A picture perfect sunset framed the iconic Wasatch Mountains above Rice-Eccles stadium, while a sea of red and white swayed back and forth on the warm summer evening. Football was in the air, and excitement was everywhere. Not just for the 19th ranked Utes and their dreams – later realized – of returning to a BCS bowl game, but for their often overlooked in-state rivals.
No, not those rivals. I’m talking about the “other” Utah team; Utah State.
Led by former Ute defensive coordinator Gary Andersen, the Utah State Aggies came into 2009 with the intention of reversing a decade long trend of losing, and although the Utes would get the better of the Aggies in the 35-17 opener, Andersen’s Aggies proved change had come to Logan. By playing the Utes tough for the better part of three quarters, USU not only managed to give Utah a scare, but they commanded the respect of the more than 45,000 fans in attendance that evening. Before the night was over, whispers could be heard throughout the press box of Rice Eccles, with almost all in attendance agreeing that the Aggies would be no pushover in future meetings. With a two-year hiatus on the horizon, fans, media members and coaches speculated that future meeting could end in closer final scores, if not the long-awaited Utah State upset in the series.
Could.
The operative word, because after joining the PAC-10 (soon to be the PAC-12) last week, the University of Utah finds itself at an impasse when assembling future schedules, and deciding which games and rivalries it will continue to pursue once outside of the Mountain West conference. Utah and Utah State have played 109 times in the two schools’ histories, the 12th-most played rivalry game in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The two teams have played every year since 1943, with the Utes currently holding a 12-game winning streak over the Aggies.
That’s some lofty history, but it may amount to little as Utah adjusts to its new home in the coming years. The amount of nonconference games that future PAC-12 teams will play beginning in 2011 is still an unresolved issue, and isn’t likely to be decided until the conference holds its annual media day in late July. While an open question mark, it’s more than likely that the answer will be three. Assuming the Utes continue to play their “Holy War” rivalry game with BYU on a yearly basis that leaves two games for Utah each year to fill out the schedule with. Considering the likely challenges associated with playing a BCS conference schedule and BYU, it’s no stretch to imagine the Utes looking towards ‘cupcake’ teams to round out the slate.
Gary Andersen may have inherited a cupcake from former coach Brent Guy, but after a promising 2009 it’s unlikely that the Aggies find themselves among the perennial bottom feeders in years to come. And after the 2009 opener, it’s unlikely that those in Salt Lake feel the same way. So where does that leave future Utah and Utah State matchups? The Utes are currently slated to come to Logan in 2012, and the two teams will play again in 2013. Neither of those games are assured, however, and should USU improve upon its 4-8 record from 2009 in the coming year, one has to wonder if the Aggies will play themselves out of ‘cupcake’ status for a high ranking team like Utah. Given the increase in revenue Utah could see from an impending PAC-12 television deal, and suddenly we’re talking about a school with the ability to shell out big bucks for just about any FBS or FCS underachiever it wants.
Ironically, the question over whether or not Utah and Utah State continue their rivalry could come down to whether or not the Utes continue to pursue their yearly rivalry with BYU. The hotly contested ‘Holy-War’ dates back to 1896 and has featured a total of 91 games between the two schools, with mutual antipathy dominating games in the modern era. But even that rivalry, considered by many to be among the most intense in the sport, could be at risk. If it were to end, or even take a break, it could open the door for a renewal of energy and interest in the Utah-Utah State rivalry.
Could.
Again, the operative word, because for the time being no one is certain whether or not the Holy War will continue. While Utah athletic director Chris Hill has stated publicly that it is his “full intention to continue with that passionate rivalry,” BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe has speculated that the rivalry may be affected by Utah’s move. Even if the two teams take a break, however, the ‘Holy War’ isn’t likely to fade into oblivion, at least according to Utah president Michael Young.
“(The rivalry) is important to us,” said Young. “It’s important to BYU. It’s important to the state and it’s important to generations of alumni. So there’s no intent to give that up.”
If such is the case, three could be a crowd for Utah State, which has neither the passion nor the tradition in its rivalry with Utah that the ‘Holy War’ has. Furthermore, an improved Aggie team in future years would likely represent a no-win scenario for Utah. Fair or not, BCS conference teams are expected to beat non-BCS teams, and when considering future schedules Hill and his program aren’t likely to trade a probable win when faced with the option of booking a feisty Aggie squad or a possible FCS team.
We may not know for several weeks if the Utah-Utah State rivalry will continue into the future, but after an impressive showing against the Utes in 2009, Aggie fans are hopeful that it does. However, as Utah faces tough decisions in scheduling, it’s unlikely that the “other” Utah school will take precedence over BYU, an unfortunate reality which very well may spell doom for one of college football’s most overlooked and longstanding rivalry games.
Adam Nettina is a senior History major and member of the Football Writers Association of America. You can follow him on twitter at twitter.com/AdamNettina
