Level of class in our rivalry - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

Colly Wolly · 09-05-2006, 03:47 AM

I just got done watching the FSU Miami game and had to post something. This looks like a really classy rivalry. FSU-Miami has got to be one of the more intense rivalries in the nation (maybe not the most intense, but you get my point...). At the end of the game, the cameras showed a bunch of FSU and Miami players intermingled, on one knee, looked like they were saying some kind of post-game prayer together. Even the fans in the stands seemed pretty classy and tame after the game - FSU and Miami fans right next to each other clapping. It just felt good watching it.

I dont know, maybe its cause I have been on the losing end of it for the last four years, but why cant our rivalry be more like this? Every year you see pics in the paper of fights in the stands, stories of people getting beer thrown on them, etc. Seems like in general immaturity reigns over sportsmanship in the Holy War rivalry for both players and fans.

Thoughts?

il Padrino Ute · 09-05-2006, 03:52 AM

The Utah/BYU rivalry is unique in that religion plays so much a part in it. It really does bring out the worst in the two sides, especially at the extremes.

To be honest, the players and coaches are much closer to what you saw in the FSU/Miami game. The fans are the ones who take it much too seriously.

That said, I agree that it would be nice to see more civility in the rivalry, especially after the game is over. Nobody really should be that affected by a game. But, alas, such is human nature.

Archaea · 09-05-2006, 04:05 AM

We have to start defeating Utah again before they can respect us. Respect will raise the level of decorum.

SeattleUte · 09-05-2006, 05:18 AM

I don't know what you were seeing, Stick it. I can tell you that WA-WA St., Louisville-KY, USC-UCLA, Texas-Oklahoma, Michigan-Ohio St., all the great rivalries I've observed have mutual dislike. Fans don't sit and clap together in my experience. They must be really wusified in Florida.

myboynoah · 09-05-2006, 02:20 PM

I agree with SU, these rivalries generate a lot of dislike. IPU notes that religion spices ours in a unique way.

As for FSU-Miami, I was always under the impression that FSU's biggest rival was Florida. The FSU-Miami series may take on greater importance now that both are in the ACC, but I suspect FSU and Florida retain a special dislike for each other. When I first started working in D.C. a work colleague and Florida alum took the time, quite unsolicited, to explain that FSU was the school for hicks and remedial students and that Florida attracted a much higher class and more intelligence student body. If you can recall, Cougar Board received similar explanations from UMiss folks highlighting the differences between them and MSU the week before we played MSU (the response of Bulldog fans after BYU beat them tended to confirm UMiss warnings).

Jeff Lebowski · 09-05-2006, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

I don't know what you were seeing, Stick it. I can tell you that WA-WA St., Louisville-KY, USC-UCLA, Texas-Oklahoma, Michigan-Ohio St., all the great rivalries I've observed have mutual dislike. Fans don't sit and clap together in my experience. They must be really wusified in Florida.

When I lived in Texas, I was amazed at the Texas-A&M rivalry. Just as passionate, if not more so that BYU-Utah. And it involves many millions more people.

And I have seen a few OSU fans wearing "Muck Fichigan" t-shirts.

UteStar · 09-05-2006, 03:48 PM

Two of my best friends from on the east coast are huge college football fans. One of them is a Notre Dame alumn--he still gets to 2-3 games a year and he has some serious hatred of Michigan. He also has serious issues with USC and Ohio State.

My other bud is an A&M guy and he can't talk about Texas without throwing up in his mouth. There are some pretty intense feelings about their rivalries.

Most major rivalries are pretty brutal. As already mentioned, Utah and BYU is unique because the schools are so close to each other...athletes are often picking just between those two schools...the religion aspect is huge on both sides, etc. It makes it intense.

