Utah Football: We Really Did Lose To Utah St. in Back-to-Back Seasons in the 1990’s

I know Utah has a very young fan base.  Many of whom have no real idea what it was like to be a punched in the guy Utah fan year in and year out.  It’s odd to think about Urban Meyer’s first season where we lost 2 games, at A&M and New Mexico on a very weird day, was nine years ago.  Freshmen at Utah were something like nine years old.

But seeing as I’m older and wiser, I know the real pain of being a Utah fan.  And it goes back to things like losing in back-to-back seasons to Utah St.

In 1996, Utah St. was coached by John L. Smith.  Utah had the returning freshman of the year in Chris Fuamatu-Ma’fala.  If you don’t remember Chris he was a big back who could have been great if he just hadn’t enjoyed eating so darn much.  Utah St. didn’t really have a way to stop him so John L. Smith instructed his team to punch him in the nuts after every tackle.  Yes this really happened. (Note: A very good friend decided to schedule his wedding for this day so I missed the game.  He ended up doing me a favor but as a rule, don’t do this)

(Another Note: John L. Smith kind of owned McBride as he beat us while he was coach at Idaho as well.  Ron finally beat him when he took over at Louisville)

In 1997, Utah somehow managed to lose to Utah St. at home.  Now I don’t know how this happened really.  Utah had Kevin Dyson at receiver, two solid backs in Ma’afala and Juan Johnson.  We had a QB named Johnathon Crosswhite who I think we were forced to play because of ADA requirements and another QB named Darnell Arceneaux who was way more injury prone than Jordan Wynn ever has been.  Honestly I’ve blocked out this game so if you recall what happened, please let me know.

The thing is those two losses really symbolize how far Utah has come as a program.  Does anyone think a Utah coach would survive back to back losses to Utah St.?

So my message kids, take more pleasure in the Utes than you do, because it was worse in the 1990’s.  And the 1990’s were glorious compared to the 70’s and 80’s.