Holy War (Utah vs. BYU)

The Holy War is a college football rivalry game played between the University of Utah Utes and the Brigham Young University Cougars. The term Holy War, rather than denoting a war between religions, refers to a battle between church and state. It is as if the players on both sides of the ball are fighting for their lives, families, freedom, and religion. The name 'Holy War' is obviously derived from the fact that BYU is a church owned school (LDS) and Utah is the flagship, state institution of higher education.

The Rivalry

The Holy War is one of America's oldest and most heated college football rivalries. In fact, the schools even differ on when the first game was played. Utah claims that the first game was played in 1896. BYU on the other hand claims that the rivalry dates back to 1922. For historical purposes, 1896 is the date most used when referring to the start of the Holy War. The Utes lead the all time series 53-33-4.

In the last 20 meetings, the record stands at 10-10, with the longest winning streak on either side being 4 games long. BYU has won the last two matchups in 2006 and 2007 with Utah winning the previous 4 in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.

Prior to 1973, there wasn't much of a rivaly as Utah dominated with a record over BYU of 39-5 with 4 ties. BYU took over the domination with a record of 19-2 over the Utes from 1972-1992. The early 90's brought back the Utes of old and the rivalry has become much more intense with the Utes leading with a record over the Cougars of 9-6 since 1992.

1988: Utah 57 - BYU 281989: BYU 70 - Utah 311990: BYU 45 - Utah 221991: BYU 48 - Utah 171992: BYU 31 - Utah 221993: Utah 34 - BYU 311994: Utah 34 - BYU 311995: Utah 34 - BYU 171996: BYU 37 - Utah 171997: Utah 20 - BYU 141998: BYU 26 - Utah 241999: Utah 20 - BYU 172000: BYU 34 - Utah 272001: BYU 24 - Utah 212002: Utah 13 - BYU 62003: Utah 3 - BYU 02004: Utah 52 - BYU 212005: Utah 41 - BYU 342006: BYU 33 - Utah 312007: BYU 17 - Utah 10

Utah's early dominance

Utah began its early dominance over BYU with a 49-0 victory on October 14th, 1922. BYU would not get a win in the series until 1942, when the Cougars shocked the Utes 12-7 at Utah. The rivalry then took a hiatus in 1943-1945 during World War II. When the rivalry continued in 1946, the Utes continued their domination over the Cougars, winning or tying the next 12 contests. The rivalry continued this trend into the 1970 season, where Utah had amassed a 39-5-4 (.848) record against BYU.

The LaVell Edwards era

By 1972, things began to change at BYU. The Cougars had hired LaVell Edwards and in his first season, BYU beat Utah for the first time in 4 years. The rivalry rapidly shifted and BYU began its dominance against Utah. From 1972-1992, BYU went 19-2 (.905) against Utah.

By the mid-1990s, the Cougars' success leveled off from the years of the 1970s and '80s. Around this time, the Utes also improved significantly, and the rivalry became much more competitive.

The modern rivalry

The rivalry began to change in 1993, when the Utes won their first road game against BYU in 21 seasons. Much of this success could be attributed to Ron McBride, who had been hired as head coach of Utah in 1990. The 1994 season was McBride’s best, as he led the Utes to a 10-2 record and a top-10 finish in national rankings. The Utes and Cougars also staged one of the best matchups in the rivalry's history, meeting for the first time as top-25 ranked teams. The Utes won the game 34-31, which was coincidentally the same score of their meeting a year before. Utah ran its rivalry winning streak up to 3 games a year later, with a 34-17 win at BYU. The Utes and Cougars would trade wins and losses the next couple of years, before the 2000 season.

Entering the 2000 season, legendary head coach LaVell Edwards announced that he was retiring. His final game as Cougars head coach came against the Utes in Salt Lake City, where BYU won with an exciting last-minute drive that ended on a touchdown with little time remaining on the clock.

In 2001, BYU entered their game against Utah undefeated and looking to become the first team from outside the BCS to play in a BCS bowl game. A tight game ended with a comeback by BYU, and the Cougars won their second straight game against the Utes for the first time in nearly 10 years.

McBride, who had guided Utah to 6 bowl games and 3 bowl wins, entered the 2002 rivalry game on the hot seat. The Utes had struggled all season long and even with their victory against BYU, Utah finished with their second losing season in three years. The 5-6 finish sealed McBride’s fate and he was fired in 2002; Weber State University hired him in December 2004.

Urban Meyer was hired to replace Ron McBride and in his first season the Utes won the Mountain West Conference and finished with their best record since the 1994 season at 10-2. Utah would go on to beat BYU for the second straight year with a 3-0 victory.

In 2004 Utah would have its best season ever, going 12-0 and becoming the first team from outside the BCS to play in a BCS bowl game. The Utes achieved this goal by beating BYU 52-21 of the rivalry. Urban Meyer then left Utah for the University of Florida and in a bit of a rivalry twist, the Utes named former BYU graduate and football player, and current defensive coordinator at Utah, Kyle Whittingham their head coach. The 2004 season also saw the resignation of BYU coach Gary Crowton, who was replaced by Bronco Mendenhall.

The 2005 season saw some striking parallels between the two programs. Both had replaced their former head coaches, struggled through parts of their seasons, and would finish the regular season with 6-5 records. When the two met in Provo in November 2005, BYU was looking for its first win against the Utes in three seasons. Utah was looking for a winning record and a shot at a bowl game. BYU entered as the favorite because Utah would be playing without its starting quarterback and its best wide receiver, who had been injured in their previous game. The Utes were starting JC transfer Brett Ratliff who had taken just three snaps the week before. Ratliff surprised the Cougars by completing 17 of 32 passes for 240 yards and four touchdowns, and rushing for 112 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. He was responsible for all five Utah touchdowns. The Utes went on to win in the first ever overtime game in the rivalry series.

When the two teams met again in November 2006, this time in Salt Lake City, BYU jumped out to an early lead, then fell behind and trailed for much of the game, but finally won it 33-31 with an impressive last-minute drive, capped by a touchdown pass from John Beck to Jonny Harline with no time on the clock.

In 2007 the teams clashed on November 24, and was, for most of the game, a defensive game. The game's first 12 points were only field goals, BYU's Mitch Payne scoring 9 points. Utah then scored the first touchdown, taking the lead 10-9. In the 4th quarter, BYU came back with a late-game drive from 4th and 18, scoring a touchdown. The final score was BYU 17 and Utah 10.

Famous One-Liners in the rivalry

1996: "The Blue Train" BYU runs for 317 yards, all but abandoning their famed passing attempt en route to a perfect WAC season and a 14-1 finish.

1998: "Kaneshanko" A well-placed ESPN mic picks up Utah kicker Ryan Kaneshiro's botched 28-yard field goal that clanks off the upright with no time remaining.

2000: LaVell's Last Miracle Trailing 27-26 with under two minutes to play, BYU goes the length of the field and scores with 11 seconds left to send legendary coach LaVell Edwards out victorious against their bitter rival.

2001: The Staley Stomp Once again finding themselves down to the Utes, BYU pulls out another miracle on a 30-yard option toss to Luke Staley down the sideline with under a minute to play.

2003: The Shutout In a November blizzard in Provo, Utah manages only a field goal, but shuts BYU out for the first time in an NCAA-record 365 games.

2004: BCS Busters Needing only one more win against "the team down south" the Utes take care of business at home 52-21 on ESPN's College GameDay to preserve a repeat MWC crown and secure a BCS Bid, the first by a mid-major school. An estimated 35,000 fans storm the field.

2006: The Answered Prayer Facing a loss with 3.2 seconds left, BYU quarterback John Beck scrambles around behind the line of scrimmage before finding a wide open Johnny Harline on his knees in the opposite corner of the end zone to win 33-31.

2007: 4th and 18 or Magic Happens Facing their only conference loss of the year, BYU converts on a 4th and 18 on their own 12 yard line when BYU sophomore quarterback Max Hall finds a wide open Austin Collie down the sideline to convert. Freshman Harvey Unga bulls into the endzone four plays later to win the game 17-10.

Historic dates in the rivalry

* 1896: Utah and BYU meet for the first time, with the Utes winning 12-4.
* 1922: After 13 years of BYU without a football team, they meet again with the Utes winning 49-0.
* 1942: BYU gets its first win over Utah, 12-7.
* 1963: The only college football game played that week. All others canceled or postponed due to death of John F. Kennedy.
* 1972: First-year BYU head coach LaVell Edwards records his first victory over Utah, 16-7.
* 1978: Utah gets its first victory against a LaVell Edwards-led BYU team, winning 23-22.
* 1984: With a 24-14 win over Utah, BYU continues its undefeated season en route to the 1984 unanimous national championship. However, the championship is controversial as BYU played an unranked 6-5 Michigan team to get awarded the championship. This is the last time a team not currently affiliated with the BCS has won a national championship; the next most recent was Army in 1945.
* 1988: Utah, led by Scott Mitchell, beats BYU for the first time in 9 seasons, 57-28.
* 1989: Ty Detmer and the Cougars jump to 49-0 halftime lead, winning 70-31 over Utah, playing without injured QB Scott Mitchell.
* 1993: Utah gets its first victory against BYU on the road in 21 years, winning 34-31.
* 1994: The Utes and Cougars meet for the first time ever as ranked teams. For the second time in a row, Utah wins 34-31. Utah finishes the season ranked #10.
* 1995: For the third straight year, Utah wins with a score of 34 but BYU breaks the trend and only scores 17.
* 1996: BYU defeats Utah 37-17 on their way to a 14-1 finish.
* 1998: Utah misses the game-winning field goal, losing 26-24 in the first rivalry game played at newly rebuilt Rice-Eccles Stadium.
* 2000: LaVell Edwards coaches in his final game, a come-from-behind victory against the Utes. BYU wins 34-27.
* 2001: With an undefeated season in jeopardy, under coach Gary Crowton the Cougars mount a fourth quarter comeback, beating the Utes 24-21. Yet, BYU goes on to play a make-up game against Hawaii losing 72-45 to end their hopes of an undefeated season.
* 2002: In what would be Ron McBride's final game as head coach of the Utes, Utah defeats BYU 13-6.
* 2003: Utah's 3-0 victory in a November blizzard in Urban Meyer's first year marks the first time in 28 years that BYU is shut out in a football game.
* 2004: The Utes win over BYU 52-21, wrapping up a perfect 11-0 season and go on to become the first team to break into the BCS with a win over Big East Champion, Pittsburgh.
* 2005: In the first overtime game of the series, backup QB Brett Ratliff leads Utes to a 41-34 victory.
* 2006: BYU wins in Salt Lake 33-31 with a post-regulation touchdown and gets their first winning season since 2001.
* 2007: BYU beats Utah with a late drive to win 17-10 and clinch the outright conference championship.

ee also

*The Utah-BYU Rivalry
*Beehive Boot