It’s a great time to be a Ute football fan

[ProudUte]

I have been a Ute football fan since the early 1960s. I remember the Liberty Bowl of 1964 (first college football game played indoors). The first year I had season tickets was in 1974. We went 1-10. It was a terrible year, but I still had fun.

There was no way that we ever thought that our Utah football team would ever be rated, play in the Sugar Bowl (and beat Alabama), get invited to the PAC 12, go to two Rose Bowls, beat BYU nine consecutive times, etc.

Now we are picking up some of the top recruits. We have a legitimate chance to be in the CFP this season. We have many NFL players who play key roles for their respective teams. We have a beautiful stadium that sells out every week. I remember when we were lucky to get 20,000 fans for a game.

The 70s and 80s were tough times for Ute football. BYU dominated us and the entire WAC conference. They had a great football program and we did not. The world has changed in the last 35 years since we were beaten by BYU 70-31 in 1989.

Thanks to Ron McBride, Urban Meyer, Dr. Hill, Kyle Whittingham, and donors like the Rice, Huntsan, and Eccles families.

So, yeah, it’s a great time to be a Ute. I am going to sit back and enjoy the ride in 2024.

Go Utes!!!

[Jim Vanderhoof]

I remember the nightmares of 70’s and 80’s proud Ute. BYU would beat us easily every time and would rub it in our faces. Never has the phrase “you can dish it out but you can’t take it” been so appropriate as now.

Thank goodness we had basketball to look forward to back then. Listening to Y fans complain about Ute fan behavior toward them makes me laugh. Karma is real and they lost their national brand long ago.

My hat goes off to all the LDS Ute fans that have weathered the storm and now enjoy a diverse fan base that all root for our beloved Utes.

[Brettski]

Yeah it was pretty much kill or be killed in the late 80s / early 90s when I started caring. In fact I didn’t have any ill will toward BYU growing up to that point I just knew my family was an Utah family.

A couple of really negative experiences with adult Y fans in my childhood at LES with a friend who invited me to the penn state BYU cemented my disdain for them.

The toxic nature of the rivalry was 90% driven by pious pricks we all had to deal with. Once Utah started winning it was glorious to dish it back. I will admit, I didn’t hold back.

It’s a great time to be a fan now. I just wish basketball was still on track but the way ncaa men’s hoops is going it might not be that big of a loss.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

I remember sitting in the student section and a couple BYU football players came up to the student section took off their helmets and started taunting us before the game. It had snowed the night before so there was snow in the bleachers. One of them pointed to his package.It was Todd Christiansen. The arrogance got the best of and I nailed him in the forehead with a snowball. About the only thing we got to cheer about that game.

[Utegator]

The more people see SLC the more players will want to play at Utah.

[Grayshirt]

I grew up outside of the Salt Lake Valley, but in northern Utah and I recall the days of being the only guy in my ward that wore a UTE cap to various outings, and getting crap for it by byu fans. During local city/county festivals other UTE fans would react positively, with a “Go Utes!”, a thumbs up, or say, “I like your hat!” when they saw me sporting UTE swag. Nowadays, it’s so common, there’s never a reaction.

And now being in the new Big 12, with all the blue blood programs vacated, Utah has a really good chance to establish themselves as the 500-pound gorilla of a power conference!! That’s amazing just to think about, and it emphasizes just how great it is to be a UTE Fan today.

I probably haven’t been this excited for the season since 2011.

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