in the rivalry. I've found with any fan that comes and wants to talk smack if you just turn it back to them by offering a compliment of their team they shut up and you can have a pleasant conversation. In the rare moments someone insists on being a jerk just walk away.

Really though, if a kid comes up and starts popping off about Utah besting BYU, you can just say, "Oh man! That was a crazy game. I thought we had it! You've got a great young team... that Jones kid hit that clutch shot... it was a killer."

You aren't giving up your fandom, and nearly 100% of the time the other person disarms and you can have a pleasant discussion.

If you go into the reffing (which was awful) or about coaches and players getting chippy then you'll have a fight.

So much of life and the interactions you have with people are actually your own choice. What I've described works in so many situations from people angry at work to relationships at church and everywhere else.

Teach your kids that and they'll be fine. When you don't let the actions of others control your emotions and your own outlook life will get better.

Offline as the year progresses and the Utes flounder along (because they will, they are not very good) and BYU has success point that out to your kid as well. BYU sports is not defined by Utah or its fans as much as this board really is.