Utah wins a close game in a similar fashion to how BYU has won 2 of the their last 3 and I find a thread about poor Utah sportsmanship. Honestyly, this just comes off as veiled bitterness and sour grapes to me.

I wasn't sure myself what was happening with the pregame confrontation between the two teams but my buddy said he thought it was because BYU was either doing or getting ready for the Haka which has been a source of contention between the two teams in recent years. I don't know if this was the case as I was at the game but I have felt in the past that BYU's insistence to perform this stupid act to a team that has as many or more Polys then they do has led to some of the pregame trouble in recent years.

As for fans in the stands, for the first 3 qtrs, we had a pretty obnoxious BYU fan talking trash and taunting the fans around him. Of course, he and his girlfriend were the first ones out and no where to be seen within seconds after the blocked FG. If the postgame rumors are true about fans yelling things at Bronco then I will agree that was wrong but there are always some stupid fans on both sides. I have witnessed plenty of poor sportsmanship from both players and fans on both sides at these games in recent years. Like Port said, some of BYU players were taunting the crowd throughout the game so it isn't like the trash talk and conduct that can be construed as unsportsmanlike is one sided.

You complain about Martinez talking smack to Payne after the game. How convenient you forgot about your own Max Hall cheap shotting Stevensen Sylevester in the back (and running away afterwards) after he threw last years winning TD in OT. A really classy act in victory to be sure and one that so many on this board lauded as an indicator of Max's competitive spirit that endeared him to them so much more. That is to say nothiing of his embarassing and classless postgame tirade which will live in rivalry infamy for decades to come. I didn't hear any Ute players talking like that after yesterdays game.

The bottom line is it is an intense rivalry that has become even more so given the closeness and dramatic endings of these games in recent years. If you think the poor sportsmanship is limited to Ute fans and players, you need to start taking a closer look at your own team and fans behavior and drop the holier than thou act.