I posted the following question to my facebook:
Do you think that the BYU v. U of U sports rivalry has gotten out of hand?
I posted it once during class and again Thursday Morning. I got a variety of responses including:
The first Post:
- Samantha Slaugh Every year. Perhaps someday it will all be put into perspective.....Wednesday at 8:19pm ·
The Second Post: (I asked for feedback)
- Leanna Criddle i don't think it has at all. In fact i wish it would get more intense and more exciting!Thursday at 9:58am ·
- Ryan L Parker I do i mean its just a game not the end of the earth but its a fun timeThursday at 10:01am via Facebook Mobile ·
- Joshua Johnson I think it was worse when Urban Meyer was coach at the U. He did not like BYU and the feeling was mutual. In contrast now the U's coach Whit is a Y grad, and I think even if there's still a spirit of rivalry, he and Bronco respect each other. Back in the day, McBride and LaVell liked each other as well and got along well enough and that kept the rivalry from getting superheated. That's my take; that we're in a recovery period.Thursday at 10:29am ·
- Sara Orgill I think that right now the coaches are good - they seem to have a healthy respect for each other. I think some of the players get a little too intense (I still think Max Hall's statements last year prove that true), which in turn makes the fans get a little bent out of shape. Overall, I'm glad we have such a close rivalry, but wish that people didn't get so extremely heated about it.Thursday at 5:19pm ·
- Kevin O'Keefe i think sports rivalries and 'team spirit' in general are out of hand and over the top and people just wind up becoming overly violent and aggressive without reason, venting stress and frustrations that they've never learned or been taught how to deal with properly in what are, in reality, inappropriate ways, but because others around are participating as well, they think it is appropiate.
- Thursday at 8:59pm ·
Most people (except two, John and Ryan) are or were at one point BY
U students. John is a U of U graduate (and my cousin.) So, generally people think it has been out of control before or is now out of control. On game day, I was in the airport waiting to fly back to Provo. There were TONS of people talking about the game. One woman asked what the result of the game was and when I told her she said "it sounds like it was an exciting game." I surprised myself and replied "for some teams." Then I turned around and slumped down in my chair as my best friend (Debbie Rafferty) from high school (who is a U of U student) texted me "Utah Forever!" I responded with: "How is being a Utah MAN going for you? haha :P" That seemed to be the end of the conversation.
The thing that really made me feel like the rivalry was out of hand was what I heard from friends about treatment by the U of U students after the game. You know that a team is going too far when they knock over the opposing team's kicker after a game. Then they proceeded to take an ax and hack away at a "bloodied" BYU helmet.
The "Holy War" rivalry can be a totally healthy/fun thing, but when the players are blowing it out of proportion, something needs to be done. These are role models that need to be setting a good example for their fans.
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