I actually like nearly all the Utah fans I know in real life and I’m feeling a little guilty in advance. Also, I recognize Utah could well come out of this chaos in great shape.

Those disclaimers aside, here goes:

The Utes have the opposite of the Midas Touch. Everything they achieve turns to ashes not long after. Every summit they reach either gets leveled or a much larger one suddenly appears as soon as they get to the top.

They won two BCS bowls. How much do ‘23 recruits know about the BCS? Unless they’re precociously into the history of college sports, they know next to nothing. The BCS doesn’t exist anymore.

They won the PAC 12 and less than a year later the PAC 12 is on life support. They went to the Rose Bowl. They played an opponent that seemed deflated, uninterested and unmotivated. The opponent’s fan base wasn’t nearly as motivated or enthused. And that does rub off on the players. The opponent had key players opt out of the game.

Then that unmotivated opponent proceeded to spot them a big lead before waking up and setting offensive records for the game.

Even if the PAC 12 survives and manages to stabilize like the Big 12, the Rose Bowl’s importance and prestige has likely fallen off a cliff even before the next game after Utah first got to play in it. Playoff expansion is coming and the Bowl system’s slide into diminished status will accelerate. Utah hardly got to experience a boom from last year before someone let the air out of the tires. Many think Utah’s best option at this point is to leave the league it just won.

Ten years from now, conveying the excitement of the BCS Bowls and the Rose Bowl appearance will take a lengthy preparatory explanation for any recruit. That’s already the case with the BCS. And it may be a lot sooner than 10 years for the Rose Bowl.

Contrast that with BYU’s legacy. We have a ton of historical success that not only endures, but it can be explained in quick short bursts that require no lengthy back story.

National Championship. Boom.
Heisman Trophy for the best player in college football. Boom.
Multiple Sammy Baugh and Davey O’Brien winners for the best senior QB/Best QB in college football. Multiple booms.
Doak Walker winner for best RB in college football. Boom
Two Outland Trophy winners for best lineman in college football (one on offense and one on defense). Boom and Boom.

A legendary coach that transformed the way nearly every team plays the game. That one requires more of a back story. But it’s still cool.

Utah has the things I mentioned above that draw a big “meh” or soon will, an increasingly obscure bit of trivia that the shovel pass was referred to as the Utah pass when it first became popular, and Alex Smith* being the number one overall pick in the NFL draft. That’s about it.

*Rivalry aside I really hope his daughter makes a full and quick recovery.