Stay Classy Utah!

In an age where it seems that people are all about themselves it's extremely nice to know that there are some classy people out there still.

At November 7's University of Utah football game I saw several instances of class, before during and after the game. After the traditional national anthem and the band lining the sidelines awaiting the Utes' entrance hundreds of young football players from around the Salt Lake Valley gathered on the field. The problem was there were far too many kids and the line started at about midfield and wound it's way through the north end zone and nearly exiting the stadium through the northwest exit.

Eventually the Utes ran onto the field in traditional fashion, pumping up the crowd capacity crowd. The team then lined up and high-fived all of the kids in line waiting to greet them. However, with the line being so long the team greeted the kids leading up to the end zone as far as they could leaving a large line still wanting to greet them. As soon as starting safety Robert Johnson saw the other kids being left out he quickly ran the entire length greeting each and every one of them. He was followed by running back Eddie Wide, and Stephenson Sylvester. These three Utes made those kids' day by just taking the time to high-five them. While they knew they had a game to play, the players acknowledged their fans.

These are the same players that as the rush the field before every game they sprint to the north end zone and raise their U's to the crowd, a favor that we are glad to return.

During the game, Utah was thoroughly beating New Mexico with their new starting freshman at quarterback, Jordan Wynn. With a sound lead the Coach Wittingham pulled his starters and inserted the entire second string, including Terrence Cain the team's starting quarterback every other game this season. Although Cain is no longer the starter for the team he is more than willing to help out his team by rooting them on from the sidelines and signaling in plays.

As the score tallied higher for the Utes, they did the classy thing and did not pile on the points (something Bronco and the Cougars could learn). They understood the Lobos are a team that is struggling and didn't humiliate them like BYU tends to do to their opponents.

Classy and Utes, two words that belong together and rightfully so. Keep up the good work boys!

Bang The Gong, Let's Get It On!

Who am I, Sir? A UTAH MAN AM I.

It has been well documented by now that I bleed Red and White. I am what many people would call a Utah Fanatic. I can name hundreds of players that have donned the crimson jersey, I can remember the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. I've been known to shed a tear when the team loses, and I've been known to feel great pride when they win.

I've been to far too many football games to count. Since infancy I have been going with my family. When I was 5 I would lug in a backpack of Ninja Turtles to play with at the game, little did I know but my dad would hide a six-pack of beer under the Turtles and let me sneak it in.

I used to sit in the stands and practice the referee hand signals, to this day I know them all even the very obscure signals that you never see used.

As I write this we are only 22 hours away from the kick-off of the season. A season of hope, a season of rebuilding, and most importantly a season of definition.

In the last decade the Utes have rewritten the definition of who the University of Utah is. Before 2000, few people knew about the diamond in the rough that is the U of U. Sure Utah had a few brushes with greatness prior to the new millennium but nothing substantial. That has all changed. Utah is now a powerhouse known around the country as a team to not take lightly.

No matter what the next few months tell us about this year's Utes team, I will be there cheering them on. I will forever be waiting for the day when Utah is mentioned in the same breath as other National Champions.

Because after all a Utah Man Am I....GO UTES!