too, and it seems the BYU players don't get as fired up as the Utes. I imagine it has something to do with age but Utah has its share of RMs too.

The fans on the other hand are a different story ... No difference. This is a fun rivalry.

You forgot to mention the significant body of BYU fans who are sick of being accused of "playing the church card" and "thinking we're better than everyone else". To all Ute fans, LDS and non-: can we stick to football please?

This player saying that Utah fans hate them because the Y has dominated the U for so long..PLEASE.. the last 20 year has not been domination. actually 2004 is what you call domination, 50+ points. The point is that Utah fans hate any Y zombies because they say dumb things like this, "we have dominated you". IT IS THIS SELF RIGHTEOUS AND ARROGANT attitude that we hate. We Utes trash talk as well, but we don't pretend to be anything but rabid fans. Essays like this Dick, insinuate that the kewgs are so well behaved and non affected, when they have BIG mouths like this jeorgensen dude.

I don't know where you are getting this, BYU fans and players are just as much into the Holy War as the Ute fans. The passion for this rivalry is what makes it so great. Do some research about the rivalry next time.

Rivalry week is a chance for the young bucks to lock horns and duel one another with their dull bravado's. Bragging is a young man's game, which lends a flavor of immaturity to many of the posts.

Why does Utah hate BYU? It is because of a double standard. If a Utah player spent time in jail,(as some have and probably will again--not a slam, just a fact), it is no big deal.No one expects any better from Utah! At BYU,a player who had these problems wouldn't make the student body, let alone the team. Now before you start throwing names of BYU players who did bad things, I hasten to point out that not only did most of them get booted, sometimes the coach did as well. If a BYU player or fan looses his cool and says something of does something the least bit "inappropriate", everyone from Utah (and other places) points their fingers and shouts, "hypocrite". If a Utah player steps out of line, so what? Why do some BYU fans hate U of U? Have you ever gone to a game in RES if you are a BYU fan? Last time I was there,we are treated to drunk, X rated Utah fans and my family and I vowed never to go back.So much for "hated' rivalries.

the biggest difference is that at res you can get a diet coke, not sneak it in like you have to at les

by the way i have had a companion smacked in the mouth by a byu coed (no this is not another joke)
when utes won triple overtime basketball game

and have seen byu fans throw drinks and a blanket over the head of oregon fans at a game in provo .

i once heard a man dressed in a blue suit and white shirt and tie yell to a ute basketball player who was black,,, "smile more so we can see where you are"

boorish behavior is not excluded by the honor code i guess

What a funny article. I can appreciate that Harmon "bleeds blue" and that is where this is coming from. But really? The writer tries to make an emperical assessment of something as subjective and malleable as which fans bring more vitriole to the rivalry? Not only is the whole premise of this column ridiculous, but the writer then attempts to add varnish to the false veneer by quoting how BYU players "feel" going into Rice Eccles.

The truth is, BYU has been out of the national spotlight for a long time. True, they had a few weeks this season carrying the banner of potential BCS buster, but that quickly faded. The only real noteriety either school has received came in 2004 and now, with Utah on the cusp of another BCS return this year. Both times the Utes have been the center of national attention, not BYU. So yeah, Utah must envy BYU and that is why they are passionate about the rivalry. If that sort of envy gets a team a BCS bowl win and puts them in position for another--I'll take it, with deleusions of BYU fans in tow.

When I first started attending BYU in 1989 as a freshman coming from the Seattle area I had never even heard of the University of Utah. I later thought that Utah State and Utah were one in the same school. I attended BYU with several other out of state students who thought the same. That would partially explain to me why the rivalry isn't as big of a deal to BYU students.

The way Utah fans have responded to Mr. Harmon's article proves how overwhelmingly one-side the hatred is.

btw, I see the Utes are counting the spring 1896 scrimmage in their win total; just shows how deparate they are for any win. When is the U going to stop counting their wins over high schools and intramural teams in their overall record?

The overall series record is 49-30-4.

U fans are nervous. There is so much riding on this game! I can't remember a game with these implications.

Jorgensen thank U for going to BYU--U belong on that team.

Once again the inferiority complex of Ute fan is evident by what's been posted so far. Utes define their existense based on their ability to beat the Cougs. Harmon is right, I've been to both stadiums during rivalry week and Ute fan without question is downright hate-filled. It's also important to note here: if Ute fan can't win the game he/she attacks Cougar fan. Anyone remember Ute fan swinging fists at the family of a Y player after a Utes loss in SL a few years back?

The unfortunate thing this year is the undertones of the Prop 8 passing in CA. The church [and by association BYU] has become a proverbial punching bag for opponents of Prop 8. The atmosphere at the U lends itself more to being a haven to the gay and lesbian lifestyle. It would be unfortunate, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a few signs in the stands expressing the tolerance and respect that is being so graciously showed to the LDS church these days for standing up for their beliefs.

