After 117 years, the rivalry between the U and BYU is still — let’s call it spirited. In fact, the schools are still finding new ways to prove who’s best. To commemorate the 117th anniversary, 117 fans went into a cornfield. Let me explain.
It was a race through a corn maze where student body presidents Sam Ortiz (the U) and Brandon Beck (BYU) met for a little friendly competition Thursday evening at Thanksgiving Point. Fans from each school waited at the end of the maze to cheer on their racer, one fan for every year the Holy War has raged on (cute right?). Who knows, with the football rivalry taking a break for the next two years, maybe the maze race will become the most heated competition between the schools next fall. Maybe it’ll blossom into a time-honored tradition, where winning means everything. But this year, we’ve still got football. So let’s talk about that.
 
CM: So are you from Utah? Do you know the history?
Ortiz: I’ve lived in Utah for quite a while and I’ve been a Utah fan for my entire time here.
Beck: Yeah, grew up in Bountiful. My family is all Ute fans.
 
CM: What is your best memory of the Holy War?
Ortiz: Last year was pretty epic I’d say. They had three opportunities to win and couldn’t close the deal with the MUSS rushing the field several times. I think that was definitely a memorable experience.
Beck: I mean, this is the classic that everyone harps on, but the moment where Harline catches it at Rice-Eccles Stadium was glorious.
 
CM: What was your worst memory of the Holy War?
Ortiz: The last year that we lost, wasn’t that like four years ago? … Yeah that was a while ago.
Beck: I mean, the natural response would be two years ago, the last time we were at LaVell Edwards Stadium we had [deep sigh] an unfortunate outcome. When they had like seven turnovers or somethin’. That was very unfortunate.
 
CM: In an ideal world, Saturday’s game will…
Ortiz: Be dominated by the University of Utah.
Beck: End with a BYU win.
 
CM: Since you’ve been at the U, the Utes haven’t lost to BYU. Do you think you have anything to do with that? (Ortiz has been at the U for the last two years)
Ortiz: Yeah, I’d like to say I’m a pretty good, [good] luck charm.
 
CM: Since you’ve been at BYU, the Cougars haven’t won a Holy War. Do you think you have anything to do with that? (Beck has been at BYU since 2010)
Beck: Um, possibly — I’d hope not. Let’s say this win at the corn maze is changing our luck. Hopefully this is an omen, ya know? (Oh yeah, Beck won the race by a mile. I guess that was worth mentioning, but like I said, we still have football this year so let’s focus on that.)
 
CM: As president, what steps are you taking to make sure Utah keeps the winning streak alive?
Ortiz: I don’t have that much to do with it. Like, I’m not gonna be on the field, but I’m gonna be cheering them on … I think we’re the superior team and I’ll be rooting them on, sending them positive vibes and do my small part, but we have great fans, we have a great community and we’ll all be cheering them on.
Beck: Just make sure the student section gets there loud and early.
 
CM: Utah is red, Cougars are blue, the game is a blowout…
Ortiz: A victory for the U
Beck: I’m glad I’m at the Y and not at the U.
 
CM: Fans rushing the field on Saturday will…
Ortiz: Be wearing red.
Beck: Be epic … I know that’s kind of lame I’m sorry.
 
CM: What is the dumbest stereotype BYU has about the U?
Ortiz: I mean, I’ve heard so many. The one that comes to mind is that we’re like bad people or something. They’re like more righteous than we are, or whatever they say down there.
 
CM: What is the dumbest stereotype the U has about BYU? 
Beck: The dumbest?! Um, I mean, that’s a great question [laughs]. I’ll have to think about that. I mean there are some that are really valid. There are some that aren’t. I can’t say that one is particularly dumb because there’s some truth behind every stereotype. [he lands on the answer] That we’re all just not fun at all. Because of the honor code that we’re all just wound up really tight. Probably the dumbest stereotype is that just because we go to BYU doesn’t mean that we’re like all uptight.
 
This race was nothing but good natured fun and sportsmanship and Beck won it decisively for BYU — Ortiz showed a lot of heart though. Beck thinks that his performance is a precursor for what will happen on Saturday. I guess we’ll have to wait and see who wins, but one thing is for sure, it won’t be as happy-go-lucky on the grid iron.