I have always routed for BYU. I liked a lot of their old time players-mostly QB's-McMann, Young, Detmer, Bosco etc. I also always liked the calmness and professional demeanor of LaVell Edwards. I also grew up not liking the Utah Utes. I didn't care for McBride or Majerus or many of their players. Any coach that can scream the F-word at his team knowing that cameras are on him is no role model for kids in my opinion. Since my childhood, I have watched the BYU/Utah games and have formed some of my own opinions.
I hate it when people call it the "Holy War." It starts as a rivalry, soon escalating to bitterness and ending in a crescendo of absolute hatred. Holy War? Somehow implying that the Utes are the non-believing mongrels fighting the Holy Crusaders of BYU? I have been to several Utah/BYU games and am always amazed at the ignorance and absolute lack of civility between blue and red wearing fans. It actually gets annoying to go to the game. Elsewhere in the country, there are many rivalries bigger and older than the Cougar/Utes. I have noticed though that these are healthy rivalries. There is a mutual respect among fans (granted some exceptions) but it doesn't have the same religious/cultural stigma that the Utah based rivalry does. Recognizing the fact that not all Mormons are BYU fans and not all non-Mormons are Utah fans, I am merely calling it how I see it-As if somehow the winner rules the state as a Mormon/non-Mormon territory for the next year? Perhaps it is only an outlet for frustration that builds between Mormons/non-Mormons all year and the game just gives them a socially acceptable outlet to scream and shake fists at each other. So I'm not sure that I have another "Holy War" in me for 2009. If it's a football game, and a competitive one, I'm a fan.
So here I sit typing, watching the Utah Utes represent the MWC and defeat the SEC's crown jewel Alabama Crimson Tide. I'm glad that a team from Utah did so well. I think Kyle Whittingham is a classy coach and that reflects on his players as well.
I hate it when people call it the "Holy War." It starts as a rivalry, soon escalating to bitterness and ending in a crescendo of absolute hatred. Holy War? Somehow implying that the Utes are the non-believing mongrels fighting the Holy Crusaders of BYU? I have been to several Utah/BYU games and am always amazed at the ignorance and absolute lack of civility between blue and red wearing fans. It actually gets annoying to go to the game. Elsewhere in the country, there are many rivalries bigger and older than the Cougar/Utes. I have noticed though that these are healthy rivalries. There is a mutual respect among fans (granted some exceptions) but it doesn't have the same religious/cultural stigma that the Utah based rivalry does. Recognizing the fact that not all Mormons are BYU fans and not all non-Mormons are Utah fans, I am merely calling it how I see it-As if somehow the winner rules the state as a Mormon/non-Mormon territory for the next year? Perhaps it is only an outlet for frustration that builds between Mormons/non-Mormons all year and the game just gives them a socially acceptable outlet to scream and shake fists at each other. So I'm not sure that I have another "Holy War" in me for 2009. If it's a football game, and a competitive one, I'm a fan.
So here I sit typing, watching the Utah Utes represent the MWC and defeat the SEC's crown jewel Alabama Crimson Tide. I'm glad that a team from Utah did so well. I think Kyle Whittingham is a classy coach and that reflects on his players as well.
So do me a favor, if you are a fan of either of these Utah teams, and you hear someone call it the "Holy War" act civil and kick 'em in the knee.
4 comments:
I've been a U fan all my life, graduated from there, etc. I have several reasons for not liking BYU, but the main one is that they are a poor reflection of my religion to the world. I'm not saying that Utah students behave any better or are any more respectful than BYU students, but the Y students are representing my faith to the world, which is much more personal than just representing my school or my state. I have personally witnessed more Y students and athletes use extremely foul language, lude behavior, and commit horrifically unsportsman like acts than I can count. I think BYU is a good school for education purposes, but I don't think they should have sports there. Sports tend to bring out the ugly side of people, and what they are representing (or should be representing) to the world is far too important to let it get ugly. For me it's not a holy war - I agree that term is stupid. For me it's way more personal than that. Every game or event involving students from the Y just causes more disappointent in my eyes. I know this might seem like a strong reaction to sports, but I've met and known too many people who believe all Mormons are like the Y students they see. Yes it's dumb that they project that negative image onto all of us, but isn't it a shame that more of the students there don't take their image (and thusly the image of the Church) more seriously?
