Rooting for the Home Team

Lesa and Chris with 3 of Their Young Kids

Ken graduated from Brigham Young University in business management, and I attended the rival school on the hill in Salt Lake City in music education and vocal performance; the University of Utah. When we were married 39 years ago this September, the rivalry was a bit obnoxious with seeing Ken wearing a BYU golf shirt to a University of Utah function with me. Of course, he did that on purpose, more to irritate me than bother any of my U of U friends. And although I love singing the U of U fight song, "I am a Utah man sir and I live across the green," my loyalties pretty much depend on where my kids (and in the future, my grandkids) are playing basketball (or soccer), or performing.

I've noticed that the rivalry between Utah and BYU is almost as strong as it is with Duke and North Carolina, in my mind anyways. I saw that vicious, at times, rivalry when I attended the Duke / Carolina basketball games. Between the rude t-shirts worn by the Duke "Crazies" at games, the expressed anger with the attending fans during the games, and my true Carolina blue friends, I was amazed at how heated the rivalry was, and still is in Utah.

That leads me to seeing recent pictures with my kids on Instagram, first Chris' family decked in Utah clothing, then Josh's family posting the next day in BYU clothing. I smiled at the competitive spirit brewing. A couple of years ago I saw 1/2 of Ben and Cooper's kids wearing BYU t-shirts and the other 1/2 sporting U of U t-shirts. Ben, you see, graduated from the U of U in marketing and Cooper graduated from BYU in art. In fact, my conversations with Calvin on our morning walks a couple of weeks ago had him talking about uncle Chris and basketball, but then siding with BYU saying, "grandma, I know uncle Chris is coaching there but I think I'm going to BYU."

Chris, Lesa and Family

Chris and Lesa both attended and graduated from the U of U, Chris playing basketball (now assistant coaching there), and Lesa playing soccer. So they are obviously decked from head-to-toe in red as often as possible. Angela, who doesn't seem to have an allegiance either way, graduated from and played basketball at BYU, but rooted for Chris when he was playing at the U against BYU. (No pictures or t-shirts?) But Joshua, Ashleigh and their entire family are Cougs through and through with both Ashleigh and Joshua graduated and played basketball at BYU. "Rise and Shout the Cougars are out!"

Once when their son, Chamberlain, was being put to bed by grandma (me) he said, "I know you are a Ute fan grandma, but I'm going to play for the Cougs (BYU)! Are you going to come to my basketball games?" "Of course!" was my immediate answer. Like I said, I am 50/50 on this entire thing. Wherever my kids and grandkids play or perform ... I'm rooting, and their biggest fan. But all of this rivalry is fun to watch, especially on game days when BYU plays Utah. So, who do I root for? It depends. 

Cousins Kelli Jo and Madison

Utah Fans Like Dad?

Or BYU Fans Like Mom?