Like BYU.” That’s what it became. McBride put everything into beating BYU, and really made his players fully believe they should always beat them and losing was unacceptable. I remember in I think 1996, when byu won again, some Ute player with tears streaming down his face saying “it ain’t right.” And I truly believe McBride had them believing BYU does not deserve legitimacy or success, and the only way you show them any respect is by preparing hard to beat them prior to the game.

Meyer just made it known more publicly with the “team down south” gimmick. There was already a belief that BYU really shouldn’t exist up at Utah, and the fact that they do makes it all the more important to beat them.