Thanks for your comment Holly.
I think that the church has made a purposeful descision to have a University with the Church's name on it. I agree that the student that go there should take their role as an example to the world more serious but I think it may be throwing the baby out with the bathwater when you talk about removing all athletics from BYU. I think that the school itself and its athletic programs have been and are intended to be a tool to educate not only the students that go there but also to be a major college with Mormon ties. It has exposed the country to the church through the athletic programs. Rather than eliminate the athletic programs, perhaps focus should be placed on the image that the fans make of their team and church. And you'll always have fans that reflect poorly on their teams but honestly, the jerk's behavior has nothing to do with the team itself.
BYU is not the only Division 1 school to be directly associated with a religion. Notre Dame, TCU, SMU just to name a few. When I see the fans of Notre Dame act inappropriately, I don't judge the Cathlolic religion based on the behavior of their schoools' football fans-who may or may not be Catholic in the first place. BYU just happens to be the largest privately owned University in the US. The church also owns and runs 3 other colleges that do not have athletic programs.
I guess I see it a little different in that the church provides an excellent opportunity for the rest of the world to see that Mormons aren't shut-ins living inside Utah having nothing to do with the outside world. It does make a statement that not all players who go to BYU are members of the church but they are still all held to a strict honor code. I think many probably find it refreshing to know there is a school that doesn't condone riotous campus life. Like the school or not, many questions about the church and much misionary work has been done through the University and it's programs. Some good, some bad..but in the end, I think the programs are a good tool for the church.
This also leads to other interesting topics such as the church's investment involvements in other business. Banking, Insurance, Real Estate, land-ownership, retail etc. I work in an office building leased out by the church.
Thanks for your comment Holly.
I think that the church has made a purposeful descision to have a University with the Church's name on it. I agree that the student that go there should take their role as an example to the world more serious but I think it may be throwing the baby out with the bathwater when you talk about removing all athletics from BYU. I think that the school itself and its athletic programs have been and are intended to be a tool to educate not only the students that go there but also to be a major college with Mormon ties. It has exposed the country to the church through the athletic programs. Rather than eliminate the athletic programs, perhaps focus should be placed on the image that the fans make of their team and church. And you'll always have fans that reflect poorly on their teams but honestly, the jerk's behavior has nothing to do with the team itself.
BYU is not the only Division 1 school to be directly associated with a religion. Notre Dame, TCU, SMU just to name a few. When I see the fans of Notre Dame act inappropriately, I don't judge the Cathlolic religion based on the behavior of their schoools' football fans-who may or may not be Catholic in the first place. BYU just happens to be the largest privately owned University in the US. The church also owns and runs 3 other colleges that do not have athletic programs.
I guess I see it a little different in that the church provides an excellent opportunity for the rest of the world to see that Mormons aren't shut-ins living inside Utah having nothing to do with the outside world. It does make a statement that not all players who go to BYU are members of the church but they are still all held to a strict honor code. I think many probably find it refreshing to know there is a school that doesn't condone riotous campus life. Like the school or not, many questions about the church and much misionary work has been done through the University and it's programs. Some good, some bad..but in the end, I think the programs are a good tool for the church.
This also leads to other interesting topics such as the church's investment involvements in other business. Banking, Insurance, Real Estate, land-ownership, retail etc. I work in an office building leased out by the church.
Sorry that my comment got cut off a little - unless it's just on my computer that it's doing that. I'm like you in that I don't judge other schools based on the performance of their athletes or students, but I think that's rare. Most people are dumber than that, especially when it comes to Mormons. We just always get the raw end of the deal, and I know that it's probably just because Satan's working harder against us than others, but it still seems to rub me the wrong way. I know the students' behavior doesnt' have anything to do with the team, but just as much of the bad behavior I have witnessed has been by the team members, which obviously does have to do with the team. I know that they will never get rid of the sports program there, and I do support Church leaders that have made the decisions regarding BYU sports, it's just sad that there doesn't seem to be much of an effort to clean up at least the act of the athletes, even if you can't control the students. Just a little venting on my part. Some of my best friends are Y fans and we have an awesome friendly rivaly going. Too bad it can't be that way for everyone.
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