Here it is Rivalry fans! My annual look back at the biggest game of the year!

I particularly love this week because in 21 years covering sports in Utah, I have stood on the field for all except one of them, many times in just the right spot! (2007 was the first time in 20 year’s I missed the game! While the Cougars and Utes were at war in Provo, I was lying in a hospital bed battling 10 fractured ribs with a chest tube stuck in my right side. (tumbled off a platform getting Christmas decorations) I remember dozing in and out between morphine drip hits…3-0 at the half? I must be on drugs” I thought! Oh…I was!

1987:
My first year at Channel 2. Best weather for any BYU-Utah game I have ever been to. I remember this being an absolutely beautiful day, sunny skies and quite warm for November…not so beautiful for Sean Covey who was knocked silly and taken off the field in an ambulance. Utah QB Scott Mitchell came in at half time for Chris Mendonca as he did without fail in every game that season. Mitchell nearly led the Utes back to victory as a freshman before an interception ended the rally with BYU winning the game 21-18 on Leonard Chittys 24 yard field goal.

1988:
What do I remember most? For the second strait year Covey was knocked out, and on the play Sammy Tausinga picked up Covey’s errant pass and “ambled” into the end zone. One of 8 turnovers forced by the Utes who went on to the 57-28 win. Jim Fassel carried off the field along with the goal posts as Ute fans celebrated their first win over BYU in 9 years. I remember interviewing Scott Mitchell and Eric Jacobsen together after the game and Mitchell saying he found a penny that morning and put it in his sock. I never realized what a simple game this was.

1989:
I remember visiting BYU practice the week of the game and seeing a dummy hanging from the practice field goal post with “57-28” written on it’s Ute jersey. Bob Jensen was so fired up he was yammering through my interview about how bad BYU was going to kill the Utes. Scott Mitchell injured his knee the week of the game (although to this day the injury is still the subject of debate) and it was over before kick-off. I watched this game from the KUTV Suite and remember looking at the half time scoreboard that read 49-0. We all began debating as to weather or not the Cougs could hit 100. They probably could have but settled for a 70-31 victory. Utah Coach Jim Fassel is fired.

1990:
I will never forget this great TV moment: The Week before the game, Bill Marcroft was hosting the Dave Fox Sports Den while I was ill. Utah Lineman Mike Lewis (Chad’s Brother) tore the Ty Detmer poster off the wall of the set on live TV, saying the Utes will punish the Cougars the same way. A few days later, the Cougars tore up the Utes in Salt Lake City 45-22. Detmer won the Heisman two weeks later.

1991:
Last home game for Ty Detmer. He was such a great kid to work with, albeit quite shy in front of the camera. I remember Utah scoring 10 quick points and thinking Ty Hasn’t really gone to work yet. Sure enough, Detmer throws 5 TD passes and runs for another as the Cougars rout Utah 48-17.

1992:
I will forever remember this as the snowball game. A huge storm dumped piles of snow in the stadium the night before, and the fans took full advantage…tossing snowballs at BYU players and Coaches throughout. To their credit, the Cougars played through it and piled up a 31-0 lead. This game was strange as BYU scored the first 31 points, and the Utes scored the last 22. The rally behind QB Frank Dolce fell short. The Utes ended up going bowling for the first time in years, loosing to Washington St. in Tucson when Chris Yergensen’s chip shot field goal missed. This is an important note as we head to 1993.

1993:
This game marked the end of the BYU dominant era. I will never forget where I was standing for the big finish. Yergensen, who missed the chip shot less than a year earlier in the Copper Bowl, drills a 55 yarder to beat the Cougars. I was standing on the field under the goal post in shock, as fans swarmed the field. Ute supporters tried to tear down the goal post and this led to one of the greatest rivalry quotes of all time. BYU Lineman Lenny Gomes was so disgusted he said, “one day I’ll be making 50-thousand a year and the Utes will be pumping my gas”. Still the greatest finish of all of the rivalry games in my history.

1994:
What I will remember most about this game is what it created after. The second strait 34-31 victory for the Utes, which became a marketing campaign for a local bank. McBride and Edwards both featured in the spot in which LaVell keeps having nightmares about 34-31. Marketing aside, it turned out to be one of the better games in the rivalries history and featured both teams ranked in the top 20.

1995:
I remember thinking if BYU could just score 14 more points, it would be three strait 34-31 finals. Instead, Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala ran wild and led the Utes to a third strait victory. It was the first conference title in 31 years, although the Utes did have to share it.

1996:
I will always remember this Cougar team as being loaded with talent on offense. Steve Sarkisian was a great QB and great person...Tight ends Chad Lewis and Itula Mili were an awesome 1-2 punch, and wide receivers K.O. Kailului and Kaipo McGwire were studs, K.O. a big strong receiver who loved the camera. The team was explosive and beat up the Utes 37-17. BYU went on to the Cotton Bowl which was a great week in Dallas for the Channel 2 crew.

1997:
A down year for both teams, although BYU did have a winning record going into the game. The thing I will always remember about this game is that it was not very good, and BYU only threw the ball 16 times! It was great for the Utes as they won 20-14, giving them 4 wins in the past 5 years.

