If the Utah-Colorado rivalry had some ridiculously lame trophy like the Deseret Duel (maybe the only silver lining in dropping the Holy War would be the end of that abomination), the Utes would be getting their asses handed to them in basketball & football.
Fortunately (eh, minor victories), unlike the early-season embarrassment to Colorado, Utah was actually pretty competitive. But, like with a great deal of their losses this season, the team just couldn't get over the hump in the final moments. This marks the sixth conference game Utah has lost in the waning minutes of action. For a team that sits at 2-11 in the Pac-12 and only a game out of last place, that, I guess, is the optimistic spin on this season.
With a few breaks, who knows, maybe they're 8-5 in the Pac-12.
Amazing, right?
But they're not. Worse, the program finished with their first losing home record in nearly forty years. Ouch.
Still, you've got to like the fact this team hasn't given up and remains competitive with far superior programs - like Arizona last week and then again tonight. With talent, and experience, the Utes just might become a fairly decent team.
As much as it might feel like we're light-years away from that, performances like tonight, even in defeat, does give me hope that someday, and maybe soon, we can return to respectability.
Then again, that's all I've got right now.