I don't miss the rivalry. It is the annual opportunity for Mormons at two schools to act like jerks on national television. It also plays up the idea that Mormons cannot get along with the secular world. Utah for everyone else is also a Mormon school. It is not good for the Church's reputation to increase awareness nationally of Jack Mormonism and I think the rivalry game does similar damage. But that's just me.

The main reason I believe the board behaves the way it does toward this game is because independence puts BYU's position in peril and the Utah game is the one game we feel should put BYU on equal footing. That is exactly why Utah shouldn't play the game with us. Dr. Hill is right. Independence is a kneejerk response to being caught flatfooted while the rival outmaneuvered us and the longer we pretend it is viable the longer we risk being relegated to being left out. Conferences are already shutting the door. Time is up and we are playing the persecution card when the man who scammed the community defends the mistake. He should be camped out at Big XII headquarters offering to play for free for the next five years. You want exposure? Play in a good league. Wednesday night games on ESPN is a sure path to not playing on New Years Day.