Dick Harmon continues to show his inability to publish a piece of intelligent, objective journalism. If there is a bigger BYU homer out there, I would like to meet him. It's a rivalry game. Ohio St. and Michigan hate each other ALL year long. Auburn and Alabama hate each other ALL year long. I live among Cougar fans. I read the message boards. They hate the Utes ALL year long.

I live on the east coast and don't get too much coverage of the U or the Y but have loved the rivalry for years. This year is no exception. Its strange how you think Harmon. This years game is big because both teams are good...one team can upset the illogical BCS. One team got clobbers by TCU playing away and the other beat TCU team by few points at home. The results would have been different had the field changed. Anyone should love this years game because it will be competitive. I am not a Y fan because in big games like this, you and your "fans" often show pre-game softness...always saying things like..."oh, its no big deal...just another game"...."Utah takes games like this too serious"....and then get all puffed up when the .500 winning percentage falls your way.

Not to Harmon and the "Coogie Nation"...grow stones...be fans...pull for your team hard before and after the game...when you win...win like a pro...and when you loose....loose like a pro...its no fun when you act ambivalent pre-game and then change posture only after a win...

Go Utes....

I don't hate the Ewet's! I hate their fans! Well at least the ones that really think this is about religion.

My LDS Ewet friends are tolerable and I relish the back and forth with them. It's all about stats, how the year has gone, players that cry, etc. Heck, more than 50% of the Ewet staff, players, school admin, and fans are LDS. So why is this a "Holy War"?

But SOME non-LDS Ewet fans take this as another opportunity to rag on an institution or throw out insults that have nothing to do with this game of football.

I've attended the last 2 games and I could not believe the filth coming from the Ewet fans' mouths during and after each game and they had NOTHING to do with football, and everything to do with actual hatred toward a persons religion and their religious leaders. And what does a banner that says "Hey Beck! I gave your Mom an STD!" have to do with football?

Yes I would say that there is equal "hatred" on both sides, but at least BYU fans channel their hatred toward football instead of personal insults.

Dick is right. I grew up around here and graduated from the U and then moved back East for 22 years. We had a Utah Banner and a BYU banner for our house and we would root for both teams throughout the season and then whoever would make the conference look best by winning the rivalry game. When we moved back a few years ago I felt that things had really changed. Many of the Utah fans I got to know had a disproportionate hate for BYU. While I suppose there are some fanatical BYU fans, the Ute fans seemed to have the clear majority who hate all things BYU. The operative word here is HATE. This year the conference will get another BCS opportunity if Utah wins. ( And BYU stands to get a big chunk of BCS money). So I am counting on Utah to win. But if BYU wins, I have to admit, it will be fun to see all of the sour grapes from the Die hard Utah fans.

Since 1998 the the teams are 5-5 against each other. Since 1988 the teams are 10-10 against each other. I'm pretty sure Utah has stopped looking up at BYU. Still writing Herald pieces Dick.

I thought I was on the Desnews website not the Provo Daily Herald. Maybe the childish behavior is due to the fact that Utah will soon be headed to its second BCS game in four years. Enjoy Vegas again this year Dick. Maybe you guys can get beat by another mediocre 6-6 Cal team. The mountain west conference title is going to go through Salt Lake and Fort Worth for years to come. Start getting used to it.

Ah another gem from Tricky Dick the spin doctor whose words fall from heaven to my ears like manna!

Don't worry about the facts. You have all you need to spin the story so that everything is defined by BYU. And he wonders why virtually every team in the conference (or country if they were relevant) dislike BYU?

Both side have obnoxious fans, but Dick, you are skirting the real reason for the animosity. The real reason is that this game is all about school vs. religion. If it were school vs. school, I would gladly root for the U, but that isn't what much of it is about. It is about bashing Mormons. Therefore as a U grad (my wife also) I have to root for the blue. If (I doubt it ever will) change I will proudly wear crimson and white, or is it black and red?

BYU stole utahs D-line coach a few years ago for the sole purpose of preparing to play Utah every year.

I once had a girl have with me, which afterwards I can only discribe as a D.W.R. (Define WHAT relationship?). There was no relationship - we had gone on a few dates. In her mind, it seemed much more than that.

Same goes for the BYU Utah rivalry. In all my years as a student at BYU, I never heard anyone talk about the U. No one cared that much about the commuter state school up north, or their "OK" football team.

But the Utes have never been able to stop talking about BYU. They have a huge complex of small-man syndrome.

The red-headed step child Utah is getting taken to school by Big Brother BYU on Saturday.

They are 10-10 over the last twenty years. Let's not act like Utah being competitive just started.

I don't know if Utes are more passionate about this rivalry than BYU. I noticed that how my BYU grad. friends always tell me that as well. But I don't think that is the case by reading all the blogs about this game this weekend. It is very heated on BOTHSIDE. I think that is how it is regardless of what they say.

Go Utes!!

"There's nothing like this in college football." You are joking right? You need to get out more often. Let's start with Army-Navy, Alabama-Auburn, and on, and on, and on.