09-05-2006, 03:47 AM	#1
Colly Wolly Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,281	Level of class in our rivalry I just got done watching the FSU Miami game and had to post something. This looks like a really classy rivalry. FSU-Miami has got to be one of the more intense rivalries in the nation (maybe not the most intense, but you get my point...). At the end of the game, the cameras showed a bunch of FSU and Miami players intermingled, on one knee, looked like they were saying some kind of post-game prayer together. Even the fans in the stands seemed pretty classy and tame after the game - FSU and Miami fans right next to each other clapping. It just felt good watching it. I dont know, maybe its cause I have been on the losing end of it for the last four years, but why cant our rivalry be more like this? Every year you see pics in the paper of fights in the stands, stories of people getting beer thrown on them, etc. Seems like in general immaturity reigns over sportsmanship in the Holy War rivalry for both players and fans. Thoughts?

09-05-2006, 03:52 AM	#2
il Padrino Ute Board Pinhead Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the basement of my house, Murray, Utah. Posts: 15,941	The Utah/BYU rivalry is unique in that religion plays so much a part in it. It really does bring out the worst in the two sides, especially at the extremes. To be honest, the players and coaches are much closer to what you saw in the FSU/Miami game. The fans are the ones who take it much too seriously. That said, I agree that it would be nice to see more civility in the rivalry, especially after the game is over. Nobody really should be that affected by a game. But, alas, such is human nature. __________________ "The beauty of baseball is not having to explain it." - Chuck Shriver "This is now the joke that stupid people laugh at." - Christopher Hitchens on IQ jokes about GWB.

09-05-2006, 04:05 AM	#3
Archaea Assistant to the Regional Manager Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Orgasmatron Posts: 24,338	We have to start defeating Utah again before they can respect us. Respect will raise the level of decorum. __________________ Ἓν οἶδα ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα

09-05-2006, 05:18 AM	#4
SeattleUte fairlds.org Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 10,665	I don't know what you were seeing, Stick it. I can tell you that WA-WA St., Louisville-KY, USC-UCLA, Texas-Oklahoma, Michigan-Ohio St., all the great rivalries I've observed have mutual dislike. Fans don't sit and clap together in my experience. They must be really wusified in Florida. __________________ Interrupt all you like. We're involved in a complicated story here, and not everything is quite what it seems to be. —Paul Auster

09-05-2006, 02:20 PM	#5
myboynoah Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Memphis freakin' Tennessee!!!!! Posts: 4,530	I agree with SU, these rivalries generate a lot of dislike. IPU notes that religion spices ours in a unique way. As for FSU-Miami, I was always under the impression that FSU's biggest rival was Florida. The FSU-Miami series may take on greater importance now that both are in the ACC, but I suspect FSU and Florida retain a special dislike for each other. When I first started working in D.C. a work colleague and Florida alum took the time, quite unsolicited, to explain that FSU was the school for hicks and remedial students and that Florida attracted a much higher class and more intelligence student body. If you can recall, Cougar Board received similar explanations from UMiss folks highlighting the differences between them and MSU the week before we played MSU (the response of Bulldog fans after BYU beat them tended to confirm UMiss warnings). __________________ Give 'em Hell, Cougars!!! Religion rises inevitably from our apprehension of our own death. To give meaning to meaninglessness is the endless quest of all religion. When death becomes the center of our consciousness, then religion authentically begins. Of all religions that I know, the one that most vehemently and persuasively defies and denies the reality of death is the original Mormonism of the Prophet, Seer and Revelator, Joseph Smith.

09-05-2006, 03:48 PM	#7
UteStar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,817	Two of my best friends from on the east coast are huge college football fans. One of them is a Notre Dame alumn--he still gets to 2-3 games a year and he has some serious hatred of Michigan. He also has serious issues with USC and Ohio State. My other bud is an A&M guy and he can't talk about Texas without throwing up in his mouth. There are some pretty intense feelings about their rivalries. Most major rivalries are pretty brutal. As already mentioned, Utah and BYU is unique because the schools are so close to each other...athletes are often picking just between those two schools...the religion aspect is huge on both sides, etc. It makes it intense.