The Holy War - Utah Rivalry Game - College Football

The University of Utah (the heathens) vs. BYU (the momo's). ESPN tonight. 

Not a big deal to anyone but folks in Utah, but it's a big deal here. And since the Utes joined the PAC -12, the game has been happening earlier in the season, not during the traditional rivalry week at season's end when both were in the Mountain West. Looks like BYU's headed to the Big 12 now.   

Utes have taken it 9 years in a row and there's no game in '22 or '23, so bragging rights for three years rest on this.

When Bronco Mendenhall was coach, it was so easy to hate him and the Cougars, the self-righteous bastards.

But Kalani Sitake is such a nice guy. As a former-Ute coach for over a decade (under Whittingham), he's brought a lot of mutual respect to the rivalry. Not quite the Hatfield's and McCoy's like it used to be. 

"Both head coaches were coached by legendary BYU coach LaVell Edwards, when Utah's Kyle Whittingham was an all-conference linebacker for the Cougars from 1978-81 and BYU's Kalani Sitake was a fullback on Edwards' final teams from 1997-2000. Both coaches credit the late Edwards' influence on their playing and coaching careers and his impact off the field in their lives."

"The Cougars will do everything they can to stop the streak from stretching to 10.

And if they fall? They'll rise up and congratulate their longtime rivals, because that's how head coach Kalani Sitake is and that's a personality that has rubbed off on his team in his sixth season as head coach.

"In the rivalry, I have been on both sides, and I have had family that have been on both sides, so there are really good people all over this place, especially in the rivalry games," Sitake said. "And I think it does really good things for the soul to wish good things on people. I want to beat Utah, I really do.

"But afterwards, I wish them success and hope they do well. Wishing bad things on good people is not good for the soul."

If any sports fans care to read... https://www.ksl.com/article/50238662/its-the-hope-that-kills-you-for-byu...

https://www.ksl.com/article/50236473/patrick-kinahan-no-point-in-minimiz...

A favorite rivalry pic of the angel Moroni (at Alex Smith's last home game at the U before the Fiesta Bowl resulting in the undefeated season).