By Jacob Sorenson
Utah has
arguably some of the greatest up and coming sports teams in the nation. After
years of being overlooked in all major athletics, Utah colleges and
universities have excelled. Among those Utah Valley has seemed to find their
niche. Centered right off the freeway in Orem, the largest school in the state
should seemingly have wide recognition and also with open enrollment you can
imagine that the athletes must abound at such a school.
After being overlooked
while under the name UVSC, Utah Valley has now reached the ranks of the WAC
conference. Even producing stars like Ronnie Price who still plays for the Suns
in the NBA, Utah Valley just could not receive national attention like they
have been able to do since their emergence to Division One.
Now, we
fast forward. Six years following their entry to the WAC conference and
becoming Utah Valley University the wolverines are set to play the BYU Cougars.
In a matchup of the Utah Valley schools there is a sense of rivalry. A blowout
may be the first thought entering the game. The cougars are a division one power
on the basketball court and have had numerous NCAA tournament appearances. For
the opposing Wolverines they are yet to receive a tournament bid, let alone
beat the cougars.
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| Marcel Davis (UVU) |
On this weekend
for the two universities however we find ourselves in an interesting place. The
cougars are facing their former assistant coach and national champion Mark
Pope. The young Wolverines have scheduled the cougars for four consecutive
years and are beginning their basketball rivalry strong. For the Cougars, there
are only aspirations of beginning the season with the first win.
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| Kyle Collinsworth (BYU) |
The Wolverines
are a warm-up match for later competition including a #16 Utah team and a #9
Gonzaga. Kyle Collinsworth leads the cougars offense and is projected for
numerous national awards in this preseason. Health will be key for the cougars,
who could even stun the country and make their own top 25 campaign.
Basketball
is not the only means for rivalry this weekend. The ranked womens soccer team
for BYU is also on tap to play the Wolverines in the first round of the NCAA
tournament. The wolverines winning their first WAC title at the beginning of
the week and the cougars winners of the WCC title earlier in the week as well.
The two teams are pitted for a mid day Saturday matchup which again means
bragging rights and title implications.
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| BYU Women's Soccer |
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| UVU Women's soccer |
Besides the
cougars and Wolverines basketball and soccer rivalries, baseball has long been a rivalry between the Wolverines and Cougars with exceptional balance in wins for both. Future plans also in the works show that soon there will be a football rivalry to speak of. While the Wolverines have time before
they can make a splash in the NCAA division one football realm, they are preparing for what football could add to the school. Once they find
their balance with title nine there will certainly be a future for UVU
football. The battle for the Valley is bound to become a marquee matchup in years to come, and certainly in more sports and in new capacities.
For now we
begin with basketball. The 7pm matchup will be the second meeting between the
schools in history and the wolverines are looking to build to a point that one
day they might enjoy their own tournament appearance and success. It’s certain,
there is no better man to head the job than coach Pope, and the wolverines look
to shock the state, or at least prove they belong.
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