I still can't believe the stupidity of this article. Deseret News, are you actually paying Harmon to write this stuff?

"And there is a hype disconnect. Utah feeds off it; BYU manages it." This statement makes me want to throw up.

After this article, a Utah fan could say ANYTHING and it still wouldn't be as stupid as this.

Harmon, please listen to some sports radio in the state and then I think it is clear that Ute and Cougar fans are pretty close in animosity. This is one reason I stopped listening to sports radio in Utah, because I find the bickering between the fans to be ridiculously insane. I'm one of the rare Utahns that likes to see both schools do well. My bro. who is a huge BYU fan shows a lot of animosity towards the Utes.

Prediction: Utes - 34, BYU - 21

Hey zoobs if Harline is still open, maybe he should get a job! Perhaps a Uof U grad can hire him! GO Utes!!

that BYU is formerly known as Brigham Young High School?
Thx

I believe the reason that there are more Ute Fans in Utah, and especially the Wasatch Front, is that most Utah students are from Utah, they live by their moms and dads, and can't imagine living outside of the 'shadows of the everlasting hills.' Whereas BYU Fans come from around the world and all 50 states, and then return to those 50 states to work and live. They are not afraid to venture outside of their comfort zone. I think both schools are great institutions of higher education and have great fans who support their teams. The difference is that one fan base is local, and one is national/global.

Familiarity breeds contempt.

Grew up in wyoming, torn between brown/gold and BYU blue. Attended games in Laramie, SLC and Provo. Found that the fans in SLC and Laramie to be the most disrepectful and vulgar people I had ever meet on earth at that point in my life, and they still rank right up in the top 5 today.

It is ok to have passion about a sporting event, but when it is taken to the level that is too often seen in Laramie and SLC, when you offend and belittle, its time to grow up and get something in your life that matters.

Maybe that is why the "laramie finger" was not be unexpected last year. That is why the cops will have to escort fans out of the stadium on saturday and why we will probable hear about several assault charges filed from within the antics of sports enthusiasts.

A week from now it won't really matter.

GO Blue. 28-24.

First of all, I remember well the time when this was a lopsided rivalry (and I'm not much older than many of the current players). Much of that 10-10 split record has came in the late 90s to early 00s when the Utes made up some ground and beat BYU several times. And certainly the coaching staffs are old enough (some were even players) to remember when the rivalry was more onesided than it is now, so I think Harmon hit that one squarely on the head (not to say that that is the only reason the rivalry exists, by any means). Secondly, I think Ute fans do have a lot more vested in the rivalry. When Utah loses, there are people calling for the coaches head, regardless of how the rest of the season went. When BYU loses, the fans are crushed, but they don't try to fire the athletic department. It seems that the success of Utah's season (for the fans) is determined by their performance against BYU. Whereas BYU fans measure success on more of a national level. Losing to Utah wouldn't preclude a bowl game and top ten finish, for example.

You and Mr. Jorgensen's theories make about as much sense as saying, "BYU has simply thrown aside passion for this rivalry because they are so hopelessly behind the U since it began. They just gave up caring because it hurt too much to look at that disparity." Utah OWNS this rivalry, but I would not be so stupid as to suggest that the average Y fan cares about that on this Tuesday morning.

I got more excited for the BYU ASU games being from Arizona until that one day I took my 16 year old brother up to Rice Eckles Stadium for the BYU Utah game. Then it changed... I entered a stadium filled with hate like no other stadium. I had seen BYU play in many other venues and this venue had the intensity and dislike for another team I have never seen. I've been to Texas/OU, Michigan/OSU, ASU/UofA games and I had never seen this level of hatred and disrespect for the opponent. My 16 year old brother was hit in the head with a bottle as we sat in the U section (scalped tickets) and my eyes became open to this hatred from up north. The language was unreal with more Fbombs than I heard in a full week at the inner city basketball courts of Chicago. I learned that day how much this game means to the U fans. The number of out of state Cougars is easily 5-10 times the number of out of state Utes. That day made the rivalry for me. I like to see Utah lose now just because of the disgusting/low class behavior.....

Another holier than thou, we are better than you, prideful attitude coming from someone associated with BYU. Not very becoming from a “unbiased” reporter.

Last year's basketball game at the Huntsman center, Zoob fans were chanting "4th and eighteen". So you are telling me that they don't care? Please.

Just want to remind the Utes, regardless of the outsome of Saturday's game:

one team has a national championship, one team doesn't.

Just wanted to remind you.

Wow Dick! Have you ever read the stuff BYU fans post on your comment pages? This is not a one way street, there are idiots on both sides of this rivalry.

Look at how many stupid coogs have commented on your page, and then tell me who has more passion in the rivalry. When utah won 4 years in a row, ute fans didnt say anything or rub it in to coog fans, we just acted like we had actually won a game before. But I have heard harline is still open, and 4th and 18 almost every day since they have happened.