BYU Football Haters are Out
Why do so many people hate BYU and why have they so enjoyed the Cougars slow start on the season?
San Diego Union-Tribune writer Kevin Gemmell attempted to find the answer last week. In a Friday story, he began:
” BYU’s fall from grace has been anything but graceful.
“The Cougars (1-4) are struggling, mightily. The team that pooh-poohed the Mountain West Conference and will become an independent football program next season is in disarray. Schadenfreude is at an all-time high for those who have seen BYU demolish their teams and dreams for years. That’s you, Aztecs fans.
“Asked earlier this week why so many people love to hate BYU, the team that owns a 26-7-1 record against the Aztecs (reason enough?), San Diego State quarterback Ryan Lindley skillfully evaded the question like he was ducking a blitzing cornerback.
“‘ I don’t know. You can ask that about anybody from the Yankees to the Cowboys,’ Lindley said. ‘They have their own intrinsic things that comes with the LDS church and other things that are involved with that. I couldn’t tell you to be honest with you. They are a good program with great tradition and I guess some people envy that sometimes.’”
Lindley did hit on the key points. There is often religious and/or philosophical friction. There is some of we-hate-big-winners factor. There’s also a feeling the Cougars have always been arrogant – though it could be argued they have a lot of extremely humble players, too. If you’ve spent two years on an LDS mission in a Third World country, you’re likely to have a different perspective.
Yet the very fact that BYU feels it can go independent in this era feeds into the perception. It was once rated the most hated college team in America by Sports Illustrated.
In any event, the perception isn’t likely to change. While BYU won’t be in a football conference after this season, it will still have its haters. Notre Dame has been independent for decades, yet still has millions of detractors “just because.”
All Notre Dame can say to BYU is welcome to the club.