Start off with a little RES review:
The Good:
-very loud
-very full
-everyone stood the whole game
-decent game production (though not even close to on par with LES)
-seating aisles are bigger than LES, making it easier for the drunk guys who have to go pee multiple times a game much easier
-lots of just normal, friendly fans

The Bad:
-small
-some really poor losers
-the worst stadium I've every seen in terms of getting in and out of. Abysmal. I'll never complain about leaving LES again.

The incident:
There was a dude right in front of us to our left that was imbibing the entire game. I won't guess on what. Some brown liquid that was more than half empty by at least the 3rd Q shared between him and his friend.

As the game wore on, he was definitely getting more bold in his crap talk. Made a comment about me that could have been construed as an insult. I let it pass. I don't care.

He started filming some of the plays and turned to me on one of them. Didn't approach me but was definitely filming my reaction. Again, whatever, no big deal. But I can tell he's starting to piss my 17 year old off.

On the 4th down, he's filming. This time, he turns and then approaches us with his phone and is clearly taunting us. My son was closest and the guy got close enough that my son swiped the phone out of his hand. And then pushed it down the bench away from the guy.

As you can imagine, this started a decent scuffle. I was trying to keep the guy (and subsequently, his friends) from coming after my son. While also keeping my son (who is not shy to tell people how he feels or to keep the scuffle going) from going after the guy.

To most of the Ute fans credit, most of them were just trying to stop the scuffle. And really felt like they were defending us and telling the dude to settle down.


I was trying to get my son to leave. Game over. We don't need to stay there and fight. I then turn around and see Jake Retzlaff back on the field 10 yards up. I'm THOROUGHLY confused at this point. NO IDEA what is happening.

Now my son REALLY doesn't want to leave. I tell him I'll enjoy watching this from somewhere else better than here. A Ute fan tells us there's some seats close by that we can stand at. I convince my son to move and we end up watching, still confused, the Cougs pull off the weirdest history I've seen.

It's so weird being one of the few happy people amongst a sea of sad people. So awkward, so we took off towards the BYU section across the way to celebrate. Some stupid comments from Ute fans on the way, nothing over the top. Couple of guys clearly trying to bump us or get in our way. No big deal.

Honestly, it added to the experience. Family lore has now been cemented. We had a great time. I think my son likes it more having this happen. 😂