Every November the population must choose a side. Red or blue. Yard signs proudly proclaim where loyalties lie, promptly, yard signs are vandalized/removed by the opposing individuals Bumper stickers and car-window stickers are carefully placed in prominent positions. Smack talk is rampant, discussions are heated, fights can break out, and everywhere you go Red vs. Blue is being discussed and analyzed. Bets are made and media outlets go crazy with opposing stories.
Red vs. Blue.
Families are divided, brother against sister, father against daughter. Relationships are strained, lovers face off on opposing sides, both adamant that their side is best.
Red vs. Blue.
No, I’m not talking about elections, that news is old hat. I’m talking about Holy War. No, not Christians vs. Muslims or something that extreme. I’m talking about football. Wha? Football? On heidikins.com? That’s right, it happens once a year and I’m mostly interested in my outfit, but first let me give you a little background information.
The University of Utah, the flagship of the Utah higher education system, and Brigham Young University, the flagship educational institution of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, are bitter enemies with documented rivalries going back to the 1890′s. Every year when the two teams meet the entire state is a’buzz with excitement. I generally hate football and everything associated with it–except for athletic guys in tight pants–and this game is one even I will watch, or at least attempt to watch. I don’t know the names of any of the players, I don’t know half of what the referees are talking about, and frankly, I don’t care. I’m not really there for the game (and by “there” I mean “curled up next to Handsome reading the latest Vogue”), I’m there for the smack talk.
A few stats:
University of Utah
Established 1850 (ironically, by Brigham Young)
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Colors: Crimson and White
Mascot: Ute / Hawk-thing named “Swoop”
Nickname: The U (a.k.a. Awesome)
Brigham Young University
Established 1875
Location: Provo, UT
Colors: Blue and White
Mascot: Cougar
Nickname: The Y (a.k.a. Lame)
My entire family are Y fans, my ENTIRE family. That’s a lot of blue at family functions. Not that they always wear blue, but they all bleed blue. They talk blue, eat blue, hope blue and talk some more blue. I’m the red sheep, which is much like the black sheep but with more smack talk. I have an uncle (and brother, and father, and two sisters and a handful of friends) who love to give me a particularly bad time about my allegiance. To them I say “neener neener neener!”*
My grandpa, Famp, went to the U. He started playing college football in 1945 and received a red wool sweater with a big, cream “49″ emblazoned on the chest–the year he was supposed to graduate. World War II changed all of that and his college education took a bit longer than suspected. However, Famp kept the sweater. My dad, Lurch, went to the U, and despite his current loyalties to the lame-o Blue School, he inherited Famp’s red football sweater. A few years ago I was talking about the rivalry with my dad and he pulled something red out of the bottom of his closet, he told me I was the only one of his kids who would appreciate it, my grandpa’s red wool sweater.
This sweater is 63 years old but still looks and feels brand new, Shockingly, except for being a bit long in the arms, fits me perfectly, despite the fact that it was made for my football-playing grandpa who was 6’3″ or something. It is thick and scratchy and warm, and even though I only wear it once or twice a year, I absolutely love it. And my Y-fan friends and loved ones have a hard time criticizing my vintage-but-red wardrobe because they don’t have anything nearly as awesome. Go Utes!
*For the record, the Utes whomped the Cougars 48-24 and my school finished the season with a perfect 12-0 record and is heading for a BCS bowl game, just like a “big school” (…If only I knew what “BCS” meant. Clearly, I only watch football for the food. And the fashion magazines. Any sport-talk you have read here is regurgitated information from those in my life who actually do watch sports–”sports” being BYU–edited to reflect the awesomeness of the U of U.)
14 Comments so far
Leave a comment
That sweater is awesome! Who knew an heirloom could be so sexy?
Comment by Britt 2008 November 24 @ 9:10 ami’m way jealous of the sweater. go utes!
Comment by Tenille 2008 November 24 @ 10:31 amThis is the best post about the Holy War that I’ve read. I’m with you about football, who cares? But I won’t even watch the Holy War game. I remember interviewing for some jobs during college, and having my interviewers say something like, “The U, huh? Well, my blood bleeds blue.” And I had to think about it before I figured out they were talking about football. And I thought to myself, “Dude, I don’t care. Let’s talk about this job.” Stupid Holy War. It’s like a religious rite around here.
Comment by Sra 2008 November 24 @ 10:37 amBCS = Bowl Controversy Series, or Bullshit Championship Series. Basically, in order to play for a national championship, you must be a darling favorite of the AP sportswriters. A little bit of it has to do with your actual win/loss record, but more of it has to do with the opinions of the writers. It’s a bunch or crap.
That sweater kicks ass.
Of course, you left out the real colors of note: scarlet and grey. My allegiance is to one of those “big schools”, ’cause I’m not from around here. The campuses of both BYU and the U together would fit inside one corner of Ohio State.
So yes, I’m a fan of the sport. Someone had to represent, right?
Comment by sovknight 2008 November 24 @ 11:17 amI love that old sweater. And this is the first time I’ve heard of this particular Holy War, so I’m glad to have this little bit of knowledge in case I ever end up in Utah during football season.
Comment by Noelle 2008 November 24 @ 11:24 amUm, I already knew about this rivalry, because there was a big article about it in the New York Times this weekend. You guys are famous! Have you read it? It’s here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/22/sports/ncaafootball/22utah.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=holy%20war&st=cse
Comment by Jess 2008 November 24 @ 1:40 pmThat sweater is fabulous–go Red!
The Red Sox have made the connection b/w female fans and fashion, offering pink jerseys, hats, and even some that spell out team names in sparkly rhinestones. Some long-time fans hate this, but I say “Anything that keeps them from cheering for the Yankees is okay with me…”
Comment by Trish Ryan 2008 November 24 @ 2:47 pmThat sweater is awesome. I read magazines during the superbowl, too… which is the only football game I watch each year
Comment by Operation Pink Herring 2008 November 24 @ 3:05 pmYou need to come to our family party…my dad and hubby are the only ones who cheer for the wrong (Y) team!! I love that sweater, you are so lucky to have it and I’m glad you know how to represent in the ‘blue’ family clan!! Way to go girl for choosing the right!!! Go UTES!!
Comment by Erin 2008 November 24 @ 4:34 pmlove the sweater and the serious rivalries, always a fun time.
Comment by katelin 2008 November 24 @ 6:33 pmmy dad went to the U my mom went to BYU, so i grew up with the attitude of being happy whenever either team wins, except for when they play each other, and when that happens i gotta route for the Y. But you look seriously hot in that sweater, i am jealous!
Comment by lacey 2008 November 24 @ 8:37 pmHolla Utes!
Comment by Andrea 2008 November 25 @ 10:02 pmWhat a wonderful thing to have. Utah by 5 get the red out! U of U has always had a good football team.
Comment by Jen 2008 December 4 @ 2:13 pmOK, So, I am like almost two years late reading this post…and who knows if you will ever see my comment, but: SNIFF. The sweater totally took me by surprise and brought tears to my eyes! I wanted to go to the U but I ended up at the Y, so once the holy wars start up I’m always all “whatever, can we watch something else?” because not even The Rivalry can entice me to watch an entire football game!
Comment by Amy So 2010 July 1 @ 8:24 pm