1998:
It’s funny how field goals stand out as the most lasting memories; this one didn’t go well for the Utes. Frankly, I was amazed they even had a chance. BYU led by 9 with less than 3:00 to play. But the Utes returned a kickoff for a TD, then with 9 seconds to go, Ryan Kaneshiro lined up a 32 yarder to win the game. DOINK! The kick hit’s the left upright in the north end zone, I’ll never forget because just like in 1993, I was standing right under the goal post.

1999:
Another one of those memories that will be lasting for what happened off the field, or at least the playing field. After a BYU fan jumps on the field and tackles Ute Cheer Leader Billy Praddis, Praddis beats the poor fan silly. Quote of the year came from Ute wide Receiver Steve Smith who said “even our cheerleaders are kicking your butt”. Utes win 20-17.

2000:
If 1993 was the greatest finish in rivalry history, this game (along with 2006) certainly had the greatest finishing drive ever. It’s LaVell Edwards final game as BYU Coach. Trailing by 1, BYU was facing a 4th and 13 at their own 17 yard line with 2:00 to go. Brandon Doman completes to Jonathon Pittman, and the comeback is on. Doman completes a 36 yarder to the Ute 13 and takes it in from there. The Cougars send LaVell Edwards into retirement with a 34-27 victory. I still remember even Ute Coach Ron McBride was smiling.

2001:
Another great comeback, although without the story line of the previous year. Still, the Cougars were undefeated in Gary Crowtons first season and needed another Doman led drive. I will never forget standing on the sideline, around the 15 yard line, as Luke Staley raced past us…Cougars win it 24-21.

2002:
This was one of the few meaningless games in rivalry history. Both teams had loosing records, neither team played with any sort of passion. Ute Coach Ron McBride was rumored to be fired…without a doubt the worst of the 19 games I had witnessed. Utah escapes with a 13-6 win, and McBride if fired shortly thereafter. One thing this game did do for Utah fans was kick-off the first of four consecutive wins for the Utes over the Cougars.

2003:
I will never EVER forget this game because it is the absolute coldest I have EVER been at a sporting event. It was freezing and I stood on the field the whole game bundled up in so many layers, I felt like Ralphy’s little brother in “A Christmas Story”. When Bryan Boreson kicked a field goal for a 3-0 first half lead, I never imagined that would be the final score. Two other memories of note? BYU shut out for the first time since 1975, and the Utes winning their first OUTRIGHT conference title in nearly 50 years.

2004:
This was one of the most memorable weekends in rivalry history. Not just because of the game. It was the whole weekend. The Utes were undefeated and about to bust into the BCS, ESPN Game Day was in Salt Lake City, and the fans were worked into a frenzy. As the Utes marched to a 52-21 Victory. Fans lobbied for the Fiesta Bowl, which was awarded to the Utes. Even though Urban Meyer was on his way to Florida, the Fiesta Bowl week was a blast. Spending New Years Eve in Arizona is a good thing, and this win made it all happen.

2005:
The great mystery. Most media and many fans figured BYU would handle the Utes, especially with untested QB Brett Ratliff. Rat had other plans. As the Utes built a big first half lead, I remember thinking the Cougars are just too good NOT to stage a comeback. They did, but the Utes still won the game in overtime in what was Ratliff best, and most surprising performance. Note Ratliff is now one of Brett Favre’s back-ups in New York.

2006:
What amazed me about this is the Cougars were in almost the same situation 1 year earlier, the ball in the hands of John beck for the win. This time it worked. It’s a play we have all seen over and over, a play that seemed to last forever. Beck managed to buy so much time against a token Utah pass rush that Johnny Harline finally found an opening and the Cougars win! Beck completed a 4th down pass to Harline on the same drive and finished with 375 yards passing. Another great finish. I still remember Ute Eric Weddle admitting he was happy for Beck!

2007:
The first time in 20 year I missed the game! While the Cougars and Utes were at war in Provo, I was lying in a hospital bed with 10 fractured ribs and a chest tube stuck in my right side. (tumbled off a platform getting Christmas decorations) I remember dozing in and out between morphine drip hits. 3-0 at the half? “I must be on drugs” I thought! 9-3 with 2:00 to play? Maybe I’m in the right place. I did manage to stay awake long enough to see another amazing Cougar comeback with Unga’s TD and Collies 2 point conversion. In hind sight, I would have rather been there!!!

2008:
De ja vu all over again. This game felt so much like the last time the Utes busted into the BCS. Even the score was nearly the same. There were many moments I take from this one as I stood on the sideline the entire game (at times trying to plot a ways to avoid being trampled when the fans rush the field). Paul Krueger’s interception that would have been an easy 6, had the 5 yard line not tackled him. But good or bad, what I remember most is the fans storming the field. Many behaving like complete morons, but several just enjoying the moment. (including my own Daughter, who much to my shock, hopped the 8 feet or so on to the field...to enjoy the moment, not behave like a moron!)

What will 2009 bring????