I grew up in California and was a die hard BYU fan. Holiday Bowl every year, saturday afternoon games either at the Stake Center or picking up KSL over some sideband radio my old man bought. Never honestly knew about a rivalry with Utah. True there wasn't much of a rivalry then but I knew nobody who was a Ute fan.
In 1994 my hometeaching comp was a short fat kid from Viewmont High who was a diehard Ute fan. My first exposure to rivalry smack was on the LDS Institute web board for the West Point Branch. Still I was a few months removed from my mission and really had yet to recapture that competitive spirit and love of intercollegiate sports. 1996 when both Army and BYU had great years brought back all those memories and I was once again hooked. But still even while realizing that Utah had become a decent program, it was not really a rivalry as I knew no Ute fans and thought the 3 year run of wins was a fluke and that '96 set order back to the Universe.
Fast forward to 1998, I always loved Rick Majerus. Loved how he ran his program and loved the toughnosed style of play. In 1998 Utah made their great run to the NC game. I loved it. I rooted for the Utes and even bought myself a Ute hat. Clearly, I would still love for BYU hoops to beat them, but I liked their style of play and loved Big Rick.
I continue to follow BYU from a far in Louisiana until 2000 - when I got my first dial up internet account. Then I discovered these boards. Then I discovered not only a rivalry, but the fact that it makes people act like total assholes. While I still love Majerus it became impossible for me to continue to like Utah anything once I discovered how much many of them hated, and I mean HATED, all things BYU. So yes in time I developed my own distaste for Utenation as a consequence.
However, without the internet I don't know how much I would understand the nature of the rivalry. Without living in Utah I have had so little exposure until I found the addiction of sports message boards on the world wide web.
PS I still have the hat if a Ute wants it.
