It is mean spirited, and does nothing but drum up dark and painful memories/feelings. Even when we are on the winning side, half the joy is knowing the victory was at the expense of the obnoxious rivals.
There is no hope that Utah will decide to become a classy program that shows respect to their opponent. And I am tired of the derrogatory religious mockery that is consistently a part of this “great community-building event”.
Why do we continue to pretend that this vitriolic rivalry is a wholesome and positive experience? It is an excuse to hate one’s brother. And I’ll be the first to admit that feelings of anger and even hatred bubble up in my heart each year during the rivalry game. I see certain friends and even brothers in law in a whole different light. It is not fun. It is stressful and seems to deliver some new and unique, foul occurrence each year. The “stolen” accusation is the latest. How disrespectful. Whatever happened to sportsmanship?
My dad took my brother and I to a rivalry game in RES (or whatever it was called 35 years ago). I must have been 10 or 11. I’ll never forget the feeling of shame and fear as F words were screamed at the three of us as we walked out to our car following a BYU win. I don’t care what anyone says who would suggest that both fanbases have their rotten apples and that BYU is equally to blame for bad fan behavior in the rivalry. It’s just not true. I’ve never had the slightest desire to go back to RES since my personal experience as a boy.
I say let the rivalry go. We don’t have a friendly partner in the U. Let’s not try to make it something it will never be. I was so disappointed to see the U in the big 12. It was great to not have to meet them every year. And here we are again.
Years ago, I was hanging with a rougher crowd. My dad took me aside and said “son, you are a stallion and stallion don’t run with swine”.
Might I suggest the same logic applies here.