This has been one hell of a season, especially for Ute fans who've been around long enough to remember how utterly frustrating and demeaning it was in the bad old days.
Not playing BYU this year or next is not just a well-timed break in the rivalry, it gives both fan bases a chance to re-evaluate, a lot of things.
We're now in a position in this rivalry we previously resented deeply, when the shoe was on the other foot. And it's not just a reversal of fortunes, it's two teams finding what are (increasingly clear) different levels in the CFB landscape.
Things are changing before our eyes. We're going to have opportunities to be unlike who we resented, previously.
Look at this post:
http://www.cougarboard.com/board/mes...ml?id=13296731
The Utah tent is getting bigger. I've completely understood Chris Hill's reluctance on stadium expansion. I don't think he ever really considered the need for a bigger tent, from folks we never guessed would be interested in joining.
The P5 / G5 separation gives these people some cover to give us some support. Not playing them next year gives them more cover.
How many people go to Colorado Rockies games for no other reason than it's the major leagues?
Guess what? We're the ML CFB franchise in Utah, with a couple of interesting AAA teams also in the market. The sands in the hourglass are shifting.