As a passionate hater of the Utes, things have gone much better for me to the extent that I have been able to care less and less about the Utes. I love schadenfreude and the rivalry is a part of my makeup, but in truth comparisons and obsession with them don't matter.

BYU and Utah aren't really rivals anymore - I know some of you will ding me for this but it's true. The rivalry that once was is now just another game, a big game but just a game. It won't mean the same as it did prior to 2011, plain and simple. Why try and articulate whether they are better than they were in 2004 or 2008? Move on. It doesn't matter.

I still hate the Utes, and hope they lose every time they play but paying more than casual attention to their fans (except of course when they lose - fair game) particularly in the local media is counterproductive.

Regal Ute above is basically correct: live and let live.