For one painful afternoon, Provo leaders bled -- and bellowed -- red.
Surrounded by crimson-clad Salt Lake City staffers, a "U" flag and a panel of grinning politicians, Provo City Council members stammered Tuesday through the University of Utah's "Utah Man" fight song in the belly of their rival's City Hall.
The song was ransom for a bet made before the undefeated Utes' 48-24 dismantling of the BYU Cougars in their Nov. 22 football showdown.
"Do we have to sing all the verses?" Provo Councilman Steve Turley shrugged.
"All of them," barked counterpart Eric Jergensen, an avid U. fan, who distributed handouts with the words.
As the Provo crew sang -- four members actually wore red -- the Salt Lake City Council clapped in rhythm. Mayor Ralph Becker, sporting a red tie, pumped his fist. And the U.'s student body president hovered, egging the group on.
Salt Lake City Councilman Carlton Christensen handed out "U flashlights" designed, "to see the real light and know their way to victory."
"See ya next year," colleague Van Turner mocked, Ute hat in place.
Later, learning the Utes will lose a number of starters, Salt Lake City Councilwoman Jill Remington Love practiced a little diplomacy.
"It's a tradition," she said, "we may not have wanted to start."
