USU’s beard-out with BYU not limited to November

“It’s itchy,” said sophomore in agricultural education, Robyn Evans as she tugged on the thick, black, synthetic beard held to her face with an elastic band.

Standing on the metal bleachers of the Maverick Stadium four rows away from the football field, she said she put up the itchiness for social reasons.

Beard-out social reasons.

Long or short, curly or straight, scraggly or bushy, Utah State University’s beards, real or fake, beat a certain student population — Brigham Young University’s.

And on Saturday at the USU vs. BYU game, that disparity was made very clear.

For the first 750 to enter the stadium Friday, thick, black beards were passed out as part of the beard-out, which was meant to raise awareness for Beards for Wayne.

And show off some USU facial hair.

This time of year, USU memes often depict the disparity of facial hair between the two because of a phenomenon known as No-shave November.

According to no-shave.org, No-shave November began as a way to increase awareness for those with cancer. Participants can also donate the money they would normally use for grooming to various charities.

This year, USU students participating in No-shave November can join Beards for Wayne, a fundraiser for Wayne Nielsen, a Cache Valley resident, with muscular dystrophy.

But no matter the cause or season, BYU doesn’t even rival USU’s ability to grow beards.

According to the BYU honor code, “Sideburns should not extend below the earlobe or onto the cheek. If worn, moustaches should be neatly trimmed and may not extend beyond or below the corners of the mouth. Men are expected to be clean-shaven; beards are not acceptable.”

The only exception for beards is if a doctor from the BYU Student Health Center faxes a recommendation and the student’s request for a beard is approved.

However, Utah State University students are free to grow beards anytime of the year for any reason.

While education sophomore Conner Pendergast said he likes No-shave November because it gives him an excuse to grow out his beard, he’s not limited to the month for growing facial hair.

“I’ve always like beards and being able to grow my facial hair, and you know, my wife really likes it,” said Conner Pendergast, a sophomore in education. “She let me have my beard for my wedding, so she would prefer letting me have all this facial instead of none at all.”

Mechanical engineering sophomore Joshua Guymon said he grows his beard, which goes past his chin, because he couldn’t grow facial hair while serving in the Navy.

He said once it got to a certain length, he just didn’t want to cut it.

Business administration senior Tyler Ketron said he always has a beard, whether or not it’s No-shave November.

“When it’s long enough, you can shave your face to where you can have a better jaw line or whatever,” Ketron said. “That’s what I use it for when it gets longer than this.”

But not everyone is as enthusiastic about facial hair.

“I get weird looks sometimes from old people,” Guymon said. “The other day I was outside my apartment alone and some lady was walking by and kind of walked faster.”

And there are some downsides to growing a beard.

Ketron said beard hair can get caught in the grower’s nose or mouth and it can be itchy at times.

“It keeps my chin warm, that’s really only the benefit,” Guyman said. “I don’t comb my hair, but I have to comb my beard.”

The time it takes to grow a beard depends on the person, but the end result is worth it for some.

“It takes patience,” Guymon said, “You look terrible for like three months so you just have to deal with that.”

But for those who don’t want to or can’t grow beards, the beard-out offered a chance to experience the good and the bad of facial hair.

“It’s keeping my face warm,” said biology senior Jacob Blotter, as he stood in the 20 degree weather for the BYU vs. USU football game. “I feel like it’s a little fun we can have with them [BYU].”

— katie.l.lambert26@gmail.com
@klamb92