Brigham Young University and University of Utah football programs have had many successes over the years. The rivalry between these two schools is one of the country's oldest and is fiercely competitive. Fans from both sides argue over which university has the edge over the other. After carefully considering the facts on this highly debated issue, I have concluded that BYU is in fact the superior college football program. The accolades won by BYU players and staff both at the collegiate level and in the ranks of the National Football League are unmatched by the players and staff representing U of U. Many will argue that U of U has the upper hand in the Deseret Duel. The Utes boasting what they claim is a 53 wins, 34 losses and 4 ties against BYA/BYU since the start of this ardent battle in 1869. From BYU's standpoint, the series started in 1922 and currently stands at 31 wins, 50 losses and 4 ties with the BYU Cougars being 25-12 since 1972. Fans and the schools themselves even agree on when this bragging rights brawl started. Having an outside prospective, meaning my loyalty is not with either of these fine institutions, my conclusion is based solely on performance
University of Utah dominated the head to head competition from 1922 to 1972. Furthermore, the Utes have appeared in and won 2 recent BCS bowl games. The first win was the 2005 Fiesta Bowl vs. the University of Pittsburgh. In 2009 U of U defeated Alabama's Crimson Tide. This is the final year they will compete in the Mountain West Conference. Next year they will join the PAC 10. Since the program began in 1892, Utah has 24 conference championships won in 5 different conferences. They tout a record of 605 wins, 420 losses and 31 ties, including a bowl game record of 12 wins with just 3 losses. That bowl game record currently is the highest in the country of teams with at least 10 bowl appearances. They are undefeated in their last 9 bowl appearances. Yet another accolade for the Utes is the longest active bowl game-winning streak. Finally, the U of U has produced 108 NFL players, including Coach George Seifert of the Super Bowl winning San Francisco 49ers.
Quite the resume for a non-BCS team and after reading all of this, you may ask how do former Utes do in the NFL? Well the college success ends in college for most of them. With a handful of University of Utah Alumni making it to the Super Bowl but no ring bearers as of yet, except for the aforementioned George Seifert. Jim Fossil did coach the Utes from 1985 to 1989, giving U of U one Super Bowl winner from the coaching staff.
Are you curious about the productivity of the Cougar’s? BYU has a National Championship (in 1984) and a Heisman Trophy winner (Ty Detmer in 1990). Note worthy Heisman finalist include Marc Wilson (3rd in 1979), Jim McMahon (5th in 1980, 3rd in 1981), Steve Young (2nd in 1983), Robbie Bosco (3rd in 1984 and 1985), Ty Detmer (Winner in 1990, 3rd in 1991), and Max Hall (10th in 2009). Luke Staley delivered the first Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's best running back, in BYU Football history. The Davey O'Brien Award is presented to the best quarterback in the country. Four times a BYU snap caller has captured this award and no other school can make that claim: Jim McMahon, Steven Young and the two-time winner Ty Detmer. Twice the Outland Trophy was awarded to BYU interior lineman: in 1986 Jason Buck, then another in 1989 Mohammed Elowonibi. Dennis Pitta gave the Cougars their first Elite Tight End Trophy in 2009. Over the years, seven BYU quarterbacks were voted the nation's best passer; Gary Sheide (1974), Marc Wilson (1979), Jim McMahon (1981), Steve Young (1983), Robbie Bosco (1984), and Ty Detmer (1991) and Steve Sarkisian (1996). The players are not the only Cougars winning accolades; LaVell Edwards won the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award in 2003, the AFCA Coach of the Year Award in 1984 and Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award in 1979. To top off the list of awards, accolades and bragging rights, BYU has 6 College Football Hall of Fame inductees; quarterbacks Gifford Nielsen (1994), Marc Wilson (1996), Jim McMahon (1999), Steve Young (2001), tight end Gordon Hudson (2009) and Head Coach LaVell Edwards. The Cougars have won 23 conference championships. They have 10 win, 17 losses and one tie in their 28 bowl appearances.
A very impressive history, yet the question remains how do BYU players and coaches fare in the NFL? Brigham Young University produced 167 NFL players, 10 Cougar's are Super Bowl Champions, and 3 have earned multiple wins. Yes, 2 former BYU coaches have won the Big Game also Brian Billick (2001), Mike Holmgren (1997). Andy Reid was the APA Head Coach of the Year in 2002
The measure of a successful college is in the productivity of the graduates. Brigham Young University and University of Utah both have outstanding programs. This old rivalry is good for college football. That competition reverberates through out the ranks of the NCAA to the NFL and shows BYU players and staff performance surpasses that of their rival Deseret Battler in NCAA and in the NFL
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