I'm so glad I'm not into BYU Football

I'm so glad I'm not into BYU Football.

BYU's my alma mater.  It was a stressful good time.  But while attending I never went to a football game, though that's all that seemed to be spoken of on campus.  Football, football, football.  (Kinda having a Brandy Bunch moment.)

I wasn't into Football in High school as well.  Only went to two games in which I worked on drawing homework at one game and got to help film for the local TV station at the other.  Turns out I really enjoy football when I have to keep the ball in frame, especially while it's soaring through the air.  Actually, that was a lot of fun.  The only BYU game I attended I didn't see, because I was volunteering at concessions helping to raise money for the Boy Scouts.

The whole BYU VS U of U game seems to be the ONLY game that maters in these parts.  I'm so out of the loop I didn't even know it was happening until I heard the radio dude last Thursday warn about evening traffic due to the game.  Avoid Provo.  Done.

The year I graduated from BYU is one of the last times BYU won against U of U.  The school was so over joyous that a group of students pantomimed the winning play during the graduation ceremony.  Everyone screamed and cheered!  I laughed as I ate a free mint chocolate brownie.  They were having fun.  That's good.

I didn't even know BYU lost to U of U these last eight years!  Last Thursday eight losses turned to nine!

30-12.  U of U won with 30 points.  A nasty thunder storm moved through the valley that night.  I wondered how the game was going, but didn't think beyond that and headed to bed.  Turns out the game was paused for an hour and finished up past midnight after the storm finished raging.

I don't know.  I don't know why I'm just not into sports.  Tried getting into soccer, but found it rather boring.  It's literally possible for no team to score a point in 90 minutes, everyone just running back and forth getting flagged or whatever.

What it comes down to is that I just want the best team to win.  If the winning team played the better, ethical game showing true talent and strategy, they deserve to win.  I can't be mad over that.  And if the team I'm suppose to cheer for rightfully loses, that's how it is.  They deserve it.  Work harder and smarter.  I do admire the strength and resilience displayed by those who play sports, but I just can't get behind a team. 

Maybe I just don't like blind loyalty.  And I don't want to be told who I must be loyal towards.

Funny enough, a few days later I'm still seeing BYU/U of U football memes on Facebook, mainly bashing BYU.  I have friends on both sides of the aisle.  Hope they enjoyed the game.  Maybe one of these years I'll actually go to one.
 

Battle of the School Parade Floats!

I wonder how many places in the Country have three Universities within 45 miles of each other?  It seems kinda unique.  The close proximity also causes a lot of stereotyping, envy, ridicule, competition, inferiority complexes, superior outlooks, etc, and I've felt them all.  At the Freedom Festival Parade on the 4th all schools made a showing.

 Brigham Young University is my alma mater, so of course I'm naturally biased.  And I love how patriotic the float was.  Though, I must comment, Athletics got two mentions on the float.  BYU is kinda obsessed with sports, and being the academic I am, I kinda rebelled against it.  (The only football game I attended was one in which I volunteered concessions for charity, and I didn't see the game but for a sneak second.)  The School of Music did get a highlight!  Made me proud.

 I love Utah Valley University.  Before BYU I attended this school in their UVSC (Utah Valley State College) days.  The campus has a wonderful feeling, and I love how everything is connected.  UV is relaxed (unlike BYU where it's stress central with abundant over achievers), but that doesn't mean the school is easy.  Au Contraire.  Some of my best academic experiences came from the school, and I went through serious UV withdrawals while at the Y.

I hate the bad rap the school gets in the valley.  There's so many academic snobs here!  (Comes with the competition, I guess.)  On one of the worst blind dates I've been on (well, that's not saying much), this guy stated UV was just an extension of High School.  He went on and on as I watched, and when he breathed for air I gleefully went in for the kill and sang UV's praises. 

 Now the biggest competition is between BYU and the U of U (University of Utah).  They both look down on UVU as if the school doesn't exist, while UVU insists that it's relevant, which it is.  The Football team at U of U is now a member of the PAC 12, after all, and they shower the fact.  (BYU doesn't play on the Sabbath, which limit sports opportunities.)

 U of U is where my brother Michael and Krista met while going to school.  All three of my brothers have degrees at UVU.  And I graduated from BYU.

I really love all three schools.

The pursuit of knowledge is important regardless of where you go: University, State College, Junior College, or self-learning through books.