The Mormon Dilemma (Don't Worry It's a Basketball Article)

The Mormon Dilemma (Don’t Worry It’s a Basketball Article)

Written by an unbiased fan: Colton V. Thompson

For years there has been a hate and rivalry, (recently renewed) between BYU and Utah State. Cougar fans will deny this. The objective? To find out why BYU is in denial.

But Aren’t You Biased? No. Allow myself to give a brief background of……myself. (Austin Powers bit) Being an Aggie runs in my blood. My father graduated from the fine institution of Utah State University. Cousins have excelled here. Brothers have attended for a plethora of years. (Never graduating) However, my roots are actually at the base of a BYU tree. In the glory years, my grandfather cheered for a Lavell Edwards ran football dynasty. My own father used to claim BYU as his “favorite team.” Currently, many well respected family members and friends “Bleed Blue,” and give Brigham Young a fine name. Let’s analyze these two schools and why such a rivalry exists.

Why BYU Hates Utah State: The “Y” faithful like to dub Utah State their “Little Brother.” Many fans enjoy pretending that USU is not a “rival,” and that they simply don’t care about the Aggies. The Cougars view students in Logan as rejects. “They weren’t accepted into the Lord’s School,” one Provo lover commented, “so they settled for Utah State.” While trying to maintain a clean, well-polished image, BYU hates the open blaspheme of USU. Students in Cache Valley sin; living in co-ed dorms, drinking soda pop, and energy drinks. They sometimes miss their Priesthood meetings, grow stubble, and use the word “Hell” when not speaking of the fiery inferno where Satan lives. The previous few sentences were a bit “overboard sarcastic,” but in all seriousness, Aggie fans are rowdy. A true blue Aggie friend of mine attended a basketball game at the Marriot Center in the heart of the Cougar Student Body. Was he beaten? The opposite. This old boy was welcomed, and made a friend. On the contrary, a USU student attended last Friday’s anticipated basketball game at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, and boldly stood in the Aggie Student Section (cleverly dubbed “The hUrd”) wearing a grey Brigham Young University Cougars T-shirt. Was he beaten? Nearly. The entire stadium joined in chants such as “Kick him out,” “Stuuuupid,” and “Traitor.” The poor sap was heckled all game. The height of embarrassment for Utah State was reached when a portly, out of shape, balding 25 year old student wobbled up the steps (huffing and puffing), with a bright red face. As tears almost came from his eyes he yelled “You don’t deserve to be here!!!” “You are an ******* Trader!” I am no BYU advocate, but I was completely bothered as an Aggie when Fatso thought it was his moral obligation to yell obscenities at some BYU geek. The razzing became so bad, security had to talk to the young man and see if he wanted to move for his own safety.

Let’s not get confused. The chants were great. The heckling was welcomed. The anger from “Heathco” was a bit extreme. Yell at the players, leave the fans alone. At no time should a spectator feel as if they are not safe. Its’ guys like the Aggie Extremist who influence BYU fans to dislike Aggie fans.

Cougar faithful may also dislike the Ag because of their athletes. Football players are recruited from California, Texas, and Florida. Many USU athletes are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Certainly this rubs BYU the wrong way. While the Coug cheer on returned missionaries such as Jimmer Fredette, Charles Abouo, Brandon Davies, and Jim McMahon; (Oh…wait) Heathen Aggies are rooting for Jaycee Carroll, Tyler Newbold, and Brady Jardine. Good heavens, I want to remain in the middle of the road with this article, but I am struggling to do so. Ok, bottomline: Aggie fans can be too raunchy, loud, annoying, and sometimes downright mean. Some Cougar fans have complained that USU students “forget their values when cheering.” Good point. There are moron Ag fans who take heckling to an extreme; they don’t know anything about a sport, are whiny, and go overboard. These members of the hUrd give the rest of us a bad name.

Why Utah State Hates BYU: I’m salivating. Just kidding. But seriously. Bronco Mendenhall. Jimmer Fredette. Honor Code. Max Hall. Self-Righteous. Arrogant. Max Hall. “More Holier Than Thou.” Judgmental. Max Hall.

I need to share a disclaimer: Not all BYU athletes or fans are the way I will portray them to be. The Kamauu family, Jake Webber, Trevor Feusner, and many of my relatives are sincere followers of the “Y.” Let it be known that this is a generalization; and the views expressed are not necessarily my own, but those of the Aggie Student Body.

The things shared in the opening paragraph only name a few. Most USU advocates feel they are judged by BYU students. The dweebs from “Happy Valley” come off as snobbish. “When you're doing what's right on and off the field, I think the Lord steps in and plays a part; magic happens.” –Austin Collie

Ignorance. Any Mormon outside of Utah is raised to enjoy BYU. All the little deacons cannot wait to fill out their application to Brigham Young. Where else could one go to find an eternal companion? It bothers many that “Heber” who was raised in Indiana, wears glasses, is a diehard member of the Chess Club, has never played an organized sport, proudly flaunts his “Band of Brothers” BYU Football shirt and talks smack to opposing schools. BYU fans are BYU fans because they don’t know any better. “I’m Mormon, I should like BYU. How about that Steve Young? ….And Danny Ainge??? They were great!” (The author wants to make jokes about Harvey Unga and Brandon Davies but will not stoop to that level. I think it silly that so many constantly ridicule and mock Davies for “porking” out of wedlock. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”) I’ve had the most unintelligent athletic conversations of my adult life with avid BYU fans who know nothing about football or basketball. I’ll leave it at that.

Ignorance. (Again) While sitting in JCOM 1500, I overheard a conversation about the upcoming basketball game. “This is a big game, right?” said a happy USU female student. “It’s big for Utah State, but not for BYU,” replied the 5’4 BYU cheering jabroni. I wanted to turn around and pop him in the jaw. I’ve heard over and over and over and over how BYU does not view the Ag as a rival! (Check Isaac Wood’s Facebook Status Updates) Incredible! The Provo Happy Clan mounts a 4th quarter come from behind football victory against the lowly Aggies, and they ACT AS IF THEY WON THE NATIONAL TITLE. Pandemonium. Utter Chaos. Brigham Young students knocking over security guards, storming, rushing, clawing, jumping, singing, yelling, laughing, celebrating. You would have thought the Millenium was here. As an Aggie fan sitting stunned in the stands, (Nice prevent defense Gary) I wasn’t sure what brought my 205 lb. (“In your bra!”) frame more shock: The fact that USU blew yet another 4th quarter lead, this one in the final 50 seconds….or the way the Cougar Elite were acting. I was embarrassed as a Mormon and a football fan. Here’s a group of pompous pricks who treat us as their “kid brother,” and act as if they are leagues above us, swinging from the jumbo-tron, and tearing down goal posts. If you expected to beat us, then don’t rush the field. Some Coug argue that Aggie fans did the same thing the year before. OF COURSE we did! We were a terrible football squad, who hadn’t beaten BYU in years! The game was on ESPN! Brigham Young was a 20 point favorite!

This article is more meant for basketball anyway. BYU has been a superior football program, and any Cougar follower will let you know about it….referencing games, coaches, and players from the 1980’s. However, that will soon change…as Utah State is now the better football team. This isn’t proven, but if 10 games were played between the Ag and Coug….the Ag would win 7 of them. Not only are we a basketball rival, but now football.

Anyway, back to hoops. Those who “Bleed Blue” in Utah Valley swear (not literally of course) up and down that their program is better. “You got Jimmered!” “NCAA tournament victories!” Screw you. Over the past 11 meetings, the Aggies are 6-5 against BYU. That’s not a rivalry? Eight of the games were decided by 6 points or less. When Cougar Crazies mention their basketball program being better, it makes me sick. Recently, we are better. “You lost in the 1st round!” Cougar Alum Parley P. Benson remarks. BYU would have lost to Kansas State too. The Aggies constantly earning a 12 seed has nothing to do with BYU being “better,” but everything to do with the scheduling of Stew Morrill. Don’t get me started on that. We are a rival whether you like it or not. Get over it. Stop making excuses as to the reason you lost. Don’t fall back on “Our program is better.” The next 10 years will prove my point.

Are We Done Yet? Utah State fans can be stupid. Threatening fans, creating hypocritical chants, and being blatantly nasty are a few things the student body should work on. BYU fans are much worse.