This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It probably says enough about Utah's supposed rivalry with Colorado that its name is a spoof on a 1974 boxing match, conceived by the schools' marketing departments when both moved to the Pac-12 four years ago.
The Rumble in the Rockies: Army-Navy, it is not.
Nor is it the Holy War, nor the Battle of the Brothers, nor Colorado vs. Colorado State or Nebraska.
It's a corporate, manufactured thing.
But thus far, it's at least dramatic.
All three games between the two teams since 2011 have been decided by a touchdown or less, with Utah taking two of three since the regional series was revived after a 49-year break.
The two teams may, in fact, be trending toward a legitimate, organic frustration with each other.
But defensive tackle Clint Shepard said Monday that he sure hopes not.
"You know, Colorado — they're not really known for being one of the top dogs in the conference, and we want a rivalry with one of those top teams," he said. "I don't see it as a rivalry, and I don't really see it becoming a rivalry in the future."
Lest that become one of the test tube rivalry's first inflammatory soundbites, Shepard added: "That's not to take away from Colorado. They're a great team, and in the future they may do great things, but as of now, yeah, we want to set [the bar] a little bit higher than that."
And fair enough: Utah has as many Pac-12 wins this year (four) as Colorado does since both teams joined the conference in 2011.
If not a rival, though, Colorado has at least been a thorn in Utah's side.
In 2011, Utah would have finished its first Pac-12 season above .500, with a Pac-12 South Division title, were it not for a gritty effort from the bull-headed Buffs, who had lost 23 consecutive road games heading into Rice-Eccles Stadium.
On Monday, Utah head coach Whittingham couldn't remember the details of Utah's 17-14 loss exactly (Tauni Vakapuna's fumble came late in the third quarter, not the fourth), but he recalls the feeling.
"It was one that stung pretty good," he said.
And senior tight end Westlee Tonga acknowledged that there are similarities between the two Pac-12 classmates.
"I think the feeling is a little bit mutual that you crave the respect, you crave the wins coming into such a storied league," he said.
Unlike Utah, those have eluded Colorado this season — the second for head coach Mike MacIntyre. The Buffs lost in double overtime to Cal and UCLA, and by just five points to Oregon State. They also led Washington at halftime and played Arizona tight until the fourth quarter.
"They've been so close in so many games this season," Whittingham said. "Now, they haven't got over that hump, as far as a conference win, but they are much more competitive and playing much better football than last year."
Utah, even on the heels of a 32-point loss, is a 9-point favorite for Saturday's game. Right now, they'd rather talk about earning Win No. 8, and building momentum heading into a bowl game, than whether there's something special about playing Colorado.
That's "still in its infancy," Whittingham said. "I think that has to happen on its own. I don't think you can just label it a rivalry."
They did, though.
So maybe the real rivalry, for now, is Utah vs. perception.
Twitter: @matthew_piper —
Utah at Colorado
O Saturday, 11 a.m.
TV • Pac-